Japanese Valorant team FENNEL suspends player for smurfing

Valorant

19 Oct

Andre Guaraldo

In recent esports news, a Japanese Valorant professional player, Yuto 'Xdll' Mizomori, has faced suspension from his esports organization, FENNEL. The suspension comes as a consequence of his involvement in smurfing and playing on another player's account to manipulate his in-game rank.

The FENNEL suspension announcement

FENNEL, the Japanese esports organization, made an official statement regarding XdII's suspension. In their statement, they acknowledged that XdII had been involved in smurfing and had admitted to playing on someone else's account with the intent to boost their ranking. While the organization announced the suspension, they also hinted at possible future consequences and actions once they confirm more details. Furthermore, they emphasized their cooperation with Riot Games and other external parties for a thorough investigation.

FENNEL has recently announced their male Valorant roster and already have changes to make (credits: Valo2Asia)

XdII's background and career

XdII is not a newcomer to the Valorant scene. He had previously made headlines when he briefly served as a substitute player for ZETA DIVISION during the Valorant Champions 2022 tournament. Despite being part of the team, he didn't have the opportunity to compete in any matches and remained on the bench throughout the event. Subsequently, XdII joined FENNEL, competing in the Valorant Challengers Japan League. His team achieved success by winning the first split and securing third place in the second split, just narrowly missing out on the Pacific Ascension tournament.

Impact on FENNEL and upcoming tournament

FENNEL's Valorant squad, with XdII as their flex player, managed to qualify for the off-season tournament, Red Bull Home Ground, scheduled to take place in Japan. However, with XdII's suspension and benching, FENNEL now has a critical decision to make. They must now decide whether to find a replacement for the suspended player or withdraw from the tournament. The organization has stated that, as of now, they haven't made any alterations to their off-season event schedule, suggesting that they are determined to face the consequences and challenges.

Red Bull Home Ground is the first official event for FENNEL's male Valorant roster (credits: One Esports)

The ongoing problem of smurfing in esports

XdII's suspension highlights a pervasive issue in the esports industry, particularly in competitive games like Valorant. Smurfing, which involves experienced players using alternate accounts to play against lower-skilled opponents, can disrupt the integrity of the competitive scene and undermine fair play. Esports organizations and game developers, in this case, Riot Games, are increasingly taking actions against such practices, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fair and competitive environments. The incident involving XdII serves as a reminder that smurfing remains a problem that necessitates ongoing vigilance and measures to combat.

Smurfs are not hard to spot when they appear in your lobby (credits: Reddit)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the suspension of Japanese Valorant pro XdII for smurfing serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent issue of unfair play in the world of esports. FENNEL's decision to suspend the player and the promise of further investigations indicate a growing commitment to maintaining the integrity of competitive gaming.

This incident, alongside XdII's career trajectory, sheds light on the consequences of such actions and how they can impact both the individual player and their team's competitive prospects. Moreover, it underscores the ongoing challenge faced by esports organizations and game developers in addressing smurfing and maintaining fair and competitive gaming environments.

As the esports industry continues to grow, it is imperative that measures are in place to combat unfair practices like smurfing and uphold the spirit of fair competition.