PlayTime forfeits amid integrity investigation at Esports World Cup Dota event

Field Level Media
16 Jul 2026, 07:35 GMT+10

(Photo credit: John Meore/The Journal News)

Four teams advanced Wednesday to the Dota 2 playoffs at the Esports World Cup in Park, including Vici Gaming, which won its first survival stage match by forfeit and then a second-rounder in conventional fashion.

The other teams advancing to the quarterfinal playoffs on Thursday and Friday are BetBoom Team, Team Spirit and Rune Eaters.

Vici Gaming was scheduled to face PlayTime on Tuesday in the first round of the survival stage but the match was postponed until Wednesday because of an undisclosed integrity issue.

The Esports Integrity Commission, a partner of the Esports World Cup 2026, then announced an ongoing investigation. The ESIC issued provisional suspensions to PlayTime's Juan 'Vintage' Angulo and Gonzalo 'DarkMago' Herrera, both of Peru.

'With immediate effect, Vintage and DarkMago are prohibited from participating, directly or indirectly, in EWC26 and all ESIC Member events while the investigation remains ongoing,' the ESIC said in a statement. 'In Vintage's case, the interim measure also prevents him from undertaking coaching, management, strategic, team-facing or other support functions connected with participating teams or players.'

Emphasizing that no final determination of guilt has been made, the ESIC said the suspensions followed its 'preliminary assessment of information concerning suspected breaches of the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code and Player Code of Conduct.'

Angulo and Herrera were interviewed and notified of the interim measures, the ESIC said.

PlayTime, also known at PTime, was removed from the tournament on Wednesday because it was not able to meet eligibility requirements, according to reports, and forfeited its match against Vici Gaming.

The Dota 2 event at the Esports World Cup is the final championship of the ESL Pro Tour, now in its fourth season. The tournament has a $2 million prize pool, with $750,000 and 1,000 club points going to the first-place team.

The format consists of three phases: a group stage of 24 teams that competed in a round robin, a survival phase (Tuesday-Wednesday) formatted into a single-elimination bracket that saw four teams advance, then a final playoff stage (Thursday-Sunday), which is single elimination.

The four group winners advanced directly to the playoffs. Teams finishing second in their groups received byes into Round 2 of the survival stage, while third- and fourth-place teams began the survival stage in Round 1.

All matches in Phase 1 were two games, while the matches in Phases 2 and 3 are best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final.

On Wednesday, BetBoom Team swept LGD Gaming in 48 minutes and 28 minutes, both on green.

Team Spirit opened with a win in 56 minutes on green before Team Liquid drew level with a 46-minute victory on green. Team Spirit closed out with a 45-minute win, also on green.

Rune Eaters outlasted Aurora Gaming in 51 minutes on red, then won in 39 minutes on green to take the second-round match.

Vici Gaming actually got to play and eliminated 1w, 2-1. The first map went to 1w in 42 minutes on red, then Vici Gaming responded with wins in 45 and 63 minutes, both on red.

The Esports World Cup features competition in 25 titles and a $75 million prize pool. Other upcoming events include League of Legends, PUBG, EA Sports FC, Call of Duty: Warzone, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Rocket League, Counter-Strike 2 and Fortnite.

Thursday's quarterfinals schedule

--Nigma Galaxy vs. BetBoom Team

--Team Falcons vs. Vici Gaming

Friday's quarterfinals schedule

--Team Yandex vs. Team Spirit

--PARIVISION vs. Rune Eaters

Dota 2 Esports World Cup payouts (prize money, club points)

1. $750,000, 1,000 -- TBD

2. $340,000, 750 -- TBD

3. $200,000, 500 -- TBD

4. $120,000, 300 -- TBD

5-8. $70,000, 200 -- TBD