Each Crew Liquid and the USA Overwatch World Cup workforce have distanced themselves from professional participant Rupal in mild of his use of a racial slur.
23-year-old Overwatch professional Rupal Zaman has been dropped from Crew Liquid, and booted from any additional USA OWWC workforce trials after typing a racial slur in Crew Chat in the midst of a livestreamed recreation.
The Help participant with over $350,000 USD in profession prize winnings, was on the shortlist to characterize Crew USA at this yr’s World Cup occasion. Nonetheless, in the midst of a March 16, 2026 Twitch stream of the workforce’s trials, the participant value himself the spot.
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We received’t repeat the message right here, however an anti-Black racial slur was dropped into the workforce chat in the course of the stream. This message has led to Rupal’s removing from the workforce trials, alongside along with his long-term professional squad underneath Crew Liquid.
Overwatch professional Rupal dropped from Crew Liquid and USA OWWC workforce
After the incident, the USA World Cup workforce despatched out an announcement, addressing how Rupal is “now not being thought-about for the 2026 roster.
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“We keep a zero-tolerance coverage for one of these conduct. Unity and equality are core ideas of our workforce, and we’re dedicated to upholding these values.”
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Crew Liquid co-CEO Steven Arhancet adopted up moments later, saying Rupal had been launched from their skilled Overwatch lineup as effectively.
“Certainly one of our Overwatch gamers used an anti-Black racial slur within the chat throughout a scrim. I need to be unequivocal in condemning the language he used. There is no such thing as a place for it in our recreation, in our group, or on this group.
“We additionally acknowledge that Rupal is a frontrunner in NA’s Overwatch scene, however he’s additionally a teenager who made a severe mistake in a really public method. We hope this turns into a second of real reflection and development for him. Not the top of his story, however a turning level in it. We want him effectively.”
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Rupal began his skilled profession in 2020. After just a few years within the decrease circuits, he made his Overwatch League debut in 2022 as a part of Florida Mayhem the place he would later win a world championship. He then had a stint with Toronto Defiant, and was on Crew Liquid for over a yr, till this incident.
“No excuses from me,” Rupal mentioned on X (previously Twitter) shortly after. “ I used to be raised in a Bengali family in America. I personally have skilled racism not solely in America however in different nations as effectively. Due to this fact, I ought to know that utilizing such offensive language is horrible and never one thing that needs to be mentioned so casually.
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Labelling it a “horrendous mistake,” Rupal introduced a break from aggressive Overwatch and streaming. “I don’t think about myself a hateful particular person. Sorry to all who supported me.”
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