PTime Dota 2 Players Banned from EWC26 Over Integrity Investigation

Tobias Ferrante

Published: Jul 15, 2026

ESIC has provisionally suspended Juan ‘Vintage’ Angulo and Oswaldo ‘DarkMago’ Herrera – both associated with the PTime Dota 2 team – from the Esports World Cup 2026 and all ESIC member events, with immediate effect, pending an ongoing integrity investigation into suspected breaches of the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code and Player Code of Conduct.

ESIC published the announcement via its official channels on July 14, 2026, with a full statement linked from the post. The body confirmed it is acting as the integrity partner of EWC26, and described the measures as protective and precautionary – intended to preserve evidence and safeguard competition integrity rather than constitute a finding of guilt.

“ESIC has provisionally suspended Juan ‘Vintage’ Angulo and Oswaldo ‘DarkMago’ Herrera from EWC26 and all ESIC Member events pending an ongoing integrity investigation. These are interim measures only; no final finding has been made,” ESIC (@ESIC_Official) said.

Scope of the Suspensions

Both players are barred from participating directly or indirectly in EWC26 and all ESIC member events for the duration of the investigation. Vintage faces an additional layer of restriction: the interim measure explicitly prohibits him from undertaking coaching, management, strategic, team-facing, or other support functions connected with participating teams or players.

ESIC confirmed both participants have already been interviewed and given an opportunity to respond and submit relevant material, placing the case beyond the initial complaint stage. The suspensions remain active unless varied or lifted by ESIC in writing.

What Happens Next

Any tournament administration or competition decisions affecting EWC26 bracket and roster status will be communicated separately by the Esports Foundation, not ESIC – a meaningful distinction for anyone tracking competitive consequences or EWC26 betting markets. ESIC stated it will not provide further public comment unless the investigation materially progresses or further enforcement action is taken.

Source: ESIC Official Statement

Tobias Ferrante

Since: June 2, 2026

Tobias Ferrante has been following competitive gaming since the early days of LAN tournaments, and his passion for esports eventually collided with a deep interest in betting markets and odds analysis. He approaches esports wagering with the mindset of a strategist rather than a gambler, breaking down team form, meta shifts, and roster changes to help readers make smarter, more informed decisions. His coverage spans titles including League of Legends, CS2, Valorant, and Dota 2.

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