Finnish professional Counter-Strike player and captain of Natus Vincere — Aleksi Virolainen — has been accused of aggravated tax fraud. According to Finnish media, the case concerns possible violations that allegedly occurred in 2020, with the complaint filed by the Finnish Tax Administration.
What is known about the case
According to the prosecution, the incident allegedly took place between May 19 and September 22, 2020, in Vantaa, Finland. The case has already been transferred to the Eastern Uusimaa District Court, where the hearing is scheduled to take place in April 2026. The plaintiff is the Finnish tax authority Verohallinto, which filed the complaint regarding the alleged violation.
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The player’s position
Aleksi Virolainen himself confirmed that the case exists but declined to comment on it in detail, as the legal process is still ongoing. According to the player, the situation is related to income from his esports activities.
I cannot comment on the case because it is still under consideration
he said in a comment to Finnish journalists.
One of Finland’s most successful players
Aleksi Virolainen is considered one of the most successful Finnish esports players in the history of Counter-Strike.
As part of Natus Vincere, he achieved several major results, including:
- winning PGL Major Copenhagen 2024
- helping the team receive the Team of the Year title at the HLTV Awards 2024
- becoming the first Finnish player to win a Counter-Strike Major
In addition, in 2025 Virolainen was nominated for Athlete of the Year in Finland, which was a rare case for a representative of esports.
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What happens next
The case is currently at the stage of preparation for court proceedings. The final decision regarding the accusations will be made after the hearing scheduled for April. Until then, no official conclusions about the player’s guilt have been made, and the case remains within the legal process.
