In a shocking turn of events at the Call of Duty League (CDL) Champs 2023 event in Las Vegas, a former CDL pro and current Challengers player, Bryan ‘Jimbo’ Sabman, has been accused of cheating during a crucial Challengers Champs match. The incident unfolded during the highly anticipated LAN event, where top CDL teams battled for a chance to claim the lion’s share of the $2,380,000 prize pool. Meanwhile, the Challengers division also hosted its final LAN event of the season.
Jimbo’s alleged transgression occurred during a match in the Challengers Champs tournament, which showcases the talents of up-and-coming Call of Duty players. According to a report by Call of Duty Challengers news source, The Rotation, Jimbo’s account was banned for hacking mid-match. The damning evidence came to light with an image circulating online, displaying a ban message in the bottom left-hand corner of Jimbo’s monitor.
Instead of scrapping the match entirely, tournament organizers made the controversial decision to replay the contested match between Jimbo’s team, Orbit, and their opponents, OMiT. Jimbo was permitted to sign into one of his alternative BattleNet accounts to participate in the replayed Hardpoint match. Surprisingly, despite OMiT leading with a commanding score of 114-0, the map was reset to 0-0 for the redo.
The decision to replay the match sparked considerable controversy, with OMiT founder Rafi expressing outright disbelief, deeming it absurd. Despite the dissatisfaction, the replay proceeded, resulting in Orbit’s defeat and OMiT securing a spot in the next round of the tournament.
However, the consequences of Jimbo’s alleged cheating were severe. In the aftermath, The Rotation confirmed that Orbit has been forced to forfeit from the Challengers Champs tournament. Consequently, Jimbo, along with his teammates GRVTY, Gio, and Classic, were prematurely eliminated from the competition.
As the CDL and Challengers Champs event drew to a close on June 18, the incident involving Jimbo’s alleged cheating marred what should have been a thrilling conclusion to the season. While the CDL teams fought for the ultimate glory, this unfortunate event in the Challengers division serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against cheating in competitive gaming.
The authorities involved have yet to release an official statement addressing the incident. Nevertheless, this controversy highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of esports competitions and the need for strict measures to combat cheating, ensuring fair play for all participants.