Two FPX Jungler Scandals: From Bo’s Match-Fixing to Milkyway’s Leak — LPL Faces Another Integrity Crisis
I. Overview
Between 2021 and 2025, the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) faced two major scandals involving FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) junglers — Bo (Zhou Yangbo) and Milkyway (Cai Zijun).
Though separated by several years, both cases raised serious questions about player integrity, team oversight, and the professional standards within China’s top esports ecosystem.
II. The Bo Match-Fixing Incident
In February 2021, FPX jungler Bo (Zhou Yangbo) voluntarily confessed to the club and the league that he had engaged in match-fixing during his time competing in the LDL (League of Legends Development League) in 2020. FPX promptly released an official statement confirming Bo’s self-report and forwarded the matter to the LPL’s disciplinary committee.
Following an official investigation, the committee verified Bo’s involvement in match-fixing during the LDL season. However, since he came forward voluntarily and cooperated fully, the LPL issued a four-month suspension (from March 2 to July 1, 2021), rather than a lifetime ban.
Bo claimed that he was coerced into participating in the scheme — a statement that sparked debate among fans. While many sympathized, the LPL maintained the punishment, citing the need for accountability. FPX suspended Bo from all competitive and team activities, and the player eventually faded from the professional scene.
The Bo case remains one of the few examples in Chinese esports history where a player self-reported involvement in match-fixing, revealing vulnerabilities in the development league’s oversight, financial structure, and player education system.
III. The Milkyway Leak Scandal
Four years later, FPX found itself mired in controversy once again. On November 12, 2025, multiple esports accounts reported that the LPL had issued a permanent ban on FPX jungler Milkyway (Cai Zijun), prohibiting him from competing in any League of Legends tournaments worldwide — making him the first player in a major region’s top league to be permanently banned.
The incident dates back to August 2024, when a Weibo user accused Milkyway — then a member of RNG (Royal Never Give Up) — of leaking internal scrim and draft strategy (BP) information during the 2024 Demacia Cup group stage.
The whistleblower also shared several alleged chat screenshots. FPX immediately suspended Milkyway’s matches and training sessions and reported the matter to the league that same evening, pledging full cooperation with the investigation.
During the inquiry, Milkyway posted on Weibo denying any sale of BP data and claimed to have filed a police report, but no further updates followed. Eventually, the LPL concluded that he had seriously violated competitive integrity and professional ethics, issuing a permanent suspension from all professional play.
Ironically, Milkyway had been celebrated as the LPL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and rejoined FPX from RNG on July 30, 2024, with high expectations as the team’s starting jungler. The ban abruptly ended his career and reignited concerns about discipline and trust within FPX’s player management.
IV. Public and Industry Reactions
Both scandals triggered widespread backlash across the LPL community. FPX, once the 2019 World Champion, faced intense criticism for its repeated failures in player oversight and ethical training.
The Bo incident exposed vulnerabilities in the LDL — a league where lower wages and weaker supervision made young players susceptible to external influence. The Milkyway case, on the other hand, demonstrated that even at the top level, some players were still willing to breach integrity for personal reasons.
Analysts and fans alike called on the league to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, improve education on professional conduct, and establish safer, more transparent reporting systems to protect both players and the game’s credibility.
V. Conclusion
From Bo’s coerced match-fixing confession to Milkyway’s permanent expulsion, FPX’s jungler scandals reflect more than individual misconduct — they highlight the ongoing battle between competitive ambition and ethical responsibility in modern esports.
As the LPL enforces stricter disciplinary measures, the message is clear: integrity is non-negotiable. Esports, at its core, is not just about mechanical skill or victory — it is about fairness, trust, and accountability.
Only by upholding these principles can the league — and its players — truly earn the respect of the global stage.
The above content is compiled by ModeZone, a fashion and entertainment magazine.
