Late June on the Counter-Strike professional scene has always been the calm before the storm: it's during this period that behind-the-scenes negotiations take place, the results of which fans will learn about in the coming month. This year, the pro scene might once again surprise us with unexpected reshuffles. In this article, we'll discuss the most notable potential CS2 transfers.
G2 Esports Continues to Stagnate
The management of G2 showed decisiveness by swiftly announcing the departure of Nemanja "nexa" Isaković the day after the conclusion of BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024. This transfer initially raised many questions among the community. Why add a player to the team who previously served as captain when they already have an IGL? Nexa's lack of impressive statistics added to the criticism towards Nikola "NiKo" Kovač, accused of assembling a team of friends in G2.
The exclusion of Justin "jks" Savage from the roster remains a mystery. The only explanation for his departure came from Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen: "he wasn't the player G2 needed." However, comparing jks's statistics to nexa's makes it clear that the Australian was more valuable to the team, especially considering G2's victories in Katowice and Cologne. Nexa's dismissal could be seen as an important step towards success. His place was taken by Mario "malbsMd" Samayo, who showed impressive results on the tier-2 scene in America.
However, G2 Esports problems weren't limited to nexa. HooXi has always been a controversial figure in the team. Initially, his low performance amused the community, but now it's become irritating. It's surprising how NiKo continues to tolerate Nielsen, considering his game sometimes blatantly lets the team down. Perhaps HooXi is indeed a strategic asset in CS2, but it would be more logical to consider transitioning him to a coaching role. NiKo has already proven capable of leading a team as well as HooXi, and given his age (27 years), he should consider a role change to stay at the top for many more years. If NiKo doesn't wish to remain captain, there are excellent candidates available in the market.
Where Does cadiaN Go Next?
Kasper "cadiaN" Møller, a talented captain-sniper, would be a great addition to any tier-2 team. His recent stint with Team Liquid was unsuccessful despite attempts to build a new Heroic. The North American organization's results over the past six months were far from ideal, but this isn't solely cadiaN's fault. Several factors, including Felipe "skullz" Medeiros's inconsistent performances and Marek "YEKINDAR" Galinskis's unstable form, contributed to Liquid's failures. While cadiaN shares some responsibility, placing all the blame on him is unfair. His future in the professional scene remains uncertain, but three potential career paths can be speculated.
Firstly, a move to Ninjas in Pyjamas might be considered. If Artem "r1nkle" Moroz moves up, there might be an opening for a sniper role in the team. This transition could benefit NiP, especially under the coaching of Richard "Xizt" Landström, with whom cadiaN has worked in Heroic.
Secondly, G2 is another option. Sooner or later, the team might have to admit that HooXi doesn't meet their requirements despite his CS2 knowledge. With Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov in top form, cadiaN could easily switch to a rifler role. This would give him the opportunity to play alongside some of the world's strongest players and could rejuvenate G2's lineup and improve their results.
The third option is a transfer to Team Falcons. Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer clearly struggles with his duties, and cadiaN could integrate well into the Danish core. However, he would have to accept a role change from sniper to rifler.
Where Will HObbit Continue His Career?
Abay "HObbit" Khasenov is unlikely to lack invitations from various teams, and if he desires, he can easily find a new collective. However, the key issue is whether a new team can meet his ambitions. As a major champion, HObbit has high expectations, and not every club can meet them.
At the moment, HObbit hasn't disclosed his plans for returning to the pro scene. Khasenov is no longer the young aggressive player specializing in aggressive gameplay, but rather a stable shooter who demonstrates excellent results. With his strong command of English, he can fit into any tier-1.5 team needing an experienced CS veteran.
s1mple Needs to Make a Decision
Former Natus Vincere member Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyljev has largely disappeared from the limelight since his stint as a stand-in for Falcons. Currently, he occasionally streams and focuses on developing his school, teaching CS gameplay. However, many fans would like to see him return to the professional scene.
s1mple hasn't been in his best form for a while, but his knowledge and experience still allow him to compete among the best players in the world. Now, he needs to be honest about his plans: either he returns to prove his prowess on the pro scene once more, or he retires. For many CS fans who aren't actively following the scene, he remains one of the strongest players on the planet. Therefore, it's important for s1mple to let his fans know whether he's searching for a new team or preparing for a "esports retirement."
The upcoming S-tier event will be the Esports World Cup 2024, taking place from July 17-21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fifteen teams will compete for a prize pool of one million dollars. Teams such as NAVI, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, G2, and others will participate in the tournament.
Comments