FunPlus Phoenix has suspended its jungler, Cai “Milkyway” Zijun, following the emergence of leaked private messages suggesting he shared internal team draft details with personal acquaintances. While not directly shared with competitive opponents, the disclosure of this sensitive information poses serious integrity concerns—particularly within the Chinese esports betting landscape, where insider knowledge about champion selections can be exploited for financial gain. The situation draws parallels to past controversies and underscores growing concerns over competitive fairness in the LPL.
FPX Suspends Milkyway Amid Draft Leak Allegations
The controversy stems from messages allegedly dating back to the 2024 Demacia Cup, when Milkyway was playing for Royal Never Give Up (RNG). Just 14 days after celebrating his return to FunPlus Phoenix for Split 3 as their starting jungler, Milkyway has now been indefinitely suspended.
In an official statement issued on August 11, 2025, FPX commented:
“On the evening of August 11, 2025, the club received reports alleging that player Cai Zijun (ID: Milkyway) had acted in violation of the rules during the 2024 Demacia Cup. We are closely monitoring this situation and have suspended all matches and training. The matter was reported to the league that evening, and we are fully cooperating with the investigation.
Currently, we are awaiting the results of the league investigation. Prior to the release of the official investigation report, in accordance with league regulations, the club has indefinitely suspended all relations with the player Cai Zijun.”
Leaked Messages Surface on Reddit
Public attention escalated after a now-deleted Reddit thread titled “LPL Milkyway involved in a betting scandal” gained traction in League of Legends communities. The post included screenshots believed to show Milkyway sharing upcoming draft picks with non-team personnel—exposing unclear but potentially high-risk information.
Though the post was promptly removed, the images have since circulated rapidly across social media platforms and League of Legends fan hubs.
Champion Draft Betting and Insider Risks in China
Betting ecosystems in China extend far beyond match outcomes. Wagers can be placed on first bloods, objective timings, and most notably, champion compositions. Picks involving lesser-used or meta-defying champions generally yield higher payouts—a dynamic that creates substantial incentive for those with insider draft information (NXTbets Guide).
Although domestic gambling is largely prohibited, many punters turn to offshore and gray-market platforms to access these niche betting opportunities. The sharing of unpublished draft information—even if confined to friends—can severely undermine competitive integrity and open the door to serious ethical breaches (LoL Betting Guide).
Prior Integrity Breaches in the LPL
The current investigation isn’t an isolated case in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL). In 2021, former FPX jungler Zhou “Bo” Yang-Bo became entangled in a match-fixing scandal dating back to his tenure in the LDL, China’s secondary league. Although Bo denied participating in wrongdoing during his LPL stint, Riot Games issued a suspension pending further review.
Bo was ultimately handed a four-month ban, significantly shorter than the lifetime sanctions imposed on other involved parties. Despite returning to competitive play, the incident remains one of the most prominent integrity-related controversies in LPL history.
Potential Consequences and League Response
As of August 13, 2025, neither Riot Games nor the LPL has made a public statement regarding the timeline or direction of the investigation. If the allegations against Milkyway are substantiated, repercussions could extend beyond his current suspension—ranging from long-term exclusion to a permanent competitive ban.
Relevant sources and updates are being tracked by multiple esports outlets including Sheep Esports and Esports News UK.
Further Resources and Community Reactions
- Watch LPL’s Darkest Scandals on theScore esports channel for a detailed history of competitive integrity cases in the league.
- Explore Esports Betting Explained via Esports Talk to understand the broader implications of betting in esports.
For developing updates on the story and in-depth LPL coverage, continue following LoLNews.gg.
