Counter-Strike players, analysts and fans are calling for the ban of Nikhil “forsaken” Kumawat, after he was expelled from eXTREMESLAND 2018 Asia Finals for using a cheating software during OpTic India’s BO3 match with Revolution. The 23-year-old has been put on a flight home, and his team expelled from the tournament.

While details about what actually happened at the tournament are scarce, there are reports that state the tournament’s B5 anti-cheat platform flagged “suspicious activity” being used at the event, which prompted admins to investigate. When admins approached Forsaken, he then reportedly tabbed out of CS:GO and attempted to delete a programme that had been running in the background according to CSGO2ASIA, who was present at the tournament.

Sadly, this incident will only call into question OpTic India’s previous fine run of form. Originally set up by the North American esports organisation earlier this year to make waves in the Asian scene, the team went on to win the ESL India Premiership. Their rise – and ultimate downfall – has caught the attention of the CS scene worldwide, and some are demanding action.

A clip of forsaken appearing to ‘lock on’ to an enemy on A site on Cache began circulating on social media earlier today, prompting calls for him to be banned for life by Valve.

But as the game’s anti-cheat system, VAC, did not catch the player, it’ll now be down to eXTREMESLAND admins to correctly document what happened and what they found before Valve can make a decision. And while we wait with baited breath to see what action is taken, it appears OpTic India has taken the correct course of action by removing the player from the active roster.

Speaking to HLTV, Jesal Parekh, OpTic Gaming’s international development director, says: “The player caught with hacks has been released from the organisation – we do not tolerate anything like this. We want to apologise to all the other teams and organisations involved. We also want to apologise to our country and to the fans who have supported us.”

Parekh also told HLTV that forsaken’s teammates were not aware that he was using cheats, and made it clear, that they would never have agreed to play even if there was the “slightest hint of it.”

An official statement from OpTic is expected later today.