Update: PTime have been removed from Dota 2 Esports World Cup following DarkMago and Vintage’s provisional suspensions.
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has issued provisional suspensions to midlaner Oswaldo “DarkMago” Herrera and coach Juan “Vintage” Angulo of the Peruvian squad PTime as part of an ongoing integrity investigation at the ongoing Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2026 tournament.
The suspensions were announced by ESIC on Tuesday, July 14, hours after the postponement of the Survival Stage match between PTime (also known as PlayTime) and Chinese team Vici Gaming. The decision took effect immediately, barring both the 27-year-old DarkMago and 30-year-old Vintage from participating in Dota 2 EWC and all ESIC member competitions while the investigation is underway.
ESIC has provisionally suspended Juan “Vintage” Angulo and Oswaldo “DarkMago” Herrera from EWC26 and all ESIC Member events pending an ongoing integrity investigation.
— ESIC (@ESIC_Official) July 14, 2026
These are interim measures only; no final finding has been made.
Full statement: https://t.co/fkRpYevOIk pic.twitter.com/KzJS1rgVli
In its official statement, ESIC said DarkMago and Vintage were suspended following a preliminary assessment of information concerning suspected breaches of the organization’s Anti-Corruption Code and Player Code of Conduct.
The restrictions for Vintage go beyond match participation, with the commission stating: “The interim measure also prevents him from undertaking coaching, management, strategic, team-facing or other support functions connected with participating teams or players.”
According to ESIC, the provisional suspensions are intended to protect the integrity of Dota 2 EWC while the investigation is ongoing. “The measures are protective and precautionary. They are intended to safeguard the integrity of the competition, preserve relevant evidence and support the fair and effective conduct of ESIC’s investigation.”
The commission emphasized that “no final determination of guilt has been made.” It added that both DarkMago and Vintage have been informed of the allegations, interviewed by investigators, and given the opportunity to respond and submit relevant material.
ESIC also said the suspensions will remain in effect unless they are modified or lifted in writing, adding that any tournament-related decisions for the Esports World Cup will be announced separately by the Esports Foundation. The commission declined to provide further public comment while the investigation remains active.
The announcement came hours after the Survival Stage match between PlayTime and Vici Gaming was postponed to the following day due to what tournament organizers described only as an “integrity issue.” The best-of-three elimination series has been set at the beginning of the match day on Wednesday, July 15, with the winner advancing to face 1w Team.
— EWC Extra (@EWC_Extra) July 14, 2026
ESIC has likewise not disclosed the specific reasons that prompted the provisional suspensions to DarkMago and Vintage, both of whom were part of the paiN Gaming roster that was acquired by PlayTime last May.
The lack of concrete details has obviously fueled speculation, with some Dota 2 fans alleging possible match-fixing. Those rumors remain unverified, and neither ESIC nor the Esports World Cup has publicly linked the investigation to any specific match or incident.
¿QUÉ ES LO QUE SE SABE SOBRE EL CASO PLAYTIME VS VICI GAMING?
— Pancho Justo 🖊 (@justopancho) July 14, 2026
Intentaré resumir los rumores que están circulando con respecto a este caso que parece ser más complicado de lo que realmente parecía en un principio.
OJO. Nada de esto es oficial – no hay información oficial – solo… https://t.co/HT81WPgl0z
At the time of writing, PlayTime has yet to issue a statement regarding the ESIC investigation.
PTime removed from Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2026
On July 15, the Esports Foundation has confirmed that PTime has been removed from Dota 2 EWC 2026 as a result of ESIC’s temporary suspensions to DarkMago and Vintage.
“As a consequence of those interim measures, PTime is no longer able to satisfy the eligibility requirements necessary to continue in the competition,” the Esports Foundation said in a statement.
— EWC Extra (@EWC_Extra) July 15, 2026
The organizing body emphasized that there is still “no final determination of misconduct” as ESIC continues its investigation.
“To protect the integrity of the ongoing process, the Esports Foundation will not comment further on the underlying investigation at this stage,” it added.
With the development, PlayTime were forced to forfeit their Survival Stage match against Vici Gaming. VG advanced to take on 1w Team in Round 2, where the four winners are set to qualify for the playoffs.
