COMPETITIVE RULING: AMIHAN ESPORTS & AMI KARLLL

Following investigations that were reopened in light of new evidence against Amihan Esports and the eligibility of their team member, AMI Karlll (Karl Ken Bautista), Riot Games Southeast Asia Esports has ruled that AMI Karlll has violated Rule 2.3 (Age) of the Wild Rift SEA Icon Series Philippines Competition Policy for presenting illegally forged documents that misrepresented his actual age, thereby qualifying for the competition’s minimum age requirement of 17 years.

As several members of the team were involved in this process, the Amihan Esports organisation will be banned from all Riot Games esports for 12 months, effective immediately. Other individual rulings include:

1. Karl Ken Bautista aka AMI Karlll - 9-month ban from all Riot Games esports. The ban is considered to have begun as of the date of his last match (June 26th 2021)
2. Christian Villegas, Former Team Manager - 12-month ban from all Riot Games esports
3. Francis Mariano, Team Owner - indefinite ban from all Riot Games esports. Francis will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after 2 years from the date of this announcement

The team will also have to forfeit their prize winnings from both the SEA Icon Series Philippines Summer Season and the SEA Icon Series Summer Super Cup. The forfeited prize money will be donated to a charity of Riot’s choice, through the Riot Games Social Impact Fund. Amihan Esports’ slot for the SEA Icon Series Fall Season will also be vacated and PPGL will announce a new qualifier to fill their spot.

CONTEXT

After becoming aware of allegations of map hacking and inaccurate player documentation qualifying AMI Karlll (Karl Ken Bautista) for the SEA Icon Series Philippines Summer Season in June 2021, Riot Games Southeast Asia Esports immediately launched an investigation into the matter.

Riot’s initial investigation found AMI Karlll’s gameplay to be all clean, and found his submitted birth certificate to be legitimate. However, upon receiving new evidence about AMI Karlll’s player documentation in July 2021 after the SEA Icon Series Summer Super Cup, Riot reopened investigations into the player and organisation. While AMI Karlll remains cleared of map hacking accusations, Riot received admissions and strong evidence that his player documents were indeed forged to misrepresent his age at the time of registration, and that the organisation was fully aware of AMI Karlll being underage.

Maintaining the competitive integrity of all our esports tournaments as well as the safety and well-being of pro teams are Riot’s top priorities, and we take such violations extremely seriously. All our participating teams are expected to abide by the rules of fair play, agreed upon prior to participation in the tournaments. Violations of the rules of fair play will not be tolerated.

RULING

As an organisation, Amihan Esports has violated Rule 2.3 (Age) of the Wild Rift SEA Icon Series Philippines Competition Policy and will be banned from all Riot Games esports for 12 months, effective immediately. The ban will be lifted in July 2022.

Individual team members will also receive penalties for participating in the forgery of player documents and failing to inform tournament officials and Riot Games Southeast Asia Esports. Karl Ken Bautista aka AMI Karlll will be banned from all Riot Games esports for 9 months effective from the date of his last match. Christian Villegas, former Team Manager, will be banned from all Riot Games esports for 12 months effective immediately. Francis Mariano, Team Owner, will be banned from all Riot Games esports indefinitely for not cooperating with the Riot Games investigation. Francis will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after 2 years.

RELEVANT RULES

2.3 Age

No player shall be considered eligible to participate in any Icon Series-affiliated match before their 17th birthday, defined as having lived 17 full years.

8.2.7 Player Behaviour Investigation

If Riot Partner Operator or Riot determines that a Team or Team Member has violated the Summoner’s Code, the League of Legends: Wild Rift Terms of Service, or other rules of League of Legends: Wild Rift, Riot Partner Operator or Riot officials may assign penalties at their sole discretion. If a Riot Partner Operator official contacts a Team Member to discuss the investigation, the Team Member is obligated to tell the truth. If a Team Member withholds information or misleads a Riot Partner Operator official creating an obstruction of the investigation then the Team and/or Team Member is subject to penalties.