PGL has disqualified acidhouze from the PGL Bucharest 2027 open qualifier because of competitive integrity concerns. As a result, Inner Circle Academy, the team that faced acidhouze in the event, has been reinstated.
This story matters because it shows how quickly a tournament organizer can act when the community raises concerns. It also shows how a single protest by a team can change the course of a qualifier.
What Happened in the Match
Inner Circle Academy played acidhouze during the open qualifier. However, the organization forfeited the match partway through. On X, the team explained its decision. According to the organization, it chose to forfeit “so the cheaters couldn’t profit from betting.”
Gameplay of one of the cheaters from acidhouze that our academy played today at the PGL Bucharest OQ. This is how this team with zero HLTV maps beat Phantom, and then Inner Circle Academy. To top it off, one of the cheaters’ accounts has been permanently banned on FACEIT since 2023 💀
We’re attaching video evidence of his suspicious gameplay to this post. Thanks to @bubbleCS22 for breaking down the match against them live on stream. Check out the full version on his Twitch channel – https://t.co/vJKO6l8ik1
@pglesports @ESIC_Official please pay attention to this acidhouze team. This is literally a qualification for a Tier-1 event, you can’t let it slide
— IC Esports (@InCircleEsports) October 11, 2026
PGL Steps In
After the incident, PGL disqualified acidhouze from the PGL Bucharest 2027 open qualifier. The organizer cited competitive integrity concerns. Therefore, Inner Circle Academy has returned to the event. In addition, the qualifier itself will be replayed, according to the team’s statement.
Inner Circle Reacts
Inner Circle later shared a statement about the outcome. The organization wrote: “The acidhouze team, which our academy faced at the PGL Bucharest 2027 OQ, has been disqualified for cheating, and the qualifier itself will be replayed.”
The statement also thanked the community. “Huge thanks to the community for stepping up and helping us bring attention to the situation. Special thanks to PGL for stepping in promptly,” the team wrote. Finally, the organization added: “We stand for fair play and honest competitive conditions at all levels of CS2.”
Why It Matters
This case highlights the importance of fair play in CS2 at every level, including open qualifiers. Meanwhile, it shows that community attention can help organizers respond faster. Inner Circle Academy is now back in the event, and the qualifier will be replayed under what the team calls honest competitive conditions.
