Natus Vincere announced the promotion of one of its brightest talents, player Drin “⁠makazze⁠” Shaqiri, to the main roster of the Counter-Strike 2 team. This move was a logical continuation of the young player's impressive performances with NAVI Junior, where he established himself as one of the most promising talents in the world of CS2.

NAVI Junior star

Makazze joined NAVI Junior in 2023 and in two years managed to become a key figure in the team. Over the past 12 months, he has demonstrated a consistently high level of play, achieving an average rating of 6.5. His aggressive style, characterized by a 0.76 kill-to-death ratio and 0.72 deaths per round, made him the ideal candidate for the main roster.

Main roster challenges

The decision to promote Makazze was made against the backdrop of recent difficulties for the NAVI starting lineup. Despite last year's excellent performances, the team failed to reach a single grand final in the first season of 2025. After being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the BLAST.tv Austin Major, head coach Andriy “B1ad3” Gorodensky noted that changes in the lineup were inevitable.

For the next season, we need to have a competitive team, a competitive lineup. We can't stand still; we need to develop because all teams and organizations are trying to break through, and they are progressing and changing their lineups. There is a constant race for, say, the elite spots, the top 5, the top 10. And it is very important not to stand still, so that there is no stagnation in us, so to speak.

Andriy “B1ad3” Gorodensky

It has not yet been announced who exactly will leave the main roster to make room for Makazze. Given his aggressive playstyle, integrating him into the team will require some tactical changes, as NAVI distributes initiation and entry roles among its players. Fans are eagerly awaiting further announcements regarding roster changes and Makazze's debut on the professional stage.

This transition opens a new page in NAVI's history, demonstrating the organization's commitment to developing young talent. Makazze has become a symbol of the success of the NAVI Junior academy, and his promotion serves as an example for the next generation of players.