Top Esports jungler Naiyou is being hit with several penalties for match-fixing in the LPL, including a permaban from all Riot events.
Former Top Esports jungler Yang “naiyou” Zi-Jian was hit by the League of Legends Esports banhammer following his admission of match-fixing games in the LPL.
Earlier this month, Naiyou admitted to match-fixing all of their games in the LPL 2026 Split 1 playoffs. Coach Chang “Poppy” Po-Hao was the one to first reveal this information to the public.
Naiyou banned for life and disqualified from awards
The official statement from the LoL Esports team’s Weibo account outlined the investigation and the punishment for Naiyou.
Upon investigation, it was found that Yang Zijian (ID: naiyou) committed several serious violations during the tournament that directly and/or indirectly affected the fairness of the competition, thereby violating Articles 12.1.1.1 and 13.1.1 of the League of Legends Pro League Competition Rules.
– LoL Esports on Weibo
The LPL Disciplinary Management Team is issuing the following penalties to the jungler:
- Naiyou is banned for life.
- Effective immediately, Naiyou is prohibited from participating in any professional or semi-professional competitions organized by Tencent, Tencent Esports, or Riot Games, in any region worldwide, in any capacity.
- Naiyou is disqualified from any official honorary awards.
The above text is directly translated from LoL Esports’ Weibo post. “This penalty is not the end of the matter. Based on leads uncovered during the investigation, the League’s disciplinary management team will continue to pursue the matter and share relevant information regarding suspicious individuals within the entire League’s esports ecosystem,” the post read.
“Those who seek to undermine the League have no place to stand and nowhere to hide. The League reiterates: Conduct that compromises the fairness of competition is a cancer on the industry’s development, a forbidden zone for professional players, and a line that must never be crossed.”
Additionally, Top Esports is hitting him with a separate set of penalties for his transgressions. They are taking the following steps:
- The contract between Naiyou and Top Esports is terminated, all cooperation is severed, and he is permanently barred from being employed within the club.
- All outstanding wages, tournament prize money, and team benefits owed to Naiyou will be withheld.
- TES reserves the right to pursue legal action for breach of contract and financial damages.
- The entire club will conduct specialized anti-match-fixing awareness training and various other management mechanisms to prevent further cases.
Should Top Esports choose to take Naiyou to court, then the consequences of his actions may become bigger still.
Top Esports has yet to sign on or call up a replacement for Naiyou, but they have very limited time to do so; they are currently competing at the EWC 2026 China Qualifier.