keoz accuses kONO of “pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit” in unpaid salary row

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 19/01/2026

BLAST Paris Major 2023 Grand Finalist, Nicolas ‘Keoz’ Dgus, has accused Ukrainian esports organisation, kONO.ECF of “pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit” as a result of the fallout in the player’s attempt to be paid his salary.

The organisation was co-founded and co-owned by former Ukrainian international footballer, Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Keoz takes legal action over unpaid salary

Keoz took to social media to announce his grievance with the organisation, detailing his alleged experience in attempting to retrieve his salary, stating:

“KONO has breached my contract. Organisation of Ukrainian football player @kono10official [Yevhen Konoplyanka] have not paid my guaranteed salary for December, despite a valid obligation to pay no later than the X day of each month.

I am asking for nothing more than the minimum salary guaranteed by the contract.

Instead of payment, I received pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit me.”

The player later added that the pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit included accusations of match-fixing, where the player was asked to take a polygraph test.

Keoz stated, “These accusations appeared only after the organization breached the contract.”

Keoz stated that he had attempted to retrieve his salary on multiple occasions, stating that kONO’s roster was inactive in December as “the organisation decided not to use the roster,” arguing that the move does not contractually represent a ‘benching’, which typically reduces salaries.

The Belgian went on to confirm that he was taking legal action against the org, stating, “Unpaid guaranteed salary, pressure, and defamation leave no other option than to speak publicly as I’ve made kONO aware of this choice and gave them a Formal Legal Demand earlier.”

Esports News UK has reached out to the organisation for comment, but has yet to receive a reply.

Who is kONO?

kONO is a Ukrainian organisation founded and owned by Oleg ‘Walkman’ Shustenko and Ukrainian international, Yevhen Konoplyanka, after whom the organisation is named.

Keoz joined kONO in August of last year, following a transfer from a short-term deal with British organisation, The Last Resort, following the roster’s 7th-8th place finish at EPIC.LAN 45.

The Belgian joined the organisation alongside the still-active members of the team, Thomas ‘birdfromsky’ Due Frederiksen and Johannes ‘b0RUP’ Borup.

The TLR core joined Ukrainian AWPer, Denys ‘Burmylov’ Buraha, in the organisation.

The roster climbed to #67 in the VRS rankings in October, but later plateaued before falling to its current rank of #116 after that inactive December period.

Regardless of the spat, the team is still representing the organisation, defeating rottweilers 2-0 in the CCT S3 EU Series 14 Closed Qualifier today in their first HLTV match since November.

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.

All Posts By Darragh Harbinson