Krafton Permanently Bans Himass and TanVuu for Stream Sniping at PUBG Asia Stars 2026
Krafton has permanently banned Vietnamese PUBG players Himass (Lã Phương Tiến Đạt) of Anyone’s Legend and TanVuu (Trần Tấn Vũ) of GAM x The Expendables following a full investigation into competitive integrity violations at PUBG Asia Stars 2026. The decision, announced on September 23, 2026, includes permanent locks on their PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS game accounts and lifelong exclusion from all official Krafton-sanctioned esports events worldwide.
The exhibition tournament, which featured professional players and streamers from multiple Asian regions, was derailed by the controversy that began on its opening day.
Official Decision and Investigation Findings
Krafton confirmed that both players engaged in stream sniping and the use of external information during matches. A comprehensive review of official broadcasts, participant footage, in-game data, and replays showed that Himass and TanVuu obtained information difficult to acquire through normal gameplay and applied it to their decision-making and tactics.
The company applied operating policy clauses prohibiting game disruption/harassment and abusing. It also cited violations of the conduct and behavioral standards expected of professional PUBG esports players. Krafton emphasized that it has never officially permitted watching other participants’ broadcasts or using external information during matches, regardless of the event’s nature, prize pool, or participant mix.
The sanctions took effect immediately: permanent account bans and permanent disqualification from events including the PUBG Global Championship (PGC), PUBG Global Series (PGS), PUBG Nations Cup (PNC), and all other Krafton-organized or sanctioned competitions. Both players retain the right to appeal under established esports procedures.
Krafton also issued a separate apology to Korean streamer Soopi, who was among those affected during the tournament and subsequent fallout. The company pledged protection, assistance with legal action against false claims and harassment, and ongoing monitoring for further harm. An internal review of event management, communications, investigations, and decision-making is underway, with plans for preventive measures.
Background of the Incident
PUBG Asia Stars 2026 opened on September 17 as an online exhibition event involving players from Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Allegations of stream sniping surfaced after Day 1 matches. Korean participants reported that Vietnamese players Himass and TanVuu had kept personal stream chats open on secondary monitors and received external game information such as opponent positions and player counts through viewer chat.
The players later acknowledged receiving some external information while reading chat and noted that Team Korea, specifically player Soopi, was affected. They stated they believed the practice was not prohibited under the event’s rules at the time and that personal streaming had been allowed.
Krafton’s initial response on September 19 announced roster changes, delayed streams for major matches, reissued operational guidelines, and strengthened monitoring without immediately naming the players. After further criticism, the company identified Himass and TanVuu and excluded them from the remaining matches, replacing them with Taikonn and Hoangf. Their PUBG Partner status in Vietnam was also revoked.
All eight Korean participants boycotted Day 2 in protest over the handling of the situation and discrepancies between private assurances and public statements. On September 20, Krafton canceled Day 3, stating that equal conditions of trust could no longer be guaranteed. Prize money was distributed equally across participating regions. On September 21, the head of PUBG Publishing publicly confirmed the stream-sniping violations and accepted full responsibility for operational and communication failures.
Reactions from Involved Parties
The players’ organizations responded after the permanent bans were announced. GAM x The Expendables, TanVuu’s team, did not dispute that he opened his personal stream chat during matches. However, the organization argued that a permanent account ban and lifelong competitive exclusion were disproportionate for a showmatch-style event where personal streams were permitted and the specific rule was not explicitly detailed in the tournament rulebook at the time. The team called for a fair and transparent appeal process with clear criteria and timelines, and asked Krafton to review the proportionality of the sanctions given the company’s own admitted operational shortcomings.
Anyone’s Legend, Himass’s organization, stated it is reviewing the relevant regulations and procedures to support the player’s right to appeal.
The controversy had earlier drawn strong community reactions, including online disputes between regional fanbases and sponsorship suspensions by some partners associated with Korean events.
Broader Implications
The permanent bans effectively end Himass’s and TanVuu’s participation in official PUBG esports under Krafton. Both players have significant competitive pedigrees: Himass is a former PGS champion and PNC 2025 MVP with Vietnam, while TanVuu has contributed to major titles including PGC success with The Expendables.
The episode has highlighted challenges in defining and enforcing rules around external information and personal streaming in hybrid exhibition formats that mix professionals and content creators. Krafton has acknowledged shortcomings in pre-event rule clarity, consistent cross-regional communication, initial fact-finding, and participant protection. The company has committed to internal reforms and stronger safeguards against recurrence.
Players retain the right to appeal the sanctions through established channels. Krafton has indicated it will cooperate with any related legal processes and continue efforts to support affected participants.
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