ex-CEO of Project X & Akuma replied to accusations

One of the Akuma players has released an official statement in response to the recommendation of Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) to ban the lineup from tournaments due to the discovery of substantial evidence of betting fraud on the Ukrainian team matches. According to the published information, the players deny the allegations against them and are open to full cooperation in this investigation.

We want to make a statement that none of Akuma/ ex-Project X players were involved in betting on own matches. Also we want to claim that we cannot be responsible for our ex-CEO of Project X Alexander Shysko activities on betting websites. We are ready to cooperate with ESIC and provide all necessary information.

Ex-CEO of Project X Alexander Shishko criticized the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) report, which indicated that he bet on both matches of his former team and on Akuma matches, where some players moved after Project X disbanded. Shishko's commentary was published by gameinside.ua.

The statement from ESIC - this is a selection of facts under the theory. They've taken the theory and are solely picking up selected facts and fitting them. I do bet on esports, often, on many events. The vast majority of the time I lose. Occasionally I win, but I bet at higher odds - it's more interesting to watch.

Once in 200 years I had a shot - and I should tie it right away! Not only that, I haven't had anything to do with the Project X players since the disbanding. We've grown very, very apart. I have nothing to do with Akuma any more.

Shishko admitted that he bet on Akuma to win the match against Virtus.pro at EPIC League CIS 2021. According to the manager, that prediction didn't bring him any significant income.

We tried to contact the comission, we were told that we are open to dialogue, let's sort it out. Because it turns out that this whole situation is looked at from one side. There must be some norms. Let's look comprehensively: if I placed a thousand bets, conventionally, but one turned out to be a "questionable" one, in quotes, what am I to be quartered now? What does this have to do with me? I bet a lot and just got caught. It's psychology: I knew the guys and saw that they were playing in a tournament like this, so I decided to take a look. I have one bet on the victory with a score of 2-0. That's my only bet on the Virtus.pro vs. Akuma match. How could you be sure of that? It's Virtus.pro! I just gambled... I didn't get rich cosmically, I won pennies.

Recall, in its report, ESIC called on tournament operators to temporarily ban Akuma and any other teams associated with Alexander Shishko. The collected evidence the Commission passed on to Valve for further investigation.