Roster changes as of April 29, 2025

<h2>What changes have teams made and what do the updated rosters look like?</h2><p>The French team GenOne has parted ways with the remaining four players on its roster —&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jackz" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/jackz" target="_self">JACKZ</a></a>,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/devoduvek" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/devoduvek" target="_self">devoduvek</a></a>,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/drac" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/drac" target="_self">drac</a></a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kursy" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/kursy" target="_self">Kursy</a></a>. There’s currently no information on whether the organization will form a new CS2 roster or if this marks the end of their involvement in the game. Likewise, the future of these&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self"><a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 pro players</a></a>&nbsp;remains uncertain. However, considering their strong playing style, many teams — possibly even Tier 1 organizations — may be interested in picking up one or more of them.</p><p>The next change comes from AMKAL, which brought in Artyom&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/artfr0st" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/artfr0st" target="_self">ArtFr0st</a></a>&nbsp;on loan from PARIVISION’s bench to replace&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/tommy" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/tommy" target="_self">Tommy</a></a>, who was moved to the substitute position. This move could breathe new life into the roster, and we may soon see AMKAL making appearances on the Tier 1 scene.</p>

Vitality - IEM Melbourne 2025 Champions

<h2>In the final, Falcons and Vitality faced each other, and after a tough battle across 5 maps, Vitality emerged stronger.</h2><p>This matchup was highly anticipated for several reasons:</p><ol><li>Right after&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/m0nesy-transfer-to-falcons-becomes-the-most-expensive-in-cs-history" target="_self"><a href="/en/blog/m0nesy-transfer-to-falcons-becomes-the-most-expensive-in-cs-history" target="_self">m0NESY's transfer to Falcons</a></a>, they reached the final and had a chance to win the trophy.</li><li>Vitality were on a long 20-match win streak and hadn't lost for over three months.</li><li>IEM announced a $100,000 reward for the team that could defeat Vitality.</li></ol><h4>More about the maps:</h4><ol><li>Vitality's first pick —&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self"><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a></a>&nbsp;— ended very quickly, with the "bees" crushing with a score of 13-2. The best player on the map was&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a></a>.</li><li>The&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self"><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">map Dust2</a></a>&nbsp;was Falcons' first pick, and a tough battle took place there. It went into overtime, but in overtime Falcons gave no chances to their opponents and finished 16-12, despite the efforts of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/ropz" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/ropz" target="_self">ropz</a></a>.</li><li>The next pick from Vitality was&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self"><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a></a>, where there were many turnarounds. The turning point was a round won by Vitality with pistols against a full-buy from the opponents, thanks to smart tactics from captain&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/apex" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/apex" target="_self">apEX</a></a>. The map ended with a 13-9 score.</li><li>The fourth&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self"><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">map Mirage</a></a>&nbsp;was dictated by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a></a>, who showed excellent play, first on offense and then on defense. As a result, the map ended with a 13-10 score and the teams moved to the decider.</li><li>The final and deciding map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self"><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a></a>, delighted the audience for a long time as the teams were well-prepared for each other and fought hard for the trophy. The map ended with a 22-20 score in favor of Vitality, making them the trophy winners.</li></ol><p>The MVP of the tournament was recognized as Mathieu "ZywOo", whose&nbsp;<a href="/en/configs" target="_self"><a href="/en/configs" target="_self">CS2 config</a></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/crosshairs" target="_self"><a href="/en/crosshairs" target="_self">CS2 crosshair</a></a>&nbsp;settings are very popular among fans. Vitality demonstrated a high level of preparation and focus on the opponent, which led them to the trophy at IEM Melbourne 2025.</p><p>It’s also worth noting that one of the spectators in the arena managed to unbox a&nbsp;<a href="/en/knives" target="_self"><a href="/en/knives" target="_self">CS2 knife</a></a>&nbsp;during the match. At tournaments, it’s been a tradition for some spectators to open&nbsp;<a href="/en/cases" target="_self"><a href="/en/cases" target="_self">CS2 cases</a></a>&nbsp;right in the hall, but as usual, they mostly get low-tier items. Maybe if they did it on the&nbsp;<a href="/en/rating" target="_self"><a href="/en/rating" target="_self">best CS2 case opening sites</a></a>, the results would be much better.</p>

Quarterfinal Results at IEM Melbourne 2025

<h2>The semifinalists of IEM Melbourne 2025 have been determined, and MOUZ and Vitality are already waiting for them.</h2><p>The first match was between Falcons and GamerLegion, and while the former were expected to make it to the playoffs, GL surprisingly defeated FaZe Clan 2-0 in the lower bracket final. Fans got a fairly predictable result in the form of a 2-0 win by Falcons, despite the efforts of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/tauson" target="_self">tauson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/sl3nd" target="_self">sl3nd</a>. As expected, after&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/m0nesy-transfer-to-falcons-becomes-the-most-expensive-in-cs-history" target="_self">m0NESY's transfer to Falcons</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">Ilya Osipov</a>&nbsp;once again took the leading position in the scoreboard and became the MVP of the match.</p><p>The second quarterfinal was a match between The MongolZ and Liquid, where it was difficult to determine a favorite before the game.</p><p>The first&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-anubis" target="_self">map Anubis</a>, picked by Liquid, and they confidently secured their choice with a 13-5 score.</p><p>On the following&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-ancient" target="_self">map Ancient</a>, the situation reversed and The MongolZ took their pick 13-6.</p><p>The last and deciding map was&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>, on which the teams had never faced each other, and according to the stats, both teams perform well. But in the end, despite a tough battle, the victory went to the Mongolian squad with a score of 13-10.</p><p>In the semifinals, Falcons will face MOUZ, and this match promises to be extremely exciting, while The MongolZ will clash with the tournament favorites - Vitality.</p>

Calyx left the Sangal team

<h2>Calyx didn’t stay long on the Sangal roster after transferring from Eternal Fire.</h2><p>The Turkish player Buğra "<a href="/en/players/calyx" target="_self">Calyx</a>" Arkın is considered one of the veterans of Turkish CS. He achieved most of his success playing for Eternal Fire from late 2022 to January 2025. However, in January, the organization decided to bench him and bring in&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jottaaa" target="_self">jottAAA&nbsp;</a>instead. Essentially, the teams swapped players and continued with slightly revamped lineups.</p><p>But by March 2025, Buğra was benched again, this time by Sangal, who replaced him with the young Polish talent&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/masked" target="_self">mASKED</a>, known for his more consistent performance and ability to deliver in clutch moments.</p><p>Where Calyx will go next remains unknown, but he will surely be a valuable pickup for any team looking for an experienced AWPer.</p>

Several roster changes that took place on April 22, 2025

<h2>FURIA, Astralis, and Virtus.pro have begun reshuffling their rosters following disappointing performances at recent tournaments.</h2><p>FURIA announced another change in their CS2 lineup. Felipe "<a href="/en/players/skullz" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/skullz" target="_self">skullz</a></a>" is being replaced by a well-known player who hasn't been in the spotlight for a while —&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/yekindar" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/yekindar" target="_self">YEKINDAR</a></a>. Earlier, FURIA had also announced the&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/furia-announces-roster-changes-in-cs2" target="_self"><a href="/en/blog/furia-announces-roster-changes-in-cs2" target="_self">signing of molodoy to replace chelo</a></a>. Could these changes bring the results they've been looking for and push the Brazilian squad back to the top?</p><p>Next came news from Astralis, a team long rumored to be in need of changes. On their social media, Astralis first confirmed the departure of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/cadian" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/cadian" target="_self">cadiaN</a></a>&nbsp;and, shortly after, welcomed&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/hooxi" target="_self"><a href="/en/players/hooxi" target="_self">HooXi</a></a>, who will take on the role of in-game leader for the upcoming PGL Astana 2025. Whether HooXi will remain on the roster long-term depends on the team’s performance.</p><p>Virtus.pro, meanwhile, announced the departure of their coach PASHANOJ, who had been with the team since September 2024. There is currently no information on who will take over the coaching role.</p><p>Are these the only changes, or is there more to come? Stay tuned to keep up with the latest updates!</p>

Unexpected Twists and Stunning Comebacks on Day Two of IEM Melbourne 2025

<h2>Day Two of IEM Melbourne 2025: Surprises, Dominant Wins, and Battles Among Favorites</h2><p>The second day of one of the main spring tournaments in Counter-Strike 2 — IEM Melbourne 2025 — concluded with a series of intense matches and unexpected outcomes. Participants continue their fight in the group stage, conducted in a&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/double-elimination-cs2-tournament-format" target="_self">Double Elimination system</a>&nbsp;with Bo3 format. With each match, the stakes rise, as not only a $1,000,000 prize pool is at stake but also the prestige of advancing to the playoffs at Rod Laver Arena.​</p><h2>Day Two Results:</h2><ol><li>Complexity confidently defeated paiN 2:0, showcasing coordinated play and discipline. Perhaps the hopes placed on the young and talented&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/snow" target="_self">snow</a>&nbsp;were not fulfilled, and now paiN might consider roster changes.​</li><li>MOUZ left no chance for GamerLegion, securing a clean 2:0 victory. Once again,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/spinx" target="_self">spinx</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/torzsi" target="_self">torzsi</a>&nbsp;led the scoreboard.​</li><li>The main sensation was The MongolZ's 2:0 victory over FaZe Clan, where the Mongolian team impressed viewers with aggressive style and precise shooting.​</li><li>3DMAX faced BIG — the French team left no chance for their opponents, defeating them 2:0. Notably, Lucas "<a href="/en/players/lucky" target="_self">Lucky</a>" stood out with a K/D of 61-24 and a rating of 1.78.​</li><li>Team Vitality quietly handled Liquid 2:0, reaffirming their status as one of the tournament favorites.​</li><li>FlyQuest surprised many by defeating Virtus.pro 2:0, strengthening their position in the bracket and sending the "bears" home. Should we expect roster changes in VP after another failure, or is the best yet to come? And what future awaits Julian "<a href="/en/players/regali" target="_self">regali</a>" Harjău, who consistently demonstrates confident shooting?​</li><li>In the day's central matchup, Team Falcons snatched a 2:1 victory over Natus Vincere. The match was unpredictable across all three maps. Initially, NaVi made a strong comeback on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>, turning a 1-7 deficit into a 13-9 win. Then, "Born to Win" led 11-3 on their&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;pick but lost 10 consecutive rounds, losing momentum and ultimately falling 4-13 on the decisive&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>. As always, the star duo&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;were outstanding and became the match's top performers.​</li><li>MIBR triumphed over SAW 2:1 in a dramatic encounter, keeping their tournament hopes alive. Was this the Brazilians' last victory in the tournament, given their inconsistent play and occasional reliance on luck, or is this a challenging path to significant victories and trophies?​</li></ol><h2>What's Next?</h2><p>The tournament continues, and tomorrow we'll find out which teams will reach the elimination matches. Remember, the IEM Melbourne 2025 playoffs start on April 25 and will follow a&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/single-elimination-cs2-tournament-format" target="_self">Single Elimination system</a>&nbsp;— one loss means elimination. Quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in a Bo3 format, and the grand final will be a Bo5.​<a href="https://bo3.gg/news/iem-melbourne-2025-invited-teams-format-prize-pool?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;</a></p><p>Stay tuned, as every map can be decisive, and every round — legendary!</p>

IEM Melbourne 2025: Results of the First Match Day

<h2>m0NESY’s Debut for Falcons and NaVi’s Return After a Long Break</h2><p>The Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 tournament in Counter-Strike 2 kicked off on April 21, bringing together 16 of the world’s top teams at the legendary Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. The first day of the group stage was marked by intense matches and surprising results, setting a fast-paced tone for the rest of the event.</p><h2>Match Results</h2><h4>Group A</h4><ol><li>FaZe Clan confidently defeated paiN 2-0, as the Brazilian team continues to struggle despite the recent addition of young&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/deemo" target="_self">deemO</a>&nbsp;replacing&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kauez" target="_self">kauez</a>.</li><li>The MongolZ managed to edge out Complexity 2-1 in a hard-fought series, with the North American team continuing their rise on the back of recent successes.</li><li>MOUZ claimed victory over BIG 2-1, although the German squad led by&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/tabsen" target="_self">tabseN</a>&nbsp;put up a solid fight.</li><li>In a surprising turn of events, 3DMAX were soundly defeated by GamerLegion, where the young talent&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/pr" target="_self">PR</a>&nbsp;lived up to the expectations placed on him.</li></ol><h4>Group B</h4><ol><li>Vitality beat FlyQuest 2-0, as expected, and remain one of the main contenders for the title. Notably, ESL announced a $100,000 bonus for the team that manages to beat&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/apex" target="_self">apEX</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>.</li><li>Liquid won a tight match against Virtus.pro 2-1, sending the Russian team to the lower bracket.</li><li>Perhaps the most anticipated match was Falcons vs SAW — not necessarily due to the teams, but because of the reunion of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>. This was Ilya’s first official match after his&nbsp;<a href="/en/blog/m0nesy-transfer-to-falcons-becomes-the-most-expensive-in-cs-history" target="_self">transfer to Falcons</a>, and he delivered a strong performance, clearly aiming for titles.</li><li>Another highlight was the NaVi vs MIBR matchup. After a long absence from high-level competition, NaVi’s form was uncertain, but they managed to secure the series in three maps and progressed in the upper bracket.</li></ol><h2>Tournament Format</h2><p>The group stage follows a&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/double-elimination-cs2-tournament-format" target="_self">double-elimination format</a>, with two groups of eight teams each. The top three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, which will be played in a&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/single-elimination-cs2-tournament-format" target="_self">single-elimination format</a>. Group winners go directly to the semifinals, while second and third-place teams begin in the quarterfinals.</p><h2>Impressions and Expectations</h2><p>The first day of IEM Melbourne 2025 has already delivered plenty of twists and memorable moments. Fans are looking forward to more intense matches and are eager to see their favorite teams fight for glory.</p>

m0NESY's transfer to Falcons becomes the most expensive in CS history

<h2>Historic Transfer: m0NESY Joins Falcons for a Record $2.5 Million</h2><p>The professional CS2 scene is once again in the spotlight—this time due to the most expensive transfer in the history of the game. Russian sniper Ilya "<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>" Osipov has officially left G2 Esports and joined Falcons. The deal was worth a staggering $2.5 million, making m0NESY’s move the priciest in Counter-Strike history.</p><p>Previously, the top of the list was shared by:</p><ol><li><a href="/en/players/electronic" target="_self">electronic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/perfecto" target="_self">Perfecto</a>&nbsp;from NAVI to Cloud9 — $2 million</li><li><a href="/en/players/stavn" target="_self">stavn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jabbi" target="_self">jabbi</a>&nbsp;from Heroic to Astralis — $2 million</li><li><a href="/en/players/sh1ro" target="_self">sh1ro</a>&nbsp;from Cloud9 to Team Spirit — slightly over $1 million</li></ol><p>Now m0NESY takes the lead, and the price is justified not only by his exceptional aim but also by his youth—he remains one of the most promising AWPers on the scene.</p><p>What makes this move even more exciting is m0NESY reuniting with&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;— his former G2 teammate. Their synergy brought many victories in the past, and fans are eager to see how this duo will perform in Falcons.</p><p>While Falcons grow stronger, G2 faces the challenge of rebuilding. Polish player&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/hades" target="_self">hades</a>&nbsp;has temporarily filled the AWPer role. His level allows G2 to stay competitive, but the question remains—will he become a permanent fixture or just a temporary solution?</p><p>There are also rumors that Falcons might sign&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kyousuke" target="_self">kyousuke</a>, which would make their lineup even more star-studded and balanced.</p><p>And what about G2? Perhaps it’s time for a roster refresh. Maybe replacing&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/snax" target="_self">snax</a>? A possible candidate could be the young and ambitious&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/demqq" target="_self">demQQ</a>, who has already made waves on the tier-1 scene. But for now, that’s just speculation.</p><p>One transfer changed the balance of power—and this is just the beginning.</p>

Sensational Victory for Falcons in the Final and m0NESY’s Transfer

<h2>Falcons confidently defeated G2 in the grand final of PGL Bucharest 2025 with a 3:0 score.</h2><p>The team displayed dominant gameplay across all three maps, showing excellent coordination and strategic maturity, leaving no chance for a G2 comeback. This victory marks a historic moment for Falcons as their first major title.</p><p>Abdul "<a href="/en/players/degster" target="_self">degster</a>" Gasanov was awarded the MVP of the tournament for his outstanding performance, which was a key factor in the team’s success. His consistent impact and clutch moments throughout the playoffs earned him well-deserved recognition.</p><p>Right after the final, a major transfer was confirmed: both G2’s official representative and Ilya&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;himself announced his move to Falcons, replacing Abdul degster. The former G2 sniper now joins the newly crowned champions, potentially strengthening their presence on the international scene.</p><p>Meanwhile, the community is actively discussing rumors about Falcons showing interest in the rising star&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kyousuke" target="_self">kyousuke CFG</a>&nbsp;are hugely popular among fans worldwide. If this move materializes, the question arises: can Falcons maintain their top-tier form with this lineup? With such a star-studded roster, the potential is massive — the key will be preserving team chemistry and motivation.</p>

PGL Bucharest 2025 Final: Falcons vs G2 — Clash of the Titans

<h2>Both teams have made a tough journey through the playoffs and are now ready to battle for the championship title.</h2><p>Falcons confidently defeated FaZe, showcasing a solid playstyle and team resilience.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/degster" target="_self">Degster</a>&nbsp;stood out with a significant contribution on the second map. The victory was a natural result of the team’s consistent progress throughout the tournament.</p><p>G2 emerged victorious in their match against Complexity. Despite&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/hallzerk" target="_self">hallzerk</a>’s impressive form, it was the discipline and star-level performances from&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/hunter" target="_self">huNter-</a>&nbsp;that made the difference. The team kept their cool on both maps and didn’t let the opponent dictate the pace.</p><p>The grand final promises to be the highlight of the tournament. Both squads are ready to give their all, and the outcome may come down to the smallest details. Who will be crowned the champion of PGL Major Bucharest 2025? We’ll find out very soon.</p>