By Erin Pearson
Two Melbourne men have claimed responsibility for fixing an online video game competition after a betting agency discovered suspicious behaviour made in the hours before the tournament.
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has heard that 25-year-old Ty O’Donnell, of Brooklyn, and Eli Clarke, 26, of Kingsville, arranged to place a bet on an esports game that O’Donnell was due to play in June last year.
The German Valorant championships in 2021.Credit: Getty
At the time, O’Donnell was a member of an esports group known as Team Bliss, which had members across the country and was known to be a leader in the first-person shooter game, Valorant.
O’Donnell’s team was scheduled to play at the Lets Play Live 2021 Valorant Autumn Legends Cup, an esports competition that, like others, allows spectators to watch video gamers compete live against one another.
The court heard that on May 31, 2021, the pair, who had been friends since high school, spoke via Facebook Messenger about the “juicy odds” associated with throwing a match.
At the time, O’Donnell was a member of Team Bliss and the team was the favourite to win against the Eshays at the upcoming competition.
The global esports betting market size in 2021 was predicted to be $US9.7 million.Credit: Getty
As Team Bliss was the favourite to win, police said the pair decided to throw only the first of three rounds, which would eventually still enable them to take out the overall tournament and make the match-fixing less obvious.
“I’ll bet big, I don’t care, but then you’ve got to deliver,” Clarke said in a message to O’Donnell.
On June 7, 2021 – the day before the scheduled match – the pair discussed placing bets online using Ladbrokes.
Police said the friends found the odds were $2.40, with Clarke telling O’Donnell: “It looks like a good little earner for me.” Clarke then made two $2500 deposits into his Ladbrokes account soon after.
On the day of the match, the court heard O’Donnell deliberately played poorly and his team lost the first of three rounds against the Eshays, as the friends had planned.
Police executed search warrants on the duo’s homes on November 20, 2021, seizing mobile phones and uncovering the series of Facebook messages.
The court heard that, of the $7000 in winnings they made, Clarke received $5800 and O’Donnell $1200 as part of their joint enterprise.
Clarke was later charged with offences including possessing information about corrupt conduct.
O’Donnell was charged with engaging in conduct that corrupted a betting outcome to obtain a financial benefit.
Magistrate John Hardy placed both men on diversion orders requiring they be of good behaviour for 12 months.
Both must also make donations to charities including the Lost Dog’s Home and Gamblers Help, write a letter of apology to Ladbrokes and pay $7000 back to the online betting agency.
According to the International Esports Federation, the total revenue of the esports industry in 2020 was estimated to be $1 billion, with esports considered to be the fastest-growing sport in the world.
In 2021, the global esports betting market size was predicted to be $US9.7 million ($14.9 million).
When contacted on Monday, Team Bliss’ chief operating officer, Brendan Harms, said the team was shocked to learn of the match-fixing and condemned the behaviour.
“It’s the entire opposite of what our brand stands for,” Harms said.
“Something like this is very concerning to us.”
Harms said while O’Donnell had not played with the Tier 1 team since last year, his actions were deeply disturbing to a group that prides itself on integrity.
Earlier this year, Detective Acting Superintendent Wayne Woltsche said Victoria Police had developed strong relationships with esports stakeholders and betting agencies, and would continue to work together to target any suspicious activity.
”Esports is an emerging sporting industry that only continues to get more popular; however, with that ... comes an increase not only in those wanting to bet on outcomes but also in those willing to try and take advantage of the systems for their own gain,” he said at the time.
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