PlayTime commented on the temporary suspension of players and technical defeat at EWC 2026

The esports organization PlayTime released a statement about the suspension of mid laner Gonzalo DarkMago Herrera and coach Juan David Vintage Angulo Nicho from playing at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Dota 2 and suspicions of organizing fake matches. The official comment was published on the club's social networks.

Official Statement from PlayTime Due to the recent situation that arose during the Esports World Cup (EWC), PlayTime is issuing the following official statement. 1. Zero Tolerance and Organizational Integrity PlayTime has a strict zero tolerance policy for any actions that compromise competitive integrity. PlayTime management is not involved in or aware of any alleged match fixing or rule violations. Our commitment to fair play remains absolute. 2. Full cooperation and internal measures PlayTime fully respects and complies with the immediate measures taken by EWC representatives. At the same time, the organization's management began a thorough internal review and suspended the individuals concerned pending the outcome of the investigation. Due to these circumstances, our scheduled match last evening did not take place. We are in close contact with EWC representatives and cooperate without reservation with them to ensure full transparency. 3. Apologies for the disruption of the match We sincerely apologize to the EWC organizers, our scheduled opponents and eSports fans around the world who were waiting for this match. We deeply regret any inconvenience this situation has caused to the tournament schedule. 4. PlayTime's commitment to responsibility was rooted in its commitment to the highest level of competitive play. We strongly condemn any behavior that violates the spirit of eSports. If a formal investigation confirms that anyone on our team has engaged in illegal activity, we will immediately take severe disciplinary action, including termination of contracts and formal referral to all relevant regulatory authorities. We will remain fully focused on cooperating with the responsible parties and will not comment on unconfirmed rumors until the investigation is complete. We thank the organizers, our partners and fans for their attentiveness and understanding.

ESIC disqualified DarkMago and Vintage before the start of the PlayTime play-off match against Vici Gaming at the Esports World Cup 2026. Commission representatives noted that the measure is preventive in nature, and a decision on final sanctions will be made after a detailed investigation. PlayTime received a technical defeat in the match against Vici Gaming and ended its participation in the championship.

Esports World Cup 2026 for Dota 2 runs from July 7 to July 19. The teams are fighting for a prize fund of $2 million. The schedule and results of the competition can be tracked in the report.