The competitive environment outside of the top tier of Counter-Strike 2 frequently operates out of the spotlight, creating an ecosystem where illicit activities can occasionally surface. Patryk “olimp” Woźniak, the current in-game leader for the Polish roster Walczaki, recently brought attention to this darker side of the circuit during a lengthy podcast interview with the Polish esports media brand Esporcik.
During the conversation, the Polish player disclosed a specific incident where his team was approached with a highly lucrative offer to intentionally lose an official match.
The $60,000 proposition
According to the in-game leader, the financial incentive offered by the perpetrators was immense, especially by the standards of the lower competitive scene. The proposal was clear and direct.
We received a proposal to lose one match, we were supposed to get $60,000 per person,” olimp stated during his interview with Esporcik.
The Polish player identified the specific opponent they were scheduled to face when the offer was made. He linked the incident to a fixture against the prominent German organization BIG, taking place just before the Birch Cup 2025 in Gdańsk. The offline tournament was scheduled to begin on September 26, 2025, aligning with the timeline provided by the player.
I remember it was a match against BIG before the tournament in Gdańsk, so everyone can check if we won or lost,” olimp explained. “Well, we managed to win fortunately, but such proposals happen. When such proposals happen, we obviously rejected them.
Integrity challenges in the lower tiers
The revelation highlights a persistent issue within the lower divisions of competitive esports. While top-tier professionals compete for substantial prize pools and command high salaries, players in the regional circuits often face financial instability.
olimp pointed out that this economic disparity makes players in certain regions specifically vulnerable to match-fixing propositions. A sum of $60,000 per player is a massive amount of money for competitors who might be struggling to sustain a professional career.
Life in Poland is relatively not cheap, but in poorer countries, let’s say Belarus, Russia, or Ukraine, I think if someone earns such money, it is good for their living,” olimp noted, explaining the temptation that exists for players operating without a financial safety net.
Dealing with community accusations
Beyond the specific incident with BIG, the interview also touched upon the persistent rumors surrounding his current team. Walczaki has faced repeated allegations from segments of the community regarding both matchfixing and the use of cheats during online qualifiers.
The Polish leader firmly denied all allegations directed at his squad, attributing the constant speculation to the standard behavior of internet users and a lingering reputation that is difficult to erase.
People write because the internet is created for this,” he said. “Even not talking about esports, people will write all the time and on every topic. I consider this unnecessary stress. I think that one day if I continue to play and we go to LANs in this team, we will eventually defend this and break through.
Until then, olimp and Walczaki continue to compete in the European online circuit, aiming to secure offline tournament qualifications to silence the ongoing skepticism from the community.
