UPDATE: Solo lane player Jeroen "Xaliea" Klaver has published a statement on behalf of the former members of Paradigm. As exhibited though several chat logs between captain Emil "Lawbster" Evensen and team manager Lydia Picknell, Klaver shows the salary contract the team was offered, which amounted to a $1 salary for each member of the team, no profits from skin sales and a 25 percent cut for the organization on winnings.
Klaver says the team found this contract "unsignable." Paradigm will continue to receive all profit from branded skin sales, but Klaver said the players are "just happy about keeping [their] spot, as it is most important to [them]." The five former members will continue playing together in the Smite Pro League under the temporary name Bipolar Method, and are currently seeking sponsorship deals.
Original story continues below.
Hi-Rez Studios has announced a competitive ruling against Smite Pro League team Paradigm Esports, requiring the organization to forfeit its spot to the players of the team. The resolution was the result of Hi-Rez's investigation into a conflict between the two sides.
This decision comes at the peak of an ongoing dispute between the players and Paradigm management. Hi-Rez reportedly received information on Sept. 5 showing that Paradigm had required its five players to sign contracts with "grossly unfavorable terms."
The competitive ruling leans in favor of the players, handing control of the SPL spot to team captain Emil "Lawbster" Evensen. League slots are typically owned by team organizations, as per the league rules, but Hi-Rez is making an exception in this case. The Sept. 9 SPL match between Paradigm and Fantastique has been rescheduled for an undisclosed later date.
According to a PVP Live investigation published on Sept. 8, the Paradigm roster was uncomfortable with the new management's approach to player salaries. Owner and manager Lydia Picknell told PVP that players sought 100 percent of winnings from the SPL, as well as 100 percent of the profits from Paradigm skin sales within Smite. Paradigm's players pushed back on Twitter that same day, claiming that there was a large amount of misinformation in the article and promising a full statement; this statement has yet to be published [Update: the statement can be found here].
In a statement from Paradigm's management on Sept. 8, the organization expressed a desire to leave Smite esports altogether. Though it has since been deleted, a cached version acquired by ESPN details the management's frustration with the situation, indicating escalating tension between the roster and management, as well as with Hi-Rez itself. While it was posted a day before Hi-Rez's ruling, the statement claimed that Paradigm was going to be parting ways with Smite for good.
Closing the competitive ruling, Hi-Rez had a straightforward message for Paradigm management: "We also kindly request that Paradigm abstain from involvement in any future eSports events or competitions hosted by or related to us, including those for SMITE and Paladins."