When Clutchain entered the esports world in early April by signing the women's team Pigeons, followed shortly by a French men's roster featuring legendary player Adil "ScreaM" Benrlitom and his brother Nabil "Nivera" Benrlitom, the project seemed promising. However, what appeared to be a genuine commitment to competitive gaming quickly unraveled into a cautionary tale.
The foundation of Clutchain rests on a mobile application that rewards Counter-Strike players for their performance by connecting to FACEIT accounts. Players earn currency called Greens through kills, quests, and mini-games, which can be used for ecological initiatives. The company also planned to deploy luxury gaming capsules at various global locations, manufactured by a Hong Kong partner and bookable through the app.
Suspicions arose when French content creator Nyouz released a video highlighting potential red flags, including vague descriptions, loose verification requirements, and questionable business practices. The community's reaction to the men's roster announcement was overwhelmingly negative, with many labeling the project suspicious.
Despite these warning signs, both teams signed contracts. The men's team was promised a monthly budget of thirty thousand euros covering salaries and event expenses, while discussions had begun months before the public announcement. The relationship between founder David Sacha and the players started deteriorating immediately after the controversial video surfaced.
Players requested that Sacha publicly address the concerns, but he refused, asking ScreaM to handle explanations himself. The Belgian star declined. Communication broke down further when promised bootcamps were cancelled and salary payments stopped coming through after March.
The women's team traveled to a Brazilian tournament without receiving their May salaries, with Sacha promising payment upon his return from China. Despite finishing third, they were told funding had dried up because they hadn't won. Meanwhile, the men's team also faced mounting unpaid wages.
Currently, the women's roster is owed approximately twenty-eight thousand euros, while the men's team faces a debt of around forty thousand euros. Players have been forced to move back with parents or find alternative employment. One particularly bitter outcome is that ScreaM's competitive return has been cut short, as this was intended to be his final team.
Sacha maintains that the esports rosters were merely marketing tools for the capsule business, claiming the investment yielded fewer than thirty monthly active users. He acknowledges mistakes in communication and missed payment deadlines but rejects accusations of fraud, stating the capsule production continues with the first unit completed in China.
For the players, however, these explanations offer little comfort. They remain stuck in limbo, aware that recovering their owed money is unlikely. The collapse represents another devastating blow to the women's competitive scene, which was already struggling after the closure of ESL Impact prompted many organizations to exit.
What began as an exciting opportunity featuring some of Counter-Strike's most recognizable names has ended with broken promises, financial losses, and shattered careers. The players' trust was exploited, leaving them to pick up the pieces of a project that prioritized business ambitions over the people who believed in it.
