Expert slams KRAFTON's treatment of Himass and Tan Vuu: Permanent ban amid 'stream-sniping' controversy at PUBG Asia Stars 2026

Two top Vietnamese PUBG players, Lã Phương Tiến Đạt (Himass) and Trần Tấn Vũ (Tan Vuu), have been permanently banned from their accounts and had their competition eligibility revoked by KRAFTON following allegations of 'stream-sniping' at the friendly tournament PUBG Asia Stars 2026. This move has sparked a strong backlash from the domestic and international gaming community, especially from communities in China, Taiwan, and Thailand. The crux of the controversy lies in whether the organizers published a rule banning 'stream-sniping' before the event. According to a former gamer turned expert, the organizers 'did not fully prepare prevention measures, evaluation criteria, and clear sanctions from the beginning.' This raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the disciplinary process. If no clear rule existed beforehand, applying the maximum penalty of a permanent account lock could be seen as a retroactive and unjust decision. News of an apology letter from the organizers to the players further fuels the criticism. The organizers admitting 'weak management' while the publisher issued a maximum penalty creates a paradox: fault is distributed across both parties, but the consequences fall entirely on the players. This has led to suspicions that KRAFTON is 'shifting all responsibility to the players instead of resolving the organizers' own mistakes.' Additionally, many believe the ruling is biased in favor of the Korean player, especially as communities from Vietnam, China, Taiwan, and Thailand have jointly spoken out in defense of the two Vietnamese players. Another notable aspect is the economic and career impact of the ban. Himass and Tan Vuu are not unknown players; they have won world championships and multiple continental titles. The permanent account lock means they lose all accumulated in-game assets, which, according to the expert, could be worth billions of VND. This is not just a personal blow but a significant loss for Vietnamese esports as its two top pillars are permanently removed from the scene. The blind spot in this story is the lack of an official statement from KRAFTON. The article relies solely on the account of a former gamer, with no publisher response or concrete evidence of the rule. This makes it difficult to assess the severity of the 'stream-sniping' issue. Meanwhile, technical measures like broadcast delay are entirely feasible and widely adopted. The failure to implement them at a friendly tournament raises questions about the organizers' responsibility and capability to ensure the integrity of the event. The sad reality is that the players have little chance to appeal. PUBG has no registered legal entity or office in Vietnam, making legal action nearly impossible. This creates a significant legal loophole where the publisher can impose the harshest penalties without facing proportionate legal accountability. The expert's advice to gamers is to only engage with games that have registered a legal entity in Vietnam to protect their rights. Whether KRAFTON will change its decision or not, this story has exposed a systemic issue in the esports industry: too much power is concentrated in the hands of the publisher, while the community and players have almost no voice. When 'friendly' tournaments can lead to 'permanent' bans, the future of professional players is becoming more precarious than ever. The stands may be empty, but the hearts of the Vietnamese gaming community are still beating fiercely for two names: Himass and Tan Vuu.