Jame replaces ArtFr0st in PARIVISION

<h2>Summary of changes in PARIVISION and the newlineup</h2><p>After the announcement of&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/updated-roster-virtus-pro" target="_self"><a href="/en/blog/updated-roster-virtus-pro" target="_self">roster changes in Virtus.Pro</a></a>, there was much speculation about where their sniper and captain,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jame" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/jame" target="_self">Jame</a></a>, would go. However, on January 13, 2025, it was officially confirmed that he would replace the young and talented sniper&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/artfr0st" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/artfr0st" target="_self">ArtFr0st</a></a>, who was moved to the bench.</p><p>On the same day, PARIVISION announced the signing of two additional players: TRAVIS and nota, both from AMKAL’s bench.</p><p>The current PARIVISION roster is as follows:</p><ul><li>Alexey "<a href="/en/players/qikert" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/qikert" target="_self">Qikert</a></a>" Golubev</li><li>Andrey "<a href="/en/players/belchonokk" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/belchonokk" target="_self">BELCHONOKK</a></a>" Yasinskiy</li><li>Dzhami "Jame" Ali</li><li>Emil "<a href="/en/players/nota" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/nota" target="_self">nota</a></a>" Moskvitin</li><li>Alexander "<a href="/en/players/travis" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/travis" target="_self">TRAVIS</a></a>" Timkiv</li><li>Dastan "dastan" Akbayev (coach)</li></ul>

HEROIC has completely disbanded their roster and is assembling a new one

<h2>The last HEROIC roster lasted for more than half a year and achieved decent success during this time.</h2><p>The first to announce their transfer was a trio consisting of Damjan '<a href="/en/players/kyxsan" target="_self">kyxsan</a>' Stoilkovski, Abdul '<a href="/en/players/degster" target="_self">degster</a>' Gasanov, and René '<a href="/en/players/teses" target="_self">TeSeS</a>' Madsen. The players joined Team Falcons, where they teamed up with&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/magisk" target="_self">Magisk</a>&nbsp;and Nikola '<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>' Kovač, who had left G2 and joined the lineup a few days before the HEROIC trio.</p><p>Next to leave the team was&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/nertz" target="_self">NertZ</a>, who transferred to Liquid to replace&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/yekindar" target="_self">YEKINDAR</a>, who had been benched.</p><p>The last player to leave the roster was&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/sjuush" target="_self">sjuush</a>, who had been with the team for nearly four years. His future team remains unknown.</p>

Train to Replace Vertigo at Austin Major

<h2>The first Major of 2025 will feature an updated map pool.</h2><p>Valve has announced that Train will replace Vertigo at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, marking Train’s return to CS2 Majors for the first time since 2019.</p><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train CS2</a>&nbsp;was removed from the active duty map pool in May 2021 to make room for Ancient. After the release of Counter-Strike 2, the map was temporarily unavailable but made a comeback with a rework in November 2024.</p><p>While Train has retained its recognizable structure, the rework introduced significant changes, such as the removal of the ladder in Pop Dog and a partially rerouted path from Ivy to site A.</p><p>The addition of Train means&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-vertigo" target="_self">Vertigo in CS2</a>&nbsp;will leave the active duty pool. Despite numerous updates made by Valve since Vertigo was introduced to CS2 in 2019, the map has elicited mixed reactions from the Counter-Strike community.</p><p>Let’s take a moment to recall some players who showcased stellar performances on this map during the CS:GO era, still competing today, and who could deliver masterful gameplay:</p><ol><li>Oleksandr "<a href="/en/players/s1mple" target="_self">s1mple</a>" Kostyliev</li><li>Nicolai "<a href="/en/players/device" target="_self">device</a>" Reedtz</li><li>Gabriel "<a href="/en/players/fallen" target="_self">FalleN</a>" Toledo</li><li>Aleksi "<a href="/en/players/allu" target="_self">allu</a>" Jalli</li><li>Ladislav "<a href="/en/players/guardian" target="_self">GuardiaN</a>" Kovács</li></ol><p>At the Shanghai Major, Vertigo was played only three times in the elimination stage and not a single time during the playoffs, as many top teams opted to ban the map outright.</p><p>Valve has not specified the exact date for the map rotation, but their announcement confirmed that the change will take effect by the start of the BLAST.tv Austin Major.</p>

Updated Roster of Virtus.pro

<h2>FL4MUS and ICY Become the New Players for Virtus.pro</h2><p>Virtus.pro were among the first to make roster changes – initially, VP announced the departure of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jame" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/jame" target="_self">Jame</a></a>, followed by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/n0rb3r7" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/n0rb3r7" target="_self">n0rb3r7</a></a>'s exit. After these announcements, there was much speculation about who would join the 'Bears.' Eventually, it was revealed that the roster had been reinforced by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/fl4mus" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/fl4mus" target="_self">FL4MUS</a></a>&nbsp;from GamerLegion and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/icy" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/icy" target="_self">ICY</a></a>&nbsp;from Cloud9.</p>

YEKINDAR leaves Liquid

<h2>Mareks is stepping down to the bench and awaiting proposals from teams.</h2><p>The Latvian player spent two and a half years with Liquid but failed to secure any major trophies despite solid performances in numerous qualifiers for large tournaments.</p><p>As the&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/yekindar" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/yekindar" target="_self">YEKINDAR</a></a>&nbsp;himself stated on his social media, he is grateful to the organization for all the time and emotions but is ready to grow and achieve new successes in the future.</p><p>At the moment, Liquid has not announced a new player, and their roster currently looks as follows:</p><ol><li>Justin '<a href="/en/players/jks" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/jks" target="_self">jks</a></a>' Savage</li><li>Keith '<a href="/en/players/naf" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/naf" target="_self">NAF</a></a>' Markovic</li><li>Russel '<a href="/en/players/twistzz" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/twistzz" target="_self">Twistzz</a></a>' Van Dulken</li><li>Roland '<a href="/en/players/ultimate" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/ultimate" target="_self">ultimate</a></a>' Tomkowiak</li><li>Torbjørn 'mithR' Nyborg (coach)</li></ol>

Roster Changes in BIG

<h2>rigoN and syrsoN Leave the Main Roster of BIG</h2><p>After BIG was eliminated from the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 in 15th-16th place, it seemed inevitable that roster changes were on the horizon.</p><p>The first reports confirmed that Rigon "<a href="/en/players/rigon" target="_self">&nbsp;</a><a href="/en/players/rigon" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/rigon" target="_self">rigoN</a></a>" Gashi would leave the team and become a free agent starting January 1, 2025, after spending just 6 months with the organization.</p><p>The following day, it was revealed that sniper Florian "<a href="/en/players/syrson" target="_self">&nbsp;</a><a href="/en/players/syrson" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/syrson" target="_self">syrsoN</a></a>" Rische would also part ways with the team and be available for transfer to another organization starting in 2025.</p><p>With the announcement of these changes, the current BIG roster is as follows:</p><ul><li>Johannes "<a href="/en/players/tabsen" target="_self">&nbsp;</a><a href="/en/players/tabsen" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/tabsen" target="_self">tabseN</a></a>" Wodarz</li><li>Jon "<a href="/en/players/jdc" target="_self">&nbsp;</a><a href="/en/players/jdc" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/jdc" target="_self">JDC</a></a>" de Castro</li><li>Karim "<a href="/en/players/krimbo" target="_self">&nbsp;</a><a href="/en/players/krimbo" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/krimbo" target="_self">Krimbo</a></a>" Moussa</li><li>Alexander "kakafu" Szymanczyk (Coach)</li></ul>

Team Spirit are the champions of Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024

<h2>Team Spirit Secure a Hard-Fought Victory on the Final Map of the Finals</h2><p>FaZe Clan, despite a shaky start at the RMR, managed to knock out Vitality in the tournament's quarterfinals and followed up with a commanding victory over G2 in the semifinals. It seemed they had every chance to claim the championship. For&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/karrigan" target="_self">karrigan</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/rain" target="_self">rain</a>, this marked their second Major final in 2024, but once again, they fell short, finishing in second place with a 1-2 loss on maps.</p><p>Team Spirit showed inconsistent form during the qualifying rounds and were on the brink of elimination. However, after advancing to the playoffs, the Russian team regrouped. In the quarterfinals, they convincingly&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/major-shanghai-semi-finalists-determined" target="_self">defeated Liquid</a>, and in the semifinals, they fought hard to secure a victory over MOUZ. The final match proved to be a nail-biter.</p><p>On the first map, Nuke, which was FaZe's pick, Team Spirit, led by captain Leonid “<a href="/en/players/chopper" target="_self">chopper</a>” Vishnyakov, secured a decisive 13:8 victory.</p><p>The second map was Ancient, where FaZe Clan—renowned for their resilience—quickly turned the tide with a dominant 13:6 win, pushing the match to a decisive third map: Dust2.</p><p>The first half of Dust2 ended with Team Spirit leading 8:4, bolstering their confidence. By the midpoint of the second half, the score had grown to 12:5, seemingly assuring victory. However, FaZe mounted a fierce comeback, narrowing the gap to 12:11 after several intense rounds. In the final round, Dmitry “<a href="/en/players/sh1ro" target="_self">sh1ro</a>” Sokolov, in a 1-vs-2 scenario, outdueled both&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/broky" target="_self">broky</a>&nbsp;and karrigan, securing the championship for Team Spirit.</p><p>Danil “<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>” Kryshkovets was named both the best player of the final and the tournament MVP. Nevertheless, Boris “<a href="/en/players/magixx" target="_self">magixx</a>” Vorobyov also deserves recognition for delivering consistently positive performances across all maps and clinching numerous pivotal rounds with his exceptional skill.</p><p>With this victory, donk emerges as the leading candidate for the 2024 Player of the Year award, ahead of his key competitors,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>, who exited the tournament earlier.</p>

The semi-finalists for Major Shanghai 2024 have been determined

<h2>Quarter-Finals Recap</h2><p>The quarter-finals took place over two action-packed days, with two Best-of-Three (BO3) matches per day. Let’s delve into the key highlights from each matchup:</p><h4>The MongolZ vs MOUZ</h4><p>In the first quarter-final, two young and highly motivated teams clashed. The MongolZ entered the match on a 13-game winning streak, signaling their strong form and ambitions for the championship. On the first map, Ancient, their pick, the Asian team started dominantly, securing a 9-3 lead in the first half on offense and extending it to 12-7 in the second. However, MOUZ showcased their resilience, forcing the map into overtime and eventually winning 16-14.</p><p>The crushing defeat on Ancient seemed to demoralize The MongolZ, who struggled to recover on the second map, Nuke, losing 13-9. Although eliminated, The MongolZ won the hearts of many fans with their spirited performance</p><h4>Team Spirit vs Liquid</h4><p>The second match of Day 1 saw Team Spirit take on Liquid, with the Russian team entering as heavy favorites. Team Spirit lived up to expectations, sweeping the series 2-0 with scores of 13-9 on Anubis and 13-11 on Dust2.</p><p>A standout performer was Danila “<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>” who secured two aces on the first map and finished the series with an impressive 47-25 overall score. Liquid, led by “<a href="/en/players/twistzz" target="_self">Twistzz</a>” seemed unprepared for the aggressive and cohesive gameplay displayed by Team Spirit.</p><h4>G2 vs HEROIC</h4><p>Day 2 began with an intense battle between G2 and HEROIC. While G2 were considered favorites, HEROIC’s tenacity and consistent performance throughout the tournament made them formidable opponents.</p><p>HEROIC dominated the first map, Ancient, their choice, taking a swift 13-6 victory. Despite this setback, G2 rallied back to claim their pick, Nuke, forcing a decider on Mirage. The final map proved to be a nail-biter, going into overtime before G2 narrowly secured a 16-13 win. Key players like&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;stepped up for G2, while HEROIC's sniper,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/degster" target="_self">degster</a>&nbsp;put up a valiant effort.</p><h4>Vitality vs FaZe Clan</h4><p>The final quarter-final pitted Vitality against FaZe Clan, with Vitality heavily favored. The "bumblebees" lived up to the hype on the first map, Nuke, chosen by FaZe, securing a convincing victory. However, FaZe is a team that thrives under pressure, and they turned the tide on Mirage, leveling the series.</p><p>The decider map, Anubis, saw FaZe take complete control, leaving Vitality with little room to respond. Robin “<a href="/en/players/ropz" target="_self">ropz</a>” Kool was the star of the final map, delivering a stellar 28-10 performance with a 2.0 rating, which proved instrumental in FaZe’s triumph.</p><h4>Semi-Final Showdowns</h4><p>The semi-finals are set to be thrilling contests:</p><ul><li>MOUZ will face off against Team Spirit.</li><li>G2 will take on FaZe Clan for the last spot in the finals.</li></ul>

Jame transferred to the bench of Virtus.pro team

<h2>The Russian IGL/AWPer has been removed from the starting roster following a disappointing season.&nbsp;</h2><p>Virtus.pro announced on December 11, 2024, that longtime teammate Dzhami “<a href="/en/players/jame" target="_self">Jame</a>” Ali has been moved to the bench. This decision followed the team’s underwhelming performance this season, which ended with an early exit in the opening stage of the Shanghai Major.</p><p>In an official statement, Virtus.pro CEO Nikolai Petrosyan described the move as “inevitable” after the disappointing outcome in China.</p><p>Jame joined Virtus.pro in December 2019 when the organization acquired the AVANGAR roster, concluding its partnership with the Polish squad.</p><p>During his tenure, Jame achieved considerable success, including victories at Flashpoint 2 and cs_summit 7 during the online era. In late 2022, competing under the neutral name Outsiders—adopted after Virtus.pro faced tournament bans due to alleged ties to the Russian government—the team staged an improbable campaign to win the IEM Rio Major title.</p><p>However, Virtus.pro struggled to maintain that momentum. In 2023, they secured three LAN trophies, all at second-tier events (FiReLEAGUE Battle and ESL Challenger tournaments in Katowice and Atlanta) and reached the finals of PARI Dunav Party and BetBoom Dacha. By 2024, the team’s results had declined significantly, even after acquiring Denis “<a href="/en/players/electronic" target="_self">electroNic</a>” Sharipov in April.</p><p>The second half of the season was especially turbulent. Virtus.pro replaced their coaching staff twice: first, Andrei “Xoma” Mironenko was succeeded by Dastan “dastan” Akbaev, and later, analyst Pavel “PASHANOJ” Legostaev was promoted to head coach. These changes were aimed at revitalizing the team’s performance before the season’s conclusion.</p><p>Virtus.pro began their RMR campaign with a surprising loss to Passion UA but rebounded with victories over TSM, 9 Pandas, and Sashi. However, their struggles continued at the Major, where they finished with a 1-3 record after losses to MIBR, BIG, and Wildcard.</p><p>Current Virtus.pro Roster:</p><ul><li>Russia – Denis “electroNic” Sharipov</li><li>Russia – Evgenii “<a href="/en/players/fl1t" target="_self">FL1T</a>” Lebedev</li><li>Russia – David “<a href="/en/players/n0rb3r7" target="_self">n0rb3r7</a>” Danielyan</li><li>Russia – Petr “<a href="/en/players/fame" target="_self">fame</a>” Bolyshev</li><li>Coach: Pavel “PASHANOJ” Legostaev</li><li>Bench: Dzhami “Jame” Ali</li></ul><p>Jame, a two-time HLTV Top 20 player, is now open to offers as he looks to continue his career.</p>

Maxster Benched in Ninjas in Pyjamas

<h2>The Fate of Maxster in Ninjas in Pyjamas</h2><p>Despite initial expectations, Swedish player Max “<a href="/en/players/maxster" target="_self">maxster</a>” Jansson will not compete for Ninjas in Pyjamas in 2025. The organization confirmed that the 20-year-old player has been benched by mutual consent and is no longer part of the team’s plans for the upcoming year.</p><p>Two days later, Maxster stated that he was feeling much better, but the organization opted not to rush his return to action. Originally slated to rejoin the team in 2025, both parties are now working on an exit strategy to conclude their partnership.</p><h4>Maxster’s History</h4><p>Maxster is a graduate of the Young Ninjas academy, where he played from March 2022 to March 2024 before being promoted to the main roster. His time in the primary lineup, however, proved challenging. Ninjas in Pyjamas struggled with roster instability and failed to advance beyond the group stages of ESL Pro League Seasons 19 and 20, as well as BLAST Premier Fall Groups. Nonetheless, Maxster contributed to the team's success, including a notable second-place finish at the YaLLa Compass tournament.</p><p>In October, Maxster was placed on the injured list ahead of Elisa Masters Espoo, where NIP faced an early exit after losses to B8 and JANO.</p><h4>Current Ninjas in Pyjamas Roster</h4><ul><li>Fredrik “<a href="/en/players/rez" target="_self">REZ</a>” Sterner (Sweden)</li><li>Gareth “<a href="/en/players/mistem" target="_self">MisteM</a>” Ries (South Africa)</li><li>Isak “<a href="/en/players/isak" target="_self">Isak</a>” Fahlén (Sweden)</li><li>Artem “<a href="/en/players/r1nkle" target="_self">r1nkle</a>” Moroz (Ukraine)</li><li>Richard “Xizt” Landström (Coach, Sweden)</li><li>Max “maxster” Jansson (Bench, Sweden)</li></ul><p>During Maxster’s absence, Jacob “jocab” Nerheden, a player from the Young Ninjas academy, stepped in. Jocab participated in the Elisa Masters, the Thunderpick World Championship, and Svenska Cuppen, where NIP reached the grand final but lost to Metizport. He also played at the YaLLa Compass Fall event.</p><p>Later, Ninjas in Pyjamas confirmed that&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jocab" target="_self">Jocab</a>&nbsp;would remain in the active lineup for the Perfect World Shanghai Major RMR. The future of Maxster within the team remains uncertain.</p>