Clutchain Esports Project Collapses in Payment Dispute

A new month has brought a new story of alleged fraud in esports. This time, the spotlight is on Clutchain, a company that once signed a women's Counter-Strike roster built around the former Imperial fe core, along with a men's team led by stars Adil 'ScreaM' Benrlitom and Nabil 'Nivera' Benrlitom. The case stands out because of the names involved. ScreaM and Nivera are well known across the Counter-Strike scene. As a result, their connection to Clutchain drew far more attention than a typical esports sponsorship deal, and it made the project's later collapse even more visible. read more Setting the Scene Clutchain was designed as a mobile application. Players would use it to play Counter-Strike and earn an in-app currency, which could then be exchanged for prizes. The idea attracted enough interest that Clutchain moved quickly to build a public profile in esports, signing two rosters within days of each other to raise its name recognition. However, the project's early momentum did not last. Doubts about Clutchain's legitimacy began to spread soon after launch, and those doubts would later prove difficult for the company to shake off. The Core of the Story According to HLTV, Clutchain's CEO asked ScreaM and Nivera to call themselves co-founders of the company. Neither player actually held equity or a management role. Soon after, French content creator Nyouz published a video that questioned the project. He pointed to weak identity checks, unusual subscription offers, and other red flags. The backlash that followed hurt the players more than the company. Many fans branded Clutchain a scam. They also criticized the players for taking part. In addition, the relationship between the players and Clutchain's leadership broke down. As a result, the app barely gained traction. Clutchain says it had fewer than 30 monthly active users by the summer. Facing weak growth, the CEO chose to cancel the players' contracts on his own. He skipped the option to warn or fine them first. He then stopped paying the wages both teams were owed. Sources told HLTV that the CEO suggested the players had little chance of recovering their money through legal action. Clutchain is registered in the United Arab Emirates, which he claimed would shield the company. The unpaid amounts are large. Clutchain reportedly owes its former players more than €70,000 combined. That total includes over €30,000 for the women's roster and more than €40,000 for the men's roster. On September 4, Nivera became the first player to leave the team formally. He announced on social media that he had ended his contract and was now a free agent. More departures are likely to follow soon. The Company's Response Speaking to HLTV, the CEO rejected the idea that Clutchain had scammed anyone. He argued that a scam requires an intent to deceive and an exit, and he pointed out that the company and its manufacturing partner remain identifiable. Instead, he described the situation as a business dispute caused by management mistakes, including committing to payment dates that were later missed. At the same time, the CEO placed some blame on the players. He claimed they had not taken part in promotional activities for the brand, which he said breached their contracts. The players, for their part, told HLTV that Clutchain never gave them a proper marketing plan to follow, and that their refusal to promote the company came only after their concerns about the project went unanswered. read more Why This Story Matters For now, the players are left waiting, with little certainty about whether they will ever be paid in full. Meanwhile, Clutchain says it plans to keep developing its separate 'gaming capsule' business, even as its esports rosters disband. The episode is a reminder of how quickly a well-funded esports venture can unravel once trust between an organization and its players breaks down. Therefore, it also highlights the financial risk professional players take when they sign with unproven companies entering the scene, especially ones without a track record in esports.