The Infamous CS:GO Cheater’s Return to Competitive Play
Forsaken Completes His Ban
Nikhil ‘forsaken’ Kumawat, a former player for OpTic India, has finished his five-year ban for cheating in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournaments. This ban, imposed by the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC), barred him from participating in any major events until September 19, 2024.
The Cheating Scandal
Forsaken became notorious in the Counter-Strike community when he was caught using cheat software during the eXTREMESLAND Asia Finals on October 14, 2018. The incident occurred during his first game, where anti-cheat software flagged his stage PC. Officials found a suspicious program running in the background.
In a now-infamous video, Forsaken was seen attempting to close and delete the cheat software, named “word.exe,” while an official was investigating his computer. The tournament administrators, however, managed to recover the file.
Consequences for Forsaken and OpTic India
After the cheating incident, the OpTic India team was disqualified from the tournament. Forsaken was immediately fired, and the team eventually disbanded. Both Valve and ESIC banned him from participating in any future events. Following these events, Forsaken deleted his social media accounts and disappeared from the esports scene.
Forsaken’s Regret
In an interview shortly after his ban, Forsaken expressed deep regret for his actions. He admitted that he saw gaps in the system and exploited them for selfish reasons. He wished he had never played the game and only cheated because he thought he could get away with it, having fooled his teammates during a bootcamp.
Legacy and Impact
The scandal involving Forsaken has left a lasting impact on the Counter-Strike community. Numerous documentaries have covered the incident, highlighting how it shook the esports landscape. The name “word.exe” has since become a meme within the gaming community.
Future in Esports
Despite the end of his ban, Forsaken has shown no signs of returning to competitive play. He has not spoken about the incident or engaged with the community since 2018. However, if he wished to participate in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournaments, he now has the opportunity to do so.
Conclusion
Forsaken’s cheating scandal remains one of the most talked-about incidents in esports history. His actions led to severe consequences for himself and his team, serving as a cautionary tale for aspiring professional gamers. The end of his ban marks a significant moment, but whether he will return to the competitive scene remains to be seen.
