The UK-based esports organization Into the Breach has announced its imminent shutdown after an internal investigation uncovered embezzlement of company funds by a key financial decision-maker. The organization revealed that this misconduct left them in an untenable financial state, forcing them to halt all competitive operations.
At the center of the controversy is CEO Sam “SlayTheMinotaur” Macedonio Cook, who admitted in a separate statement to leading a double life—one as a dedicated leader and the other as what he described as a “self-destructive, alcoholic narcissist”. He confessed to mismanaging and misappropriating company funds for personal use, acknowledging that his actions will have legal repercussions, which he is prepared to face. Cook further promised that efforts would be made to repay those affected with the remaining available funds.
In detailing the financial downfall, Cook disclosed that Into the Breach generated approximately $5 million in 2023 and around $1.9 million in 2024. However, he admitted to taking $650,000 in director loans at inappropriate times and without proper procedural oversight, using the money recklessly on substance-fueled binges and self-destructive behavior.
Despite these financial issues, the current roster of Into the Breach has struggled to make a competitive impact. The team has not attended any LAN tournaments and failed to participate in the Shanghai Major qualifiers. As of now, they sit at 70th place in HLTV’s global rankings.
With the organization set to dissolve, the future of its players remains uncertain. As esports fans and industry insiders react to the shocking collapse, questions linger about how the fallout from this scandal will impact the players and staff moving forward.
Current Into the Breach lineup:
- Owen “smooya” Butterfield
- Dionis “sinnopsyy” Budeci
- Nicolas “Keoz” Dgus
- Hristiyan “REDSTAR” Pironkov
- Kamil “reiko” Cegiełko
- Coach: Gustavo “Juve” Alexandre
