'Counter-Strike' Pros Unhappy After Team Picks Up Former Cheat Who Was VAC Banned
Hovik "KQLY" Tovmassian was a member of "Counter Strike": GO team Titan when he was caught cheating back in 2014. He was subsequently VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) banned out of the competition. After almost three years, another organization called Vexed has declared that they will be picking KQLY for their team, which will compete in the upcoming ESL France event. This has not gone down well with the pro players of the team itself.
According to Kotaku, the VAC banned players aren't allowed to take part in the Valve-run majors. But when ESL enforced a controversial rule, the VAC banned players became eligible to compete again after they serve a two-year punishment. Incidentally, KQLY has already served the two-year ban and this led to Vexed announcing him as their team member.
Vexed definitely took the opportunity to sign a former heavyweight "Counter Strike" player in their team. Also, it could well be the breakthrough KQLY probably was looking after he considered the ban being potentially the "end" of his career. But this just doesn't end here. This move from Vexed has angered some of its own team members.
According to PC Gamer, KQLY is arguably the biggest name to receive a VAC ban for cheating in "Counter Strike": GO. KQLY was a part of Titan who was looking to boss the Dreamhack Winter 2014. With KQLY getting banned, Titan was never able to achieve what looked walk-in-the-park for them. Eventually, they got dissolved back in 2016. Now Vexed going for the same person has irked the members of the team. Some of them are even willing to quit the competition.
Long-time "Counter Strike": GO professional Spencer "Hiko" Martin also protested the controversial move. Talking about the decision which he thinks is an example of double standards; he said "He gets VAC banned, but he can join a team? My boy [Braxton "swag" Pierce] throws a match, and he's banned for life, but KQLY literally cheats in the game, and he comes back? I guess he can't play Valve events."