How SumaiL Lost a Two-Year Lawsuit Against Evil Geniuses

Said Samael Hassan, known in the eSports community under the nickname SumaiL, became famous not only for his gaming achievements, but also for a high-profile lawsuit against the American organization Evil Geniuses (EG), where he began his career in 2015. This process, which lasted more than two years, became a resonant event, raising questions about contracts in eSports and the rights of professional players. The story began with a contract concluded between SumaiL and EG in 2016. At that time, the 16-year-old player received 400 thousand shares of the club, which at that time was considered a profitable offer. But three years later, after a change in the organization’s management, the terms were revised. These changes, as Hassan’s lawyers claimed, significantly worsened the player’s financial situation.
In 2019, EG’s new owner, Peak6 Strategic Capital, revised the share structure. SumaiL was given two categories of shares: common (265,338 shares) and restricted common (106,667 shares). These changes, as the player’s defense claimed, deprived him of a number of privileges. Preferred shares were now fully controlled by Peak6, providing their owners with increased dividends and protection from claims. The lawyers claimed that the player was not only insufficiently informed about the differences in shares, but also deliberately concealed these details. On this basis, they accused EG of manipulation and bad faith.
However, this was only the first point in a long list of claims. When SumaiL decided to leave the team in 2019, he was offered a change in the terms of his contract. The new agreement would allow him to play for other teams, but with a number of restrictions. For example, participation in tournaments was only allowed at the qualifier stage. The pay was also cut significantly, from the original $20,000 per month to $2,000. The alternative was to terminate the contract entirely, in which case EG would pay Hassan $125,000, a sum that the player’s side felt did not reflect his contribution to the team’s success.
Evil Geniuses’ position and the trial
EG claimed that all their actions were transparent and legal. In their statements, they emphasized that the contracts were drawn up taking into account Hassan’s interests, and all controversial issues could be considered with the participation of independent consultants. Moreover, EG claimed that they were ready to compromise, including “generous” terms when severing relations.
EG’s lawyers emphasized that SumaiL voluntarily signed all the agreements. They rejected the accusations of coercion and manipulation, calling them unfounded.
The trial ended in a complete defeat for Hassan. The jury found that Evil Geniuses’ actions were legal, and the conditions offered to the player were fair. The main argument of the defense was the fact that SumaiL had the opportunity to consult with lawyers and financial experts, but did not do so.
The verdict also refuted the thesis of coercion. The court found no evidence that the organization had abused its position or misled the player.