How a chat-viewing scandal and Korea’s boycott derailed PUBG Asia Stars 2026

Ahsan Kabir Published September 22, 2026

KRAFTON has confirmed the cancellation of Day 3 of the PUBG Asia Stars 2026 following fairness issues involving two Vietnamese players, Himass and TanVuu. According to KRAFTON, the duo obtained unauthorized in-game information from their own livestreams during Day 1.

The regional tournament featured 48 PUBG players, influencers, and partners from countries including China and Vietnam, all competing across nine game modes for a total prize pool of $70,000.

What happened during day 1 of PUBG Asia Stars 2026?

Image credit: Krafton

The conflict started after the September 17 matches. As per the KRAFTON investigation, Himass and TanVuu accessed their private stream and received information about the game externally via the viewers’ chat.

The two players subsequently apologized, admitting that they had their chat running during the live esports match on a second screen.  However, they did not admit to deliberately watching opponents’ broadcasts.

KRAFTON confirmed that external information was viewed, but the ongoing investigation is still determining whether the players watched other participants’ streams, used the information to gain an in-game advantage, or shared details with their teammates. The investigation relies on match recordings, personal broadcast footage, and team voice communications.

Himass and TanVuu removed from the event

KRAFTON made an initial announcement regarding roster changes and later identified Himass and TanVuu as the players involved. Both of them were subsequently removed from the remaining match and replaced with new players. Some related event scores also get adjusted.

KRAFTON also revoked both players’ PUBG Partner status. Further disciplinary action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

Team Korea boycott Day 2 and KRAFTON admit operational failure

The situation escalated when all eight Korean participants skipped Day 2 as a protest against the handling of the incident. The major point of disagreement is the wording of the player apology.

Korean participants expect an admission concerning stream sniping, while apologies describe confirmed action as receiving external information through viewer chat. This difference contributes to creating distrust between participants and the organizer.

KRAFTON also accepts responsibility for problems with their own response. The company admitted it communicated information before properly verifying facts and later failed to provide sufficient updates while the investigation is ongoing.

Image credit: Krafton

It also acknowledged the gap in event rules. The original setup does not clearly address checking real-time chat, watching another participant’s personal broadcast, or receiving external information. Broadcast delay is also not mandatory from the beginning. KRAFTON introduced delay and strengthened monitoring after controversy emerged.

Cancellation of PUBG Asia Stars Day 3

KRAFTON finally concluded that the remaining competition could not proceed on equal terms with adequate trust among those who were involved. Thus, the third day was canceled, and the final results will not be determined on the basis of the three-day format.

Instead of distributing $70,000 according to the planned 1st-to-6th-place standings, KRAFTON mentioned that the prize money will be paid equally across participating regions.

KRAFTON apologized to participants, partners, sponsors, and fans affected by the controversy and said the investigation into the remaining allegation will continue. In summary, the incidents ultimately became bigger than the action confirmed on Day 1, with the dispute also exposing weaknesses in event rules, broadcast setup, and communication.

This isn’t the first time this year that a PUBG tournament has been disrupted this year. Towards the end of July, the Games of the Future (GOTF) Astana was taking place. This tournament wasn’t hosted by Krafton, but it was being broadcasted in its PUBG Esports YouTube channel as it featured a staggering $1 million prize pool along with all top teams.

However, after a first day that was filled with technical delays and broadcast issues, PUBG Esports cut the live broadcast from its official channel.

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Featured image credit: KRAFTON