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>

Participants of the semifinals of Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 have been determined

<h2>Natus Vincere (NaVi) failed to qualify for the quarterfinals in a stunning upset, losing to HEROIC. Meanwhile, FaZe Clan staged an impressive comeback against FURIA, securing their spot.</h2><p>With&nbsp;<a href="/en//blog/vitality-mongolz-first-in-play-off-shanghai-major" target="_self">Vitality and The MongolZ securing the first two spots in the quarterfinals</a>, the remaining slots remained fiercely contested. The competition was intense, as every team seemed deserving of progression.</p><p>On the penultimate day of elimination matches, the following games unfolded:</p><ol><li>MOUZ vs. 3DMAX: The “Mice” triumphed with a clean 2-0 victory, finishing both maps 13-11.</li><li>NaVi vs. GamerLegion: NaVi showcased their strength, also winning 2-0 and advancing to the 2-2 stage.</li><li>FURIA vs. paiN: The most intense match of the elimination round saw two Brazilian teams face off. FURIA emerged victorious with a 2-1 score, thanks in large part to Yuri “<a href="/en/players/yuurih" target="_self">yuurih</a>” Santos, who delivered standout performances in critical moments.</li></ol><h4>Playoff Deciders</h4><p>In the battles for playoff qualification, G2, Liquid, and Team Spirit emerged victorious, sending FaZe Clan, MIBR, and HEROIC into the 2-2 elimination bracket and setting up a nail-biting final day of the Elimination Stage.</p><h4>High-Stakes Matches in the 2-2 Bracket</h4><p>MOUZ vs. MIBR: In the first match of the final day, MOUZ, the favorites, lived up to expectations. They swept MIBR 2-0 with dominant scores of 13-5 and 13-6. Ludvig “<a href="/en/players/brollan" target="_self">brollan</a>” Brolin led the charge with an impressive 38-19 K-D ratio and a stellar 1.74 rating.</p><p>NaVi vs. HEROIC: Despite being predicted by many to make a deep run, if not win the tournament, NaVi fell short against HEROIC in a dramatic best-of-three series.</p><ol><li>The first map, Mirage, saw HEROIC, led by Damjan “<a href="/en/players/kyxsan" target="_self">kyxsan</a>” Stoilkovski, dismantle NaVi 13-3.</li><li>NaVi bounced back on their chosen map, Nuke, dominating 13-5.</li><li>The final map, Ancient, was closely contested, with the first half ending 6-6. However, HEROIC, powered by the stellar play of sniper Abdul “<a href="/en/players/degster" target="_self">degster</a>” Gasanov, gained the upper hand and secured a 13-9 victory, eliminating NaVi from the tournament.</li></ol><p>FaZe Clan vs. FURIA: The final match of the elimination stage was a thrilling showdown between FaZe Clan and FURIA.</p><ol><li>On the first map, Inferno, FURIA, led by the legendary “<a href="/en/players/fallen" target="_self">FalleN</a>” overwhelmed FaZe 13-6.</li><li>Despite the shaky start, FaZe rallied on the next two maps, demonstrating resilience and tactical brilliance. Their comeback victory proved why they remain a fan favorite among&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 players</a>, securing their place in the playoffs.</li></ol>

Vitality and The MongolZ Secure the First Playoff Spots at the Shanghai Major

<h2>The teams from France and Mongolia successfully navigated the Elimination Stage without a single loss, although the journey was far from easy.</h2><p>On the second day of the Legends Stage, the first teams to secure their places in the playoffs were revealed: Vitality and The MongolZ. For the French squad, led by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>, this stage was almost a walk in the park. In contrast, The MongolZ faced a tough battle, with their final match proving to be a significant challenge.</p><p>In the BO3 series for a playoff spot, their opponent was HEROIC, one of the tournament's most formidable teams, undoubtedly worthy of a quarterfinals berth. The first map, Mirage, chosen by The MongolZ, ended in a swift 8:13 defeat for them. However, the second map, Anubis, told a different story. The MongolZ dominated the first half with a 9:3 lead. Despite this, HEROIC mounted an incredible comeback to force overtime but ultimately fell short, losing 17:19. Buoyed by their morale boost, The MongolZ went into the third map with confidence and decisively secured victory in the series.</p><p>Key players in The MongolZ’s success were Munhbold '<a href="/en/players/senzu" target="_self">Senzu</a>' Azbayar and Usukhbayar '<a href="/en/players/910" target="_self">910</a>' Banzragch, who delivered clutch performances in critical moments.</p><h4>Unfortunately, not all teams could continue their journey. WildCard and BIG exited the tournament with a disappointing 0-3 record.</h4><p>In their final matches against GamerLegion and PaiN, both teams put up a fight that went to three maps. However, their opponents proved to be stronger, ending their runs in the tournament.</p>

Unexpected Results from the First Day of the Shanghai Major Elimination Stage

<h2>Vitality, The MongolZ, HEROIC, and MIBR: The Only Undefeated Teams After Day One</h2><p>Vitality, The MongolZ, HEROIC, and MIBR were the only teams to secure victories in both matches on the opening day of the Elimination Stage at the Shanghai Major.</p><p>The day began with a series of BO1 matches, a format notorious for upsets, and this time was no exception—there were surprises aplenty!</p><p>The first upset came from the Brazilians of FURIA, who triumphed over Spirit on Dust2 with a convincing 13-6 scoreline. FURIA nearly delivered a second shocker in their match against Vitality on Mirage. Leading 12-10, they stumbled in two crucial rounds, pushing the game into overtime, where they ultimately fell short.</p><p>Perhaps the most unexpected result of the day was the clash between NaVi and MIBR. The Brazilians opened strong, closing the first half with a dominant 9-3 lead, largely thanks to an outstanding performance by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/insani" target="_self">insani</a>, who finished the half with a 19-7 stat line. In the second half, NaVi, under the leadership of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/aleksib" target="_self">Aleksib</a>, nearly forced overtime. However, in the decisive final round, left in a 2v1 situation on the planted bomb,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/im" target="_self">iM</a>&nbsp;and Aleksib couldn’t overcome insani, who once again proved instrumental in securing MIBR's victory.</p><h4>Standings After Day One:</h4><ul><li>2-0: The MongolZ, Vitality, MIBR, Heroic.</li><li>1-1: Natus Vincere, G2, FURIA, Spirit, FaZe, Liquid, 3DMax, MOUZ.</li><li>0-2: GamerLegion, paiN, Wildcard, BIG.</li></ul>

NAVI won IEM Rio 2024 by defeating MOUZ in the final

<p>Aleksib's squad once again showcased their skills, winning the BO5 final 3-1 despite a recent defeat at the BLAST Premier Fall Final. This marked their sixth consecutive final, with NAVI taking an early lead in the series at 2-0. However, MOUZ mounted a strong comeback, winning the Mirage map and gaining a 10-2 advantage on the fourth map, Ancient. Despite this, Natus Vincere managed to shift the momentum, winning eight consecutive rounds and closing out the match with a 13-11 score, sealing the series at 3-1.</p><p>This victory earned the international team their fourth major trophy of the year, adding to their previous wins at the PGL Major Copenhagen, Esports World Cup, and ESL Pro League Season 20. It also served as a significant comeback after their second-place finish at the BLAST Premier Fall Final, where Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen's team was defeated by G2.</p>