Cheaters in esports: how to combat them

The Counter-Strike tournament final. Millions of viewers are watching the screen, and one player repeatedly hits the target through walls. It sounds like science fiction, but it's the harsh reality of esports. Cheaters ruin the game, undermining trust in competitions where millions of dollars and reputations are at stake. How is the industry dealing with this scourge?

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The dark side of the game

Cheaters in esports did not appear yesterday. Back in the early 2000s, when tournaments were just emerging, some players used "aimbot" — a clever program that automatically aims at the enemy. Even at LAN tournaments, where everyone sits shoulder to shoulder, there were skilled players who ran prohibited software. In 2010, for example, at the StarCraft II championship, one participant was caught using a "map hack" — the cheat showed him the entire map, as if the fog of war did not exist. The uproar was serious.

Today, cheats have become more sophisticated. They are no longer just code, but entire systems: from fake drivers to AI that masquerades as a master. It seems that cheaters are always one step ahead. But the organisers are not standing still either.

Technical barriers

The fight begins with technology. Tournaments use anti-cheat systems such as VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) or FACEIT, which search for suspicious files on players' computers. VAC, by the way, blocks thousands of accounts every month, although Valve does not disclose the exact numbers. At major championships, such as The International for Dota 2, they go even further: players sit at isolated PCs, cut off from the internet.

Incidentally, anti-cheat systems sometimes fail. In 2023, a Valorant player was suspended for "strange behaviour," but it turned out that his mouse was malfunctioning. Stories like this make you wonder: where is the line between vigilance and overreach?

The human factor

Technology is not the only solution. Referees, analysts, and even fans keep an eye on things at tournaments. Surprisingly, it is sometimes the viewers who are the first to raise the alarm. In 2021, during a CS:GO stream, fans noticed a player staring at one spot on the map. He was later caught using a wallhack. The esports community is like a team of detectives: no detail escapes their attention.

The organisers are also improving. At Rainbow Six Siege tournaments, they check everything from computers to mice and headphones. One clever player once hid a cheat in a USB disguised as a charger. It's like something out of a spy thriller, isn't it?

Penalties and consequences

Caught cheaters are not spared. A ban is the mildest punishment. In 2019, a Fortnite team was kicked out of a tournament for cheating, and their prize money — hundreds of thousands of dollars — was forfeited. Platforms like FACEIT block not only the account but also the IP address to prevent the cheater from returning. At major tournaments, those caught lose everything: their reputation, their career, their respect.

But there is also controversy. Some consider the penalties too harsh: one wrong move and years of training go down the drain. And cheaters, by the way, often return with new accounts. It's like an endless game of hide and seek.

Where the battle is headed

Esports is growing, and the problem of cheats is growing with it. The industry spends millions on anti-cheat software, training referees and even AI that monitors mouse movements. The Overwatch League, for example, is already trying out such systems. But loopholes remain. Cheaters, like shadows, always find a way through.

The fight against cheats is like a chess duel: every move requires cunning and patience. While spectators enjoy the spectacle, another game is going on behind the scenes — for honesty and fairness.