G2 CEO confirms NiKo will leave and that malbsMd might inherit his “positions”

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for CS:GO, I’ve followed G2 and their star-studded roster closely over the years. The news of Niko’s departure has left me somewhat melancholic, like when you realize that your favorite character is getting retired in your favorite game. But, as they say, every ending is a new beginning.

NiKo’s four-year stint with G2 is about to end.

Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, a standout player in Bosnian CS:GO (Counter-Strike), is set to depart from G2 Esports by December, as announced by the organization’s CEO, Alban “Stilgar” Dechelotte on October 31.

Since August, there has been uncertainty regarding Niko’s future, as it was announced that he would join the Falcons team following the Perfect World Shanghai Major at year-end, according to Sheep Esports. However, when Esports.gg attempted to get a comment from Falcons’ coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen about this move in August, he chose not to speak on the matter.

While Dechelotte’s statement doesn’t explicitly state that NiKo will join the Falcons, it’s significant because it’s the first instance where a member of G2 has hinted at NiKo departing from the team after spending four years with them.

G2 CEO hints malbsMd will take NiKo’s roles after he leaves

In a chat with MGG France, I admitted that we had the option to retain NiKo, but ultimately believed letting him go was the fair call.

If we had chosen to retain NiKo due to his contract duration, we certainly could have done so, as stated by Dechelotte. This was likely our judgment that this specific time, possibly referring to an important quantity or stage in the team composition, is when making such a decision is appropriate.

The CEO of G2 additionally mentioned that they might shift Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa into NiKo’s roles upon his departure, and potentially recruit another player in a similar capacity. Before joining G2 in July, malbsMd was playing key positions on M80. Due to some overlap in their positions, G2 assigned malbsMd the role of anchor for bomb sites instead.

Perhaps our signing of Malbs in July, given that he plays similar roles as Niko, is a hint of future changes. It’s possible we have already started planning who might take over from Malbs in his current role, and he could potentially step into the positions that Niko will vacate by the end of December.

G2 CEO comments on m0NESY rumors

G2 CEO confirms NiKo will leave and that malbsMd might inherit his “positions”

Since the news broke about NiKo joining the Falcons team, there has been speculation among fans whether G2’s standout AWPer, Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, might follow suit as they share a close bond. Richard Lewis, an esports reporter, shared similar rumors during a live stream in September.

According to Dechelotte, it appears unlikely that G2 will let go of m0NESY since he is crucial for their CS2 project, often referred to as the heart of it. Allowing Niko to leave would be a significant setback for G2’s aspirations in CS2 because he is among the top rifflers globally, making it essential for them to retain m0NESY.

Regardless of the situation, his employment contract spans over a year. If we wish for him to depart, we must acknowledge that fact. I believe there is a unique bond between him and NiKo; he has served as a mentor to NiKo, admires him greatly, and has benefited significantly from NiKo’s assistance in his career progression.

Today, he stands as the top player globally, and he has a chance to claim leadership of the team independently. As a result, we are considering various possibilities for the G2 CS team’s future composition. For our part, Ilya plays a crucial role in shaping this endeavor.

G2 CEO

says

they want to keep m0nESY, according to a translation made by neLendirekt.

In a recent development, Falcons have taken Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev on a temporary contract extending until the end of this year. However, whether CS:GO’s all-time greatest player will continue with them in the following year remains uncertain. This decision seems likely to hinge on their performance at the European RMR and Major tournaments, provided they secure a spot for these events.

2024-10-31 22:40

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