Magisk returns to Astralis

Astralis have officially confirmed the return of Emil "<a href="/en/players/magisk" target="_self">Magisk</a>" Reif — one of the most decorated players in the organization’s history. He takes the spot of Martin "<a href="/en/players/stavn" target="_self">stavn</a>" Lund, who left the roster due to personal reasons.Magisk is back with the team where he achieved his greatest success: between 2018 and 2021 he won three Major titles and multiple other tournaments, including the IEM Grand Slam and BLAST events.His return is expected to bring the team much-needed experience and stability, especially after recent struggles and a series of disappointing results at major championships.According to the&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 player</a>&nbsp;himself, he is incredibly happy to once again wear the Astralis star and is motivated to help the team in the remainder of the season, starting with the upcoming FISSURE Playground 2 tournament, where he will debut in the renewed lineup.

BLAST Open London 2025: First Teams Eliminated

The first two days of BLAST Open London 2025 set the stage — ECSTATIC and Virtus.pro became the first teams to be eliminated from the tournament.ECSTATIC ended their run after two defeats: against Vitality (1:2) in the opening stage, and in the elimination match against fnatic — 0:2 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-ancient" target="_self">Ancient</a>&nbsp;(8:13) and&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;(7:13).Virtus.pro were knocked out after losing to M80 in the lower bracket: the series ended 1:2, despite VP’s dominant performance on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-overpass" target="_self">Overpass</a>&nbsp;(13:4).Both teams failed to advance further despite attempts to fight back in the lower bracket — their chances of reaching the final stage are now gone.

BLAST Open London 2025: Results of the First Day

The first day of the BLAST Open London 2025 group stage was packed with action and surprises.Natus Vincere confidently defeated fnatic 2:0, making a strong case for group leadership.FaZe Clan overcame ECSTATIC in a close 2:1 series, where&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jcobbb" target="_self">jcobbb</a>&nbsp;had a solid debut.GamerLegion crushed Virtus.pro 2:0, fully capitalizing on their advantage.The most spectacular match was the clash between Vitality and M80. Despite M80’s explosive start (13:3 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-overpass" target="_self">Overpass</a>&nbsp;and 19 frags from&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/lake" target="_self">Lake</a>), the team couldn’t keep up the momentum and fell to Vitality on the decider.The day’s results showed that favorites started strong, but unexpected comebacks and intense clutches set a high pace for the tournament.

MIBR sign kl1m after saffee benched

The Brazilian organization is in the middle of a major rebuild. Right after AWPer Rafael&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/saffee" target="_self">saffee</a>&nbsp;Costa was moved to the bench, MIBR announced the loan signing of Russian talent Klimentiy&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kl1m" target="_self">kl1m</a>&nbsp;Krivosheev, previously part of G2 Ares’ academy roster.For MIBR, this is an important step: the team hopes kl1m’s aggressive playstyle will compensate for recent struggles and inject fresh energy into the squad. He now joins the core led by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/insani" target="_self">insani</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/brnz4n" target="_self">brnz4n</a>.

saffee benched: MIBR continues roster overhaul

Brazilian organization MIBR has announced that sniper Rafael “<a href="/en/players/saffee" target="_self">saffee</a>” Costa has been moved to the bench. This marks the team’s second roster change in a short time, following the addition of Nicollas “<a href="/en/players/nicks" target="_self">nicks</a>” Polonio, who replaced Lucas “<a href="/en/players/lucaozy" target="_self">Lucaozy</a>” Neves earlier in the season.saffee joined MIBR in June 2023 after a successful spell with FURIA. During his two years with the team, he claimed titles at ESL Challenger Melbourne, MEO XL Cup, and RES Latin American Series, as well as a top-four finish at ESL Pro League Season 20. He also represented the team at major tournaments, including the Perfect World Shanghai Major and BLAST.tv Austin Major.However, 2025 turned into a difficult year for him. His rating fell sharply from 1.07 in 2024 to 0.96 over the past months. MIBR struggled with overlapping roles, inconsistency, and an over-reliance on Felipe “<a href="/en/players/insani" target="_self">insani</a>” Yuji.The summer signing of nicks didn’t turn things around either. The team had a disappointing start to the Fall season, finishing 9–12th at FISSURE Playground 1 and crashing out early at both IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty Season 2. saffee averaged just 0.87 rating across these events, trailing behind Breno “<a href="/en/players/brnz4n" target="_self">brnz4n</a>” Poletto (0.92) and team leader insani (1.15). Overall, MIBR managed to win only one of six series.The current MIBR core is now:Rafael “<a href="/en/players/exit" target="_self">exit</a>” LacerdaBreno “brnz4n” PolettoFelipe “insani” YujiNicollas “nicks” PolonioCoach Jhonatan “jnt” SilvaMeanwhile, Rafael “saffee” Costa remains benched, awaiting the organization’s next move.

EWC 2025 CS2 concluded — The MongolZ are champions

The Esports World Cup 2025 in Counter-Strike 2 has come to an end, with The MongolZ emerging as the big winners. In the decisive match, the Mongolian roster confidently defeated Aurora Gaming 3:0.The final went fully under the control of The MongolZ: they closed out&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;after a tense overtime battle (16:14), followed by wins on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>&nbsp;(13:9) and&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>&nbsp;(13:4). On their way to the title, they also eliminated GamerLegion, 3DMAX, and Vitality, showcasing consistent and aggressive CS2 throughout the event.The star of the championship was Sodbayar “<a href="/en/players/techno" target="_self">Techno</a>” Munkhbold, crowned as the MVP of EWC 2025. It was the first MVP award of his career. Techno finished the tournament with the highest rating of 1.39, led in kills, KD difference, and several other key metrics. Even in the grand final, he shined, ranking just behind his teammate&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/senzu" target="_self">Senzu</a>. For his outstanding performance, Techno also received an additional cash bonus.Team Falcons secured third place after defeating Vitality in the bronze match. Vitality, despite their strong results earlier in the year, once again fell short of the final after losing to The MongolZ in the semifinals.With this victory, The MongolZ not only claimed their first major international LAN title but also firmly established themselves as serious contenders on the CS2 world stage.

Results of the BLAST Bounty Season 2 2025 Semifinals

The semifinals are over, and two main contenders for the trophy have been determined.Spirit vs MOUZ Spirit confidently booked their spot in the final, beating MOUZ 2:0.&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-ancient" target="_self">Ancient</a>&nbsp;ended in a close 16:14, while on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;Spirit quickly sealed the map 13:5.The MongolZ vs Vitality In the second semifinal, The MongolZ delivered a surprise by eliminating Vitality. The match also ended 2:0: Mirage — 13:7,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>&nbsp;— 13:11. The standout player of the series was&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/senzu" target="_self">Senzu</a>, who finished with a 1.44 rating.<h2>Final</h2>The grand final will see Spirit face The MongolZ. This decisive clash promises to be the highlight of the season.

Quarterfinal Results of BLAST Bounty Season 2 2025

The MongolZ vs Aurora Gaming The MongolZ confidently secured their spot in the semifinals, defeating Aurora Gaming 2:0. On&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust II</a>, the match ended 13-11, while on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;the team pulled off an impressive comeback — from 0-11 to a final score of 16-13. A crucial moment was&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/blitz" target="_self">bLitz</a>’s 1v3 clutch on Mirage, which gave the team their first T-side round and turned the tide of the game. On the CT side, The MongolZ built a solid defense with a double&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins/awp" target="_self">AWP</a>&nbsp;setup, preventing the opponent from setting the pace.MOUZ vs Astralis MOUZ defeated Astralis in a BO3 series, winning 2:0 and showing consistent play on both maps.Vitality vs Team Liquid Vitality convincingly overcame Team Liquid, taking both maps —&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>&nbsp;16-13 and&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>&nbsp;19-16 after a hard-fought battle.Team Spirit vs Virtus.pro Spirit also claimed victory, defeating Virtus.pro 2:0.<h2>Semifinal matchups</h2>MOUZ vs SpiritVitality vs The MongolZThe semifinals promise thrilling clashes: MOUZ and Spirit will meet in a tactical battle for a spot in the grand final, while Vitality and The MongolZ will decide who becomes the main contender for the trophy.

CS2 Update: Night Maps, Smooth Animations, and a New Music Kit

Valve has once again refreshed CS2, and this update is more than just technical tweaks — it adds atmosphere, style, and a touch of unexpected beauty.<h2>What's New</h2>Night Map Versions Ancient and Shoots can now be played at night. Deep shadows, wet surface reflections, moss, and soft lighting transform familiar routes into entirely new tactical challenges. Every dark arch or corner could become an ambush.Updated Weapon Animations The devs made weapon movements smoother and more responsive. The new reload animation for the&nbsp;<a href="/en/heavy" target="_self">CS2 shotgun</a>&nbsp;feels especially satisfying. The delay between inspecting and shooting is now almost nonexistent — everything flows in one rhythm.Deluge Music Kit Box &amp; Limited M4A1-S | Solitude A fresh music kit has been added in both standard and StatTrak versions. Fans of rare&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins" target="_self">CS2 skins</a>&nbsp;should keep an eye on the M4A1-S | Solitude — an item that will make you stand out in any match.Comfort &amp; Stability You can now change resolution and aspect ratio directly in "Fullscreen Windowed" mode. Performance has been improved, and removing the ability to change the fps_max command during matches will protect the game from unfair scripts.Why This Is Cool CS2 is now not only more comfortable but also more expressive. Night maps bring new scenarios for attack and defense, while improved animations make shooting more enjoyable. Add rare skins and a fresh soundtrack — and you’ve got an update worth testing in your next matches.

BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 2 Quarterfinal Matchups: Who Plays Who

The organizers of BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 2 have finalized the quarterfinal bracket. This time, the pairing format was unusual — the bottom four seeds got to choose their opponents themselves. This twist added intrigue and a bit of psychological warfare even before the matches began.<h2>Match schedule</h2>August 14 MOUZ vs Astralis The MongolZ vs Aurora GamingAugust 15 Team Vitality vs Team Liquid Team Spirit vs Virtus.pro<h3>How the opponent selection went</h3>Aurora Gaming made the first move, picking The MongolZ. Aurora’s captain,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/maj3r" target="_self">MAJ3R</a>, noted that it would be a hot and stylish showdown.Virtus.pro surprised many by choosing to face the reigning champions — Team Spirit. A bold decision that immediately sets a high tension level.Astralis went for MOUZ, a team they have shared many close and dramatic encounters with.Team Liquid ended up with Team Vitality, with their captain calling it a great test for the squad at this point in the season.The quarterfinals promise maximum intrigue: bold challenges, classic rivalries, and teams willing to take risks to advance. CS2 fans can only wait for the games to begin and prepare for some spectacular battles.

Magisk returns to Astralis

CS2 case opening sites