Ukrainian esports organization Inner Circle has announced the acquisition of a seven-year-old Counter-Strike 2 player, known by the aliases kiberkatlleta and DAVI666.
The signing highlights a developing movement of esports organizations adopting recruitment models similar to traditional sports, securing talent at an exceptionally early age. The young player has reportedly been active in the title since the age of four and recently reached level six on the competitive matchmaking platform FACEIT.
A growing trend in youth recruitment
The addition of a second-grader to an official esports roster raises immediate logistical questions regarding competitive eligibility. The player cannot participate in mainstream competitive circuits and is unsuited for rigorous professional team practice regimens. Inner Circle has yet to outline the specific developmental path or marketing role the seven-year-old will fulfill within their structure. Organizations are increasingly signing younger players to build long-term youth programs, but the integration of a seven-year-old establishes a new baseline for early scouting.
Looking from the outside, this is a new low for Esports organizations. A seven-year-old should never be used in any way to create PR for a team. In traditional sports such as football, you can sign your first professional contract at the age of 16. A seven-year-old child is not something you should promote on your social media.
72 months suspension from FACEIT
The public announcement of the signing quickly drew the attention of platform administrators, leading to an unsurprising suspension of the player’s FACEIT account. FACEIT enforces a strict minimum age requirement of 13 years old.
This policy is designed to comply with international legal obligations regarding online services and child data protection, such as the strict Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in the United States.
As seen in the image, DAVI666 has been banned for 72 months, which is equivalent to six years.
