Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, the star in-game leader of Counter-Strike 2 team NAVI and the first Major championship-winning team captain from Finland, has been charged with aggravated tax fraud by Finnish authorities. Aleksib earned the charges based on his income during a critical time in his career.
The charges against Aleksib were initiated by the Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto) and pertain to events in Vantaa, Finland, between May 19 and September 2020. Aleksib was a member of OG at the time after his successful stint with ENCE Esports, where he reached a Major event final with the team. Aleksib may have abused his winnings and salary during the time and used personal income as corporate income through his corporation, which might have led to a large-scale evasion of taxes.
The case against Aleksib is now in the East Uusimaa District Court with a hearing scheduled in April 2026. However, this might interfere with major events such as IEM Rio and BLAST Rivals. Aggravated tax fraud in Finland can result in up to four years in prison.
However, when contacted by Iltalehti, Aleksib did not wish to comment further, revealing only that it is a matter of “income from competitive gaming.” Still, his achievements are quite impressive, as he led NAVI to a victory in PGL Major Copenhagen in 2024, cementing his position as a Finnish icon.
The case of Aleksib is a famous instance of the increased attention paid to the finances of professional gamers, who are reaping huge rewards from tournaments. NAVI is preparing for several tournaments scheduled for the spring, with playoffs of ESL Pro League scheduled for this week.