3 Times When Female Pros Accused Of Cheating In Valorant

Esports is a realm where precision, skill, and strategy reign supreme. Professional players train tirelessly to hone their abilities and achieve success in the competitive landscape. However, allegations of cheating can cast a shadow over even the most talented individuals. In this article, we delve into three controversial cases where female professional players were accused of cheating in Valorant, examining the incidents and their impact on the esports community.

EQ Cerise Disqualification

In October 2023, the Valorant community was shaken when Riot Games issued a competitive ruling against the female professional team EQ Cerise during the VCT Game Changers Open Qualifier. The ruling revealed that Riot’s Anti-Cheat team had detected the use of a third-party tool by a player from EQ Cerise.

The player in question, “dsylexic,” faced accusations of cheating after they were banned from the tournament. EQ Cerise member Jenni “nabiichuVAL” explained in a TwitLonger that dsylexic had queued up with someone using third-party cheats before joining the team. While dsylexic admitted to owning cheating software, they maintained that they did not use it during the tournament. The disqualification raised questions about Riot’s Anti-Cheat system and the potential for false positives.

ReFleck’s Mid-Scrim Ban

Another incident that rocked the Valorant community involved pro player ReFleck. During a match against the all-female Dignitas roster, ReFleck was caught cheating and subsequently banned mid-scrim. The accusations were brought to light by Juliana “Showliana” Maransaldi, a member of Dignitas Female, who shared the incident on Twitter.

The Anti-Cheat Police Department, an independent group investigating cheating allegations, confirmed that ReFleck had been cheating, potentially using wallhacks and aimbotting to climb the competitive ladder. The incident underscored the challenges that Riot Games faces in combating cheating within the game.

Team Fallacy’s Astral Clash Controversy

Team Fallacy, an all-female Valorant team, faced allegations of cheating during the Astral Clash event held in July 2022. The accusations centered on player Mars Arxa, who was accused of allowing her boyfriend, Nate ‘Payen’ Lopez, to play under her account during a pivotal match.

The controversy erupted when Lopez, a former pro player for TSM FTX, delivered an impressive 1v4 clutch and Ace. Comparisons of keybinds, screen resolutions, and frame rates fueled suspicions. The night before the tournament, Team Fallacy was seen playing with Lopez rather than Mars Arxa. Riot Games temporarily suspended the team from future events, pending investigation, as account sharing violates the game’s policies.

Competitive integrity is paramount in esports, and allegations of cheating can tarnish the reputation of both players and the esports community as a whole. These three instances involving female professional players accused of cheating in Valorant shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by game developers and tournament organizers in maintaining a level playing field. As esports continues to evolve, the battle against cheating remains a crucial aspect of ensuring fair and competitive gameplay for all participants.

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