ESIC has banned five NOMERCY players for periods ranging from three years to life. The sanctions follow an investigation into match manipulation at Roman Imperium Cup VII. One player received a lifetime ban, and two others received five-year bans.
Why does this matter? The case shows how a betting alert, gameplay analysis and player statements can come together in one investigation. It also shows that a player’s level of cooperation can change the length of a ban.
Background of the Investigation
The case centers on four best-of-one matches that the NOMERCY lineup played in the group stage of Radio Popular Roman Imperium Cup VII. The event took place in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, in late March.
In the group stage, the team played BETBOOM, Sangal, BESTIA and Wildcard on March 28, 2026. NOMERCY lost all four matches. BETBOOM won 13:0, Sangal won 13:3, and both BESTIA and Wildcard won 13:1.
ESIC began its investigation in April. At that time, the players also received a provisional sanction.
What the Evidence Showed
ESIC says it found breaches based on “a broad evidence bundle.” First, betting intelligence showed a high-value combination bet on all four matches. In addition, investigators reviewed the full gameplay of each match and analyzed the players individually. They also examined communications, financial material and the participants’ responses.
The report lists several in-game problems that ESIC appears to have considered. These include “failures in trading, utility use, positioning and decision-making.” However, ESIC noted that “no isolated gameplay error, transaction or communication was treated as determinative.”
Three Levels of Punishment
The five players received three different levels of sanctions. Oliver “kzy” Heck received a lifetime ban. His career dates back to Counter-Strike 1.6 and includes teams such as MOUZ, ALTERNATE aTTaX and EURONICS. ESIC cited his “central leadership and calling role, involvement in veto decisions, repeated gameplay involvement and complete non-cooperation.”
János “James8k” Fodor and Petar “perakokanje” Bešir each received a five-year sanction. ESIC based this on the findings and on their failures to cooperate. On HLTV, the only matches on record for both players are those at the Portuguese tournament.
Palkovics “playN” Tamás and Sreten “srtn1” Smiljanić received three-year sanctions. Tamás has a short history with some of Hungary’s top teams over the past two years. ESIC took into account his “detailed responses, financial and communications production, continued engagement, youth and relative lack of experience.” Smiljanić also has only the four Portuguese matches on his player profile. In his case, ESIC treated his “initial interrogatory answers, albeit incomplete and inconsistent” as mitigating factors.
When the Bans End
The expiry dates take into account the start of the provisional sanctions in April. Kzy’s ban is for life. The bans for James8k and perakokanje run until April 23, 2031. The bans for playN and srtn1 run until April 23, 2029.
Why the Decision Matters
As a result, the ruling gives a clear picture of how ESIC weighs responsibility within one lineup. The organizer of the calls and vetoes received the harshest penalty. Meanwhile, players who cooperated or had little experience received shorter bans.
The case also shows that ESIC did not rely on a single piece of proof. Betting data, gameplay review, financial records and player responses all played a part in the final decision. Finally, the dates are fixed: the three-year and five-year bans end in April 2029 and April 2031, and the lifetime ban has no end date.
