ATOX Esports CS2 team banned by ESIC over match-fixing scandal
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has handed out major bans to several members of the Mongolian Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) team ATOX Esports, after uncovering a widespread match-fixing scheme linked to organized crime and more than 70 suspicious bets placed between late 2024 and March 2025.
According to a detailed report by ESIC, the first signs of alleged match-fixing surfaced during last year’s ESL Pro League Season 20. Then, on March 6, ATOX Esports was disqualified from PGL Counter-Strike events and other tournaments as ESIC launched a full investigation into the claims.
The probe revealed what ESIC describes as “a long and extensive history of match-fixing” supported by chat logs, testimonial evidence, phone call recordings, and voice recordings.
ESIC Issues Public Report detailing outcome of investigation into ATOX Esports Participants resulting in seven sanctions and an ongoing investigation into three additional participants.
Read the full report: https://t.co/Nvt5BAyCQn
Read the summary: https://t.co/agwHdnPYSj pic.twitter.com/8hopxxJnx1
— ESIC (@ESIC_Official) May 15, 2025
Who are the ATOX Esports CS2 players who received bans from ESIC?The three individuals who received lifetime bans were Gan-Erdene “dobu” Batbold, Bat-Enkh “kabal” Batbayar, and Ana-Erdene “nuka” Baasantogtokh.
According to the report, Batbold was found to have “spearheaded match-fixing, orchestrating bribes/bets against his own team,” and “admitted to engaging in match-fixing behaviours and cooperating with organised criminal syndicates based in China.”
Batbayar was also cited for “actively participat[ing] in match manipulation strategies and bets,” while Baasantogtokh, the team’s analyst, “placed or facilitated a large number of suspicious bets (over 70)… [and] actively provided false or misleading in-game tactics to ensure results aligned with corrupt betting interests.”
Four other individuals were also hit with non-lifetime bans as part of the ATOX Esports investigation. Tuguldur “flyNN” Gansuk, who was described as the “coach and effective CEO,” was handed a three-year ban after ESIC found that he had failed in his “heightened duty of care to identify or halt known match-fixing.”
Temuulen “MiQ” Byambadalai received a one-year ban for having “fraudulently failed to report breaches of the ESIC Integrity Program.” Otgonlkhagva “AccuracyTG” Batjargal and Munkhsaikhan “Zesta” Erdenebaatar were each given eight-month bans, with ESIC citing their failure to speak up.
In addition, three other ATOX players, Song “xiaosaGe” Peng, Tuvshintugs “ANNIHILATION” Nyamdorj, and Yalalt “yAmi” Oyunbileg, remain under investigation.
Organized crime claims
The investigation tied the activity to a broader criminal enterprise. ESIC confirmed that “accounts previously identified by law-enforcement agencies as fronts for China-based organised-crime betting syndicates” were involved.
The betting scheme involved the use of “domestic and offshore betting accounts that shared overlapping device IDs, IP addresses, payment instruments and social media credentials with ATOX team personnel.”
ESIC stressed that this was an “entrenched practice embedded in ATOX’s competitive calendar.” The body concluded that the scheme “significantly undermined competitive integrity and justifies the lifetime and fixed-term sanctions.”
ESIC then wrote, “Any and all knowledge of or involvement in corrupt betting must be reported immediately… Failure to report is not excusable.”
Featured image: Valve Corporation / Canva / NoSleepCSGO via YouTube
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