First videogame involved in a match-fixing scandal

On 13 April 2010, the South Korean eSports scene was rocked with a series of match-fixing revelations in the popular StarCraft: Brood War league. At the time of going to press, 16 people had been implicated in the scandal, a figure that includes a gaming academy owner, a South Korean footballer and an alleged gangster as well as 11 professional players. The pro-gamers were accused of deliberately losing matches between September 2009 and February 2010, pocketing up to 6.5 million Korean Won ($5,400; £3,500) in bribes. Some gamers had also made as much as 35 million Won ($29,000; £19,000) from illegal bets. All 11 were handed lifetime bans by the Korean eSports Players Association KeSPA, effectively ending their professional careers. In addition, the ex-players faced fines of up to 12.5 million Won ($10,000; £6,700), community service and suspended sentences that could mean jail if they commit further crimes.