The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has issued sanctions against four Russian players for violating its Anti-Corruption Code and Code of Conduct. Investigations confirmed the individuals used prohibited cheating software, including DMA-based tools, and participated in match manipulation activities.
Four players banned
The following bans take effect immediately across all ESIC member events. The sanctioned individuals are barred from participating in any capacity, including as players, coaches, or managers.
- Egor “Zly” Polyakov: Lifetime ban. Polyakov formally admitted guilt and requested a permanent ban. His last HLTV appearance was in 2024 for SEAW.
- Dimitriy “Propleh” Senigov, 29: Five-year ban. Senigov failed to respond to the charges, which ESIC protocols treat as an admission of liability. His last HLTV appearance was in 2023 for Victory Zigzag.
- Alexandr “Ruler” Maximov, 28: Five-year ban. Maximov partially acknowledged the allegations but failed to provide a substantive rebuttal. His last HLTV appearance was in 2022 for HOTU.
- Peter “Damiel” Markheev, 25: Five-year ban. Markheev effectively admitted guilt through an unqualified response to his Notice of Charge. His last HLTV appearance was in 2025 for team -72c.
ESIC has notified its member organizations about the enforcements. Non-member tournament operators and publishers may also choose to recognize and apply these sanctions independently.
