The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has delivered a decisive blow to corruption in professional gaming, banning Counter-Strike 2 player Dmytro “nifee” Tediashvili for four years.
The suspension follows an intensive investigation into match manipulation and betting-related corruption during ESL Pro League Season 22.
Molotov Deaths and Proposition Betting Spikes
Working in partnership with Runestone, ESIC investigators identified suspicious betting activity linked to dormant, high-value accounts. These spikes in the betting market perfectly matched unusual in-game incidents, specifically, a series of repeated Molotov/incendiary deaths by Dmytro “nifee” Tediashvili in October 2025.
Review of the Counter-Strike 2 gameplay footage confirmed that the player’s decision-making did not align with competitive play, showing deliberate exposure to damage for the purpose of fulfilling proposition bets.
Admission and Cooperation
While Tediashvili initially denied the charges, he eventually admitted to the conduct and provided evidence that assisted in a broader investigation. This cooperation resulted in his potential five-year ban being reduced to four years.
The ESIC statement concluded:
“Match manipulation and betting-related corruption represent some of the most serious threats to esports. Even manipulation of seemingly minor in-game events undermines trust in competition and creates broader integrity risks.”
Effective immediately, “nifee” is barred from all ESIC-member events until October 20, 2029, in any capacity, including coaching or analysis.
