The Tier-2/3 CS scene is under threat. New cheating scandals surface daily, and match-fixing has become a routine issue. The situation has forced veterans and organizations to consider creating a new regulatory system to restore trust in the lower divisions.
CONTEXT AND SOURCE OF THE CRISIS
The statement was made by NAVI Youth Coach snatchie, who emphasized that the problem has reached a critical point and that current control mechanisms are not working. While the Tier-1 scene already has the CSPPA association, Tier-2/3 still lacks such a body. Scandals with cheaters and fixed matches existed before, but their number has now multiplied.
Tier2-3 CS is at its breaking point, scandals with cheaters appear almost daily. The industry’s been here for years, but the problem has never been worse. We had CSPPA for tier1 — maybe it’s time tier2-3 orgs unite and create their own association, verifying players and signing…
— NAVI snatchie (@snatchiecsgo) September 22, 2025
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE INDUSTRY
The idea of creating a new association for Tier-2/3 could radically change the competitive format. This would mean stricter player checks, signing liability documents, and unified anti-cheat standards. Tournament organizers would have to spend more resources, but the stakes are the reputation of the entire scene.
VOICES FROM THE SCENE AND COMMUNITY REACTION
Among professional organizations, snatchie’s initiative received almost unanimous support. Representatives of Reason Gaming, UNITY Esports, SINNERS, and several experts emphasized their willingness to participate in a new format of discussions and reforms. This indicates that the problem goes beyond isolated incidents and unites different clubs that want to make the Tier-2/3 scene more transparent and protected from fraud.
Popular community comments:
XperiaFPS:
It’s not even any tier at this point when daily 3-4 teams are getting exposed, it’s almost like anyone can get to 2000+ elo and make a team closet cheating.
ete:
Cheats aren’t leaving traces anymore, something is messing with server data. Back cams should be mandatory.
Pavel Vaněk (@replaycsgoo):
Some teams made it very obvious its super easy to cheat and not get punished… it destroys fair competition.
nocriesof:
I would suggest make tournaments on FACEIT AC.
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
Tier-2/3 is the first step into professional CS for hundreds of new talents. If the lower scene remains toxic and overrun with cheaters, young players may lose motivation or leave the discipline entirely. This would endanger roster renewal even at the Tier-1 level.
FORECAST AND DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS
If organizations can come together and create their own association, Tier-2/3 will have a chance at a reset. In a scenario without change, further degradation awaits, along with talent drain and a growing role for closed qualifiers. The coming weeks will show whether snatchie’s initiative becomes the start of reform or remains just a loud statement on social media.
