Rumors are swirling around the esports scene suggesting that Cloud9 may soon face significant roster changes with the potential exits of Abay "Hobbit" Khasenov and Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy. These departures, if confirmed, could signal a major shift for the team's strategy and composition.

Hobbit, 29, has been a foundational rifler for Cloud9 for nearly two years, showcasing his skills notably at IEM Dallas 2022, where he helped the team to a victory with a tournament-ending 6.0 rating. His performance remained robust at the IEM Rio Major 2022, achieving a top-eight finish with a 6.1 rating. His potential exit raises questions about the team’s future direction.

READ MORE: Cloud9 are eliminated from qualifying for the Esports World Cup 2024

24-year-old Perfecto has been with Cloud9 for only nine months but quickly became a key player. His tenure includes a victory at the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2023 Europe, which not only brought the team a $20,000 prize but also a coveted spot at the BLAST Premier Fall Final 2023. He maintained a solid performance with a 6.0 rating at the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, helping the team to another quarter-finals finish.

The most recent challenge for the team was the Esports World Cup 2024 qualifiers, where they secured a third-place finish, albeit with a stand-in player. This performance, while strong, was tinged with uncertainty as the roster speculation intensified. Following the exit of another key player, Electronic, who moved to VirtusPro earlier, Cloud9 seems to be in a phase of recalibration.

Source: X