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BONK disqualified from VCT EMEA Kickoff qualifier over cheating investigation

Riot Games removed Team BONK from the first 2027 VCT EMEA Kickoff Europe Qualifier after confirming unauthorised cheating software.

By , Sports writer

· 1 min read

Valorant Champions Tour EMEA
Valorant Champions Tour EMEA (file photo) Photo: VCT / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Team BONK has been disqualified from VCT EMEA Kickoff Europe Qualifier 1, its results voided, and all players suspended pending investigation. Riot ordered rare same-day replays of two bracket rounds.

Key takeaways

  • Riot disqualified Team BONK from VCT EMEA Kickoff Europe Qualifier 1 for cheating software.
  • Every player and registered team member has been provisionally suspended.
  • Riot ordered two bracket rounds to be replayed the same day.
  • The announcement was made on 8 November via the VCT EMEA account.
  • VCT EMEA covers Europe, Turkiye and MENA in the Valorant Champions Tour.

Riot Games has disqualified Team BONK from VCT EMEA Kickoff Europe Qualifier 1 after its anti-cheat team confirmed that a participant on the team was using unauthorised cheating software.

Every player and registered team member has been provisionally suspended from Riot-sanctioned competitions while the investigation into individual involvement continues. Riot announced the decision on the VCT EMEA account on 8 November, and ordered two rounds of the bracket to be replayed the same day.

The announcement had passed 140,000 views within an hour.

Why it matters

The VCT EMEA Kickoff Qualifiers run across Europe, Turkiye and MENA as part of the Valorant Champions Tour organised by Riot Games.

The tour is one of four territories of the global competitive esports tournament series and consists of teams from the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, including eight partner teams and multiple non-partner teams as of the 2027 season, competing in open qualifiers and regional events throughout the year.

According to Riot, its anti-cheat team has been reviewing matches throughout the Kickoff Qualifiers to look for potential cheating. Suspicious behaviour involving BONK was reported during Qualifier 1, and a further investigation confirmed that a participant on Team BONK was using unauthorised cheating software.

BONK's results have been voided, forcing replays in the bracket. Riot stressed that the suspensions are interim measures, and that any final sanctions will depend on what it finds for each individual.

What happens next

Two rounds of the bracket will be replayed on the same day as the announcement, though sources do not give the exact time or venue. Riot will continue its investigation into individual involvement before deciding on final sanctions.

Sources

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