The historic iBUYPOWER Counter-Strike team is not currently shown as competing. As of October 8, 2026, HLTV’s team profile says it is not playing events and lists no matches in its past-three-month view. That describes the esports team, not the status of the iBUYPOWER PC brand, and it does not rule out a future roster. HLTV’s team profile does not establish that the company has announced a revival.
What made iBUYPOWER a notable Counter-Strike team?
iBUYPOWER was a successful North American Counter-Strike side, with several strong finishes in major league events. Its record is more useful than an unqualified claim that it was the best team: HLTV lists two ESEA Invite Global Finals titles, a FACEIT League runner-up finish, and a third-place finish at another ESEA Invite Global Finals.
| Event | Recorded finish |
|---|---|
| ESEA Invite Season 15 Global Finals | 1st |
| ESEA Invite Season 16 Global Finals | 1st |
| FACEIT League Season 2 Finals | 2nd |
| ESEA Invite Season 17 Global Finals | 3rd |
At the four Majors listed on HLTV’s team record—DreamHack Winter 2013, EMS One Katowice 2014, ESL One Cologne 2014, and DreamHack Winter 2014—the team’s recorded finish was the group stage. These placements are recorded in HLTV’s iBUYPOWER event history.
What happened in the match-fixing case?
Valve’s January 26, 2015 statement concerned a CEVO Season 5 match between iBUYPOWER and NetCodeGuides.com. Valve said its review of account history confirmed that a substantial number of high-value items won from the match by Duc “cud” Pham were transferred through Derek “dboorn” Boorn to iBUYPOWER players and NetCodeGuides founder Casey Foster. Valve did not state a monetary value for those items in the post, so a specific dollar figure should not be treated as established by that account. Valve’s statement and follow-up
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Valve directed event partners not to allow seven named people to participate in any capacity in Valve-sponsored events:
- Duc “cud” Pham
- Derek “dboorn” Boorn
- Casey Foster
- Sam “Dazed” Marine
- Braxton “swag” Pierce
- Keven “AZK” Larivière
- Joshua “Steel” Nissan
Valve also warned professional players, managers, and team staff against gambling on CS:GO matches, associating with high-volume CS:GO gamblers, or sharing information that could influence bets. That guidance provides context for Valve’s integrity response; it should not be mistaken for proof of any particular individual’s motive.
What did Valve say about the bans?
In a January 5, 2016 follow-up, Valve said, “Our decision was to ban these players indefinitely from involvement in Valve-sponsored events.” It also clarified: “To clarify, the bans for these players are permanent, and players proven to have taken part in match-fixing will be permanently banned.” Those are Valve’s statements at that time about participation in Valve-sponsored events, not a guarantee that every player’s later eligibility would remain unchanged across all tournaments.
Has iBUYPOWER revived, or is it still active?
As of October 8, 2026, HLTV’s profile indicates that iBUYPOWER is not playing events and shows no matches in its previous three months. This is a third-party activity listing, not an official company announcement. It supports describing the historic team as competitively inactive in the checked record; it does not show that the PC company has closed or that it has definitively ruled out sponsoring another roster.
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The distinction matters: the company or PC brand and the historic Counter-Strike team are not interchangeable. No current iBUYPOWER company or team announcement confirming a new roster is established by the sources cited here.
Did Brax’s reported eligibility change mean the roster was returning?
No. EGW.News reported on March 26, 2026, that Braxton “swag” Pierce’s restriction had ended, reportedly in early 2025. The outlet also reported that he did not plan a competitive return and was considering coaching, analysis, or scouting work. This is secondary reporting about one player; it is not a Valve-wide policy update and does not establish a reunion or revival of iBUYPOWER. EGW.News report on Brax
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What can be said about the team’s future?
The available record supports a clear but limited conclusion: the historic iBUYPOWER roster is not currently listed as competing, and no new roster announcement is established here. Whether the iBUYPOWER brand intends to return to Counter-Strike esports remains unresolved. A player’s individual eligibility, a company’s plans, and a team’s competitive activity are separate questions.
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