Kick off by delving into the key offseason roster shifts and exploring the alterations made by prominent teams in the field. In this piece, you’ll find a rundown of the major roster transformations, along with a review of top-tier teams that opted to maintain their lineups. As we gear up for the new season commencing on Monday!
Team Spirit: no changes
In 2024, Team Spirit achieved great success with victories at IEM Katowice and the Shanghai Major. Despite speculation about changes, the team has chosen to maintain stability. The planned move of academy player Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin to the main roster has been postponed, keeping the current lineup intact.
- Boris “magixx” Vorobiev
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov (IGL)
- Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia
- Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov
- Sergey “hally” Shavaev (coach)
G2 Esports: NiKo out, HeavyGod in
In the offseason, the most significant change was Nikola “NiKo” Kovač moving to the Falcons team following four years with G2. This shift has massive repercussions for the roster. Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa takes over NiKo’s previous roles, while Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko joins from Cloud 9 to strengthen the team’s key positions. Although the departure of NiKo’s star power is noticeable, G2’s revamped roster has potential to outshine, with Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov leading as one of the world’s top AWPers.
- Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski (IGL)
- Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa
- Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač
- Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas (coach)
Natus Vincere: no changes
Following a highly successful year marked by an unexpected win at the inaugural CS2 Major in Copenhagen, Natus Vincere has managed to steer clear of significant roster changes. Even with Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev temporarily stepping back from the team, the Ukrainian organization maintains its consistent lineup.
- Mihai “iM” Ivan
- Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen (IGL)
- Justinas “jL” Lekavicius
- Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov
- Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy (coach)
Vitality: ropz replaces Spinx
After enduring several tough months, Vitality has decided to part ways with Lotan “Spinx” Giladi and brings in Robin “ropz” Kool on a transfer not requiring any payment. By teaming up the Estonian standout with Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, they form a potentially unstoppable duo that could rule the 2025 season.
- Robin “ropz” Kool
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (IGL)
- Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
- William “mezii” Merriman
- Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (coach)
MOUZ: no changes
Following their victory in ESL Pro League Season 19, MOUZ successfully protected their up-and-coming player, Jimi “jimpphat” Salo, from being recruited by other teams. The team remains committed to its talented and prospective mainstay players.
- Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek
- Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás
- Dorian “xertioN” Berman
- Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo
- Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin
- Dennis “sycrone” Nielsen (coach)
FaZe Clan: enter EliGE!
FaZe Clan swapped out Robin “ropz” Kool with Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski from Complexity. Despite encountering difficulties in 2024, the recruitment of EliGE offers experience and firepower to a team seeking consistency. It’s worth noting that EliGE was also a target for G2.
- Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
- Håvard “rain” Nygaard
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen (IGL)
- Helvijs “broky” Saukants
- David “frozen” Čerňanský
- Filip “NEO” Kubski (coach)
FURIA: no changes
Regardless of his upcoming 34th birthday in May, Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo continues to guide FURIA into a new season, prioritizing the value of experience and team harmony over personnel adjustments. The core of the Brazilian team stays unchanged.
- Yuri “yuurih” Santos
- Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato
- Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo (IGL)
- Marcelo “chelo” Cespedes
- Felipe “skullz” Medeiros
- Sid “sidde” Macedo (coach)
Liquid: -YEKINDAR, +NertZ
The team aims to address its firepower problems by swapping out Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis with Guy “NertZ” Iluz. Yet, the absence of a defined entry fragger creates uncertainty regarding the team’s role distribution.
- Guy “NertZ” Iluz
- Keith “NAF” Markovic
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken (IGL)
- Justin “jks” Savage
- Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak
- Torbjørn “mithR” Nyborg (coach)
Delighted to announce that Chill Guy has joined our squad! Can’t hide my excitement – it feels like getting an excellent gift this holiday season. I’ve been hoping to bring him aboard for quite some time now.
— Russel van Dulken (@Twistzz) January 6, 2025
Astralis: no changes
Following significant financial outlay in past campaigns, Astralis has chosen to stick with their existing team, hoping for further advancement. Yet, it’s uncertain whether Casper “cadiaN” Møller can yield the same influence on a rifle, as he did with HEROIC while wielding an AWP.
- Nicolai “device” Reedtz
- Martin “stavn” Lund
- Casper “cadiaN” Møller (IGL)
- Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard
- Victor “Staehr” Staehr
- Casper “ruggah” Due (coach)
Falcons: NiKo arrives at last
As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled about the new chapter the Falcons are embarking on with Nikola “NiKo” Kovač. Last time, we missed out on securing his talent in 2023, but this time around, we’ve finally landed our man! Emil “Magisk” Reif remains the sole survivor from the previous Falcons team, but now he’s joined by the former HEROIC core – Abdul “degster” Gasanov, René “TeSeS” Madsen, and Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski. With this powerhouse lineup, backed by Saudi investors, we’re aiming high, ready to compete at the top level!
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- Emil “Magisk” Reif
- Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski (IGL)
- Abdul “degster” Gasanov
- René “TeSeS” Madsen
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (coach)
It is time to set the World on Fire.
Welcome, @G2NiKo
— Falcons Esports (@FalconsEsport) January 3, 2025
The MongolZ: no changes
After their successful 2024 playoff appearance at the Shanghai Major, The MongolZ opt to retain their team, aiming to build upon their achievements.
- Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold
- Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch
- Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren (IGL)
- Ayush “mzinho” Batbold
- Munkhbold “Senzu” Azbayar
- Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat (coach)
BIG Clan: hyped returns, as kyuubii debuts
The Big Clan has reinstated Marcel “hyped” Köhn, their former academy AWPer, and have also welcomed Can “kyuubii” Ali, a young German player who hasn’t previously played for Big or Big Academy. There were rumors about Johannes “tabseN” Wodarz possibly leaving, but the founding member is returning for the ninth year with the organization.
- Can “kyuubii” Ali
- Marcel “hyped” Köhn
- Johannes “tabseN” Wodarz (IGL)
- Karim “Krimbo” Moussa
- Jon “JDC” de Castro
- Alexander “kakafu” Szymanczyk (coach)
HEROIC: another fresh start
As a gamer, I’m excited about the new direction my former Danish team has taken, transforming into what seems to be a 7-member squad. They’ve brought in key players like Sangal’s core and added Álvaro “SunPayus” García and Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich to the roster. It looks like Linus “nilo” Bergman and Pavle “Maden” Bošković will eventually join the starting lineup. Can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together!
For now, HEROIC are:
- Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç
- Álvaro “SunPayus” García
- Linus “LNZ” Holtäng (IGL)
- Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
- Simon “yxngstxr” Boije
- Eetu “sAw” Saha (coach)
- Linus “nilo” Bergman (substitute)
- Pavle “Maden” Bošković (substitute)
we are so back
— HEROIC (@heroicgg) January 10, 2025
Ninjas in Pyjamas: massive overhaul with four new players
The experienced in-game leader Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, previously benched by Falcons, will now take charge of the newly formed team. Accompanying him will be Rasmus “sjuush” Beck and two former SAW players: Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing and Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto. The squad will also include Artem “r1nkle” Moroz, the sole player from NIP’s previous lineup who remains, completing the roster.
The Ninjas will lineup as follows:
- Artem “r1nkle” Moroz
- Rasmus “sjuush” Beck
- Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer (IGL)
- Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing
- Michel “ewjerkz” Pinto
- Richard “Xizt” Landström (coach)
2025 CS2 Season is gearing up to be an electrifying ride, offering a tantalizing blend of continuity and daring transformations throughout the landscape. As a fervent fan, I can hardly contain my excitement for the season’s launch with BLAST Bounty on January 14, leading the way, and then the legendary IEM Katowice later in the month. Let the matches commence!
Read More
- ARB PREDICTION. ARB cryptocurrency
- ZK PREDICTION. ZK cryptocurrency
- XDC PREDICTION. XDC cryptocurrency
- W PREDICTION. W cryptocurrency
- XRD PREDICTION. XRD cryptocurrency
- BNB Price Retraces: Altcoin Giant Trims Recent Gains, Can It Recover?
- FLOKI PREDICTION. FLOKI cryptocurrency
- DGB PREDICTION. DGB cryptocurrency
- Matter Labs Drops All ‘ZK’ Trademark Applications: Details
- Vishnu Manchu finally ENDS THE SILENCE over ongoing family feud between Manchu Manoj and Mohan Babu
2025-01-10 21:10