The BGMI Showdown 2025 is all set to be one of the biggest esports spectacles of the year. Organized by KRAFTON, the tournament brings together 48 elite Indian squads who will battle for national supremacy, a ₹1 Crore prize pool, and coveted slots in the BGMI International Cup 2025. With direct global qualification at stake, this event promises unmatched intensity.
BGMI Showdown 2025 Format and Schedule
BGMI Showdown 2025 will kick off on September 18 in Hyderabad. It will run until October 12, culminating in finals. A total of 48 teams, drawn from BGIS, BMPS, and approved third-party tournaments, will clash in a studio format.
The stakes couldn’t be higher:
Winner: Direct entry into the Global Championship + ₹1 Crore prize pool.
Top 8 Teams: Qualification for the BGMI International Cup 2025.
Fans will also get the chance to experience the action live during the grand finals, which will offer a limited in-person audience experience.
The BGMI Showdown 2025 is not just about prize money—it’s about global pathways for Indian esports. For the first time, multiple Indian teams could directly qualify for the Global Championship through BGMI’s structured ecosystem. This elevates the level of domestic competition while giving Indian teams a real chance to test themselves against international giants.
By offering a merit-based route from grassroots competitions like BGIS all the way to the world stage, the BGMI Showdown serves as the ultimate proving ground for India’s rising esports talent.
The BGMI Showdown 2025 is shaping up to be a defining tournament for Indian esports. With 48 top teams, a ₹1 Crore prize pool, and direct qualification into both the Global Championship and the BGMI International Cup 2025, the stage is set for a thrilling journey. Indian fans can look forward to explosive gameplay and a new chapter in the country’s esports story.
KRAFTON India has officially unveiled its H2 2025 esports roadmap, headlined by two massive tournaments: the BGMI Showdown (BMSD) and the BGMI International Cup (BMIC). Together, they carry a combined ₹2 Crore prize pool and, for the first time ever, offer Indian teams direct qualification slots into the Global Championship.
BGMI Showdown 2025 – Hyderabad, September 18 to October 12
The BGMI Showdown kicks off on September 18 in Hyderabad, featuring 48 elite squads drawn from BGIS, BMPS, and approved third-party tournaments. The stakes are sky-high:
₹1 Crore prize pool
1 direct slot to the Global Championship
Top 8 teams advancing to BMIC
The finals, scheduled for October 10–12, will feature a limited live-studio audience, promising fans a thrilling on-ground experience.
BGMI International Cup 2025 – India’s Global Stage
From October 31 to November 2, India will host the inaugural BGMI International Cup, a LAN event bringing together:
India’s Top 8 Showdown teams
4 elite squads each from Korea and Japan
With a ₹1 Crore prize pool and two more Global Championship slots on the line, BMIC cements India’s place as a rising hub in the international esports scene.
A New Era for Indian Esports
For the first time, Indian teams could secure three separate global entries in a single season through BMSD and BMIC. This marks a milestone for the country’s competitive landscape, signaling that India is no longer just a participant but an emerging force in global esports.
Karan Pathak, Associate Director – Esports at KRAFTON India, emphasized the vision: “Our players and fans belong on the world stage. By hosting international teams on Indian soil, we’re not just showcasing our talent but also positioning India as a global hub for esports.”
Beyond the Arenas – Grassroots Expansion
Alongside these flagship events, the BGMI Campus Tour 2025–2026 will spotlight Tier-2 cities and colleges, nurturing grassroots talent and giving young players their first step toward professional competition.
Why It Matters
Esports in India has reached a turning point. Government recognition, growing fanbases, and international exposure are converging, and these new tournaments are proof that Indian teams are ready to challenge the world.
Dota 2 is headlining the 2025 Esports World Cup, running from July 7–19, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, part of the broader EWC extravaganza. A whopping $3 million prize pool is on the line, with $1M for the champion.
Format at a Glance
Group Stage (July 8–11): 16 teams split into four groups of four, playing round-robin. All matches are best-of-2 (or round-robin).
Group winners head straight to Playoffs.
2nd-placed teams move to Round 2 of the Elimination Phase.
3rd and 4th enter Round 1 of Gauntlet-style elimination.
Elimination Phase (July 12–13): Best-of-three “gauntlet” bracket. Four teams fight through for the final spots in the Playoffs.
Playoffs (July 16–19): A single-elimination bracket featuring eight teams. Matches are best-of-three until a best-of-five Grand Final, plus a 3rd-place decider.
The Teams
Here are the four groups and their lineups:
Group A: NAVI, Talon Esports, Team Spirit, Xtreme Gaming
Group B: BetBoom Team, Execration, Gaimin Gladiators (Defending Riyadh Masters champs), Team Falcons
Group C: Aurora Gaming, Team Yandex, Tundra Esports (in red-hot form this season), Virtus.pro
Group D: HEROIC, PARIVISION, Shopify Rebellion, Team Liquid
Standouts you need to watch:
Gaimin Gladiators, with momentum from PGL Wallachia Season 5 victory.
Tundra Esports, impressive after wins at BLAST Slam II, III, and FISSURE Playground 1.
Team Falcons, fast-rising and backed by consistent runner-up finishes this year.
Prize Breakdown
💰 $3M total
1st: $1,000,000
2nd: $500,000
3rd: $300,000
4th: $200,000
5–8th: $125,000
9–12th: $75,000
13–16th: $50,000
How to Watch
Catch the action live on EWC’s official channels: Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Weibo, and Bilibili.
What this really means is that this Dota 2 segment of the EWC is a high-stakes proving ground. The format rewards both consistency and clutch performances: group toppers get rest and respect, but the gauntlet round keeps the heat on. Storylines abound—watching if Gaimin defends their crown, if Tundra builds on its form, or if dark horses like Falcons or Aurora cause upsets. With half the prize pool on the line in finals, the climax will be epic.
The tournament structure strengthens the competitive integrity while making every match matter. And if you want early drama, key matchups like BetBoom vs Gaimin (Group B) and Tundra vs Aurora (Group C) are must-watch
Here’s the thing: after years of calling Spodek Arena home, ESL is pulling a last-minute U-turn and bringing Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) back to Katowice in 2026. The announcement went out on social media July 7, 2025, just as ESL moved the prestigious IEM Katowice tournament to Kraków, Poland, for January 2026.
IEM Katowice has been a staple on the CS2 stage since 2013, with 2025’s edition drawing massive viewership and awarding a hefty US $1.25 million prize pool. Now, while the core IEM circuit reroutes to Kraków starting January 27– February 8, 2026, ESL’s “surprise return” hints that Katowice isn’t being entirely left behind.
What’s up for grabs in Katowice remains murky. ESL hasn’t clarified which CS2 event will take place in the Spodek Arena, but speculations point to it possibly hosting part of ESL Pro League Season 23 or another major event toward the end of September. ESL previously mentioned Season 23 will be held in “an arena environment in Europe” – and whose arena screams legacy louder than Spodek?
Here’s the bigger picture: ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is heavily investing in CS2 through 2026. Its 2026 calendar already features IEM events in Brazil (April 13–19), the US (May 11–17), and China (November 2–8), each boasting US $1 million prize pools. Add the Kraków date and this new Katowice return, and ESL is shaping a globally stacked calendar.
What this really means is ESL is balancing tradition with expansion, honoring the CS community’s love for Katowice while growing its global footprint. It’s a clever move: Katowice brings emotional resonance and fan loyalty, while new cities expand brand exposure and sponsorships.
G2 Esports is the champion of BLAST Open London, having secured a 3-2 victory over the world number one, Team Vitality. Coming into the event with a shaky lineup, huNter put together his band of misfits to pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. Not only did they manage to outlast Vitality, but G2 also showed prowess in every area of the game, whether it was individual brilliance or well-established team play. A remarkable display of Counter-Strike saw them pave their way to the trophy.
Solid start on the defense, G2 racked up round after round, completely outclassing Vitality as the stars failed to put up anything significant that would pull the momentum in their favour. With only two rounds to their name in the first half, Vitlaity walked into the second half without any hopes of winning the game. G2 carried on their momentum and closed the first map with a dominant scoreline of 13-3. As MATYS topped the charts, every player stepped up when needed to post a massive win for the squad before Mirage.
Map 2: Mirage; Pick: G2; Winner: Vitality
Going 4-0 up, Vitality recovered from the earlier blowout before G2 could get going. While they did struggle early on, they recovered to end the first half with a levelled scoreline. Moving on to the defense, G2 completely let go of their foot from the gas as flawless offense from Vitality levelled the series with both teams having a map to their name. As the rest of Vitality kept struggling, ZyWoo pulled his team up with 30 frags to his name.
Map 3: Overpass; Pick: Vitality; Winner: Vitality
A 3-0 start for Vitality put them in a prime position to have a stellar offensive half. G2 did manage to pull in a few rounds, but that did not stop them from recovering with a streak of their own. Levelling the scoreline by the end of the half, G2 salvaged a dominant start to the map from Vitality. A similar story from Mirage carried out here as G2 failed to post a single round on their offense, leading to Vitality effortlessly closing out the half. For the second map in a row, Zywoo topped the charts to put his team on a series point and a map away from the trophy.
Map 4: Inferno; Pick: G2; Winner: G2
It wasn’t until the 5th round that G2 got on the board, with Vitality remaining largely dominant for the better part of the first half. However, a G2 response can be as soon as Vitality goes 6-1 up, with a tactically superior offense that Vitality failed to keep up with. As the start of the map would suggest a heavily one-sided scoreline, Vitality ended up with a levelled scoreline before going on their offense. Vitality started strong, and it seemed like another blowout for G2 before they started to put together a respectable defense to level the scoreline before Vitality put together two in a row after a 1v2 conversion from apEX to hit map point first. The final round of regulation is right when G2 pulled a rabbit out of the hat to pull the game into overtime with a scrappy buy. The first overtime saw G2 clean sweep Vitality in the first half, and an excellently called T side took the game to Train.
Map 5: Train; Pick: Decider; Winner: G2
Coming off the back of a battle of patience, G2’s defense put a stop to all the momentum that Vitality planned to enforce on them with a rock-solid defense. Vitality did manage to recover a few rounds by the end, but G2 squeezed out a comfortable lead of 8-4 before switching sides. A 4-0 start to the second half put G2 in prime position to pull off the biggest upset of the season, with Vitality needing a comeback till OT to even have a shot at the trophy. A futile attempt at a comeback, G2 converted a 3v5 to do what no team had done this season, that is, to take down Vitality in a B05, dragging the game all the way to the final map.
Many had written off G2 from the list of the best teams in the world after the departure of m0NESY and NiKo, but huNter, with sAw as the coach, has turned that narrative on its head. BLAST Open belongs to G2, and they did it by taking down the biggest names in competition.
The initial phase of the BLAST.tv Austin Major, Stage 1, has successfully concluded, setting the competitive landscape for the subsequent stages of this prestigious Counter-Strike tournament. Three teams—Lynn Vision Gaming, Legacy, and TYLOO—have distinguished themselves by securing their berths in Stage 2, demonstrating their readiness to compete against the invited elite. This preliminary stage was characterized by intense best-of-three matchups that served as a crucial proving ground for aspiring contenders.
A significant development emerging from Stage 1 is the notable performance of Chinese teams. Both Lynn Vision Gaming and TYLOO successfully navigated their respective series, securing two of the three available qualification slots. This strong showing points to a potential ascendance in competitive strength within the Chinese Counter-Strike ecosystem. Conversely, the North American contingent faced considerable challenges, with all participating teams in Stage 1, including NRG and Wildcard, failing to advance. This follows the earlier elimination of Complexity, another prominent North American organization, the day prior. The contrasting regional outcomes establish a key narrative for the tournament, highlighting a distinct disparity in competitive performance during this initial phase.
The qualified teams are now poised to challenge formidable Stage 2 invitees, such as Team Falcons and FaZe Clan. This progression promises a heightened level of competition and compelling narratives as the newly advanced teams test their mettle against established global powerhouses.
BLAST.tv Austin Major Stage 1 Qualifiers Summary
Winning Team
Opponent
Final Series Score
Lynn Vision Gaming
NRG
2-0
Legacy
Wildcard
2-0
TYLOO
FlyQuest
2-1
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2. BLAST.tv Austin Major Stage 1: Overview and Qualifiers
The BLAST.tv Austin Major represents a pinnacle of competitive Counter-Strike, drawing top-tier talent from across the globe to compete for substantial prize pools and international recognition. Stage 1 serves as an indispensable proving ground, where teams battle for the opportunity to advance to the main stage and challenge established giants. Qualification for Stage 2 is not merely a tournament win; it signifies a significant professional achievement, granting access to higher stakes, increased exposure on the international stage, and the chance to compete against the world’s best. The structure of the Major ensures that only the most resilient and strategically adept teams progress, setting a high bar for competitive excellence.
Following a series of intense best-of-three matchups, three teams emerged victorious from Stage 1: Lynn Vision Gaming, Legacy, and TYLOO. Each of these teams demonstrated distinct strengths and a notable level of resilience to secure their progression to the next phase of the tournament. Their success in this initial crucible underscores their current competitive standing and sets the stage for their upcoming challenges against the invited elite.
3. Detailed Match Recaps & Advancing Teams
3.1. Lynn Vision Gaming’s Dominant Performance
Lynn Vision Gaming secured their Stage 2 spot with a decisive 2-0 sweep over NRG. This series was particularly notable for an exceptionally close opening map, which showcased Lynn Vision’s tenacity and composure under pressure.
The first map, Dust II, proved to be an arduous contest, extending into triple overtime. Lynn Vision Gaming ultimately clinched the map with a narrow 22-20 victory. Such an extended play, reaching 22-20 in triple overtime, is a rare occurrence in professional Counter-Strike and demands extraordinary endurance, resilience, and the ability to maintain strategic coherence through prolonged, high-pressure situations. This performance highlights Lynn Vision’s exceptional mental fortitude and their capacity for clutch execution, suggesting a team that thrives in high-stakes environments and possesses the psychological toughness required for deep tournament runs. Building on the momentum from their hard-fought win, Lynn Vision Gaming delivered a more controlled performance on Inferno, securing the map 13-8. This victory completed their 2-0 sweep, effectively eliminating NRG from the tournament.
Detailed Match Results: Lynn Vision Gaming vs. NRG
Map Name
Map Score
Dust II
22-20
Inferno
13-8
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3.2. Legacy’s Resilient Qualification
Legacy secured their place in Stage 2 by overcoming Wildcard in a competitive series, demonstrating their readiness despite a unique entry into the tournament. Their qualification is particularly noteworthy given the circumstances surrounding their participation.
Legacy opened their series against Wildcard with a solid 13-10 victory on Inferno, setting a strong tone for their qualification bid. On Nuke, Legacy established a commanding early lead, racing to a 5-1 advantage and ending the first half with a significant ten-round lead. Although Wildcard mounted a partial comeback in the second half, closing the gap to 12-6, Legacy maintained their composure to secure the necessary rounds and confirm their spot in Stage 2. Notably, Legacy entered the BLAST.tv Austin Major as a late replacement for BESTIA, who were unable to attend due to unforeseen visa issues. Entering a major tournament as a last-minute replacement typically entails less dedicated preparation against specific opponents, potentially limiting strategic depth, and adding the inherent pressure of stepping into an unexpected opportunity. Despite these challenges, Legacy’s successful qualification underscores a high degree of adaptability, organizational readiness, and professionalism within the team, demonstrating their ability to perform effectively under non-ideal circumstances. This also implicitly highlights the logistical complexities, such as visa impediments, that can impact international esports events.
Detailed Match Results: Legacy vs. Wildcard
Map Name
Map Score
Inferno
13-10
Nuke
13-6
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3.3. TYLOO’s Strategic Comeback
TYLOO secured the final Stage 2 spot by overcoming FlyQuest in a compelling three-map series, demonstrating significant adaptability and mental fortitude after an initial setback.
The series began on Inferno, where FlyQuest took an early lead, building a 9-3 advantage at half-time. Although TYLOO managed to close the gap to nine rounds apiece, FlyQuest ultimately secured the map 13-10. This early loss tested TYLOO’s resolve. TYLOO responded emphatically on Mirage, opening with five consecutive rounds and establishing an overwhelming 11-1 lead by halftime. They carried this momentum to a dominant 13-3 victory, leveling the series. The decisive map, Anubis, saw TYLOO start strong with a crucial pistol ace from Yang ‘JamYoung’ Yi, setting a commanding tone. This individual brilliance created a critical momentum shift early in the decisive map, impacting both team economy and morale. TYLOO continued to build their lead, finishing the first half 9-3, and ultimately closed out the series with another dominant 13-3 win, securing their Stage 2 qualification. TYLOO’s ability to not only recover from losing the first map but to then dominate the subsequent two maps with such lopsided scores (13-3 each) indicates profound mental resilience, superior strategic adaptation, and effective mid-series adjustments. This performance suggests strong leadership, effective communication, and a deep talent pool that allowed them to pivot effectively after an initial challenge.
Detailed Match Results: TYLOO vs. FlyQuest
Map Name
Map Score
Inferno
10-13
Mirage
13-3
Anubis
13-3
Export to Sheets
4. Regional Performance and Key Trends
A standout trend from Stage 1 is the significant success of Chinese teams. Both TYLOO and Lynn Vision Gaming successfully navigated their respective series to secure two of the three available spots in Stage 2. This strong showing indicates a growing competitive strength within the Chinese Counter-Strike scene. The consistent performance of two teams from a single region suggests underlying systemic factors, potentially including increased investment, robust talent development pipelines, and a maturing competitive ecosystem in the region. This collective success points to a potential shift in global competitive power dynamics within Counter-Strike, with Chinese teams demonstrating their capability to contend at the highest international levels.
In stark contrast to the Chinese success, North American teams faced considerable struggles in Stage 1. Both Wildcard and NRG were eliminated, failing to advance to Stage 2. This follows the earlier exit of Complexity, another prominent North American team, the day prior. The complete elimination of all North American teams participating in Stage 1, after Complexity’s earlier departure, highlights a consistent pattern of underperformance for the region at this event. This collective outcome raises concerns about the current competitive standing of the North American Counter-Strike region on the international stage, suggesting a potential widening skill gap or differing rates of competitive development compared to other burgeoning regions.
5. Anticipating Stage 2
With Stage 1 concluded, the BLAST.tv Austin Major will now proceed to Stage 2, promising an even higher level of competition as the newly qualified teams from Stage 1 prepare to face a formidable lineup of Stage 2 invitees. This next phase represents a significant escalation in competitive intensity.
Among the invited teams are established powerhouses such as Team Falcons and FaZe Clan. These top-tier organizations represent the pinnacle of Counter-Strike skill and strategy, widely recognized for their dominance and consistent success in the global circuit. Their inclusion sets the stage for compelling matchups, pitting the rising talents from Stage 1 against these seasoned global elites. This tiered structure of the Major is designed to progressively increase competitive intensity, creating a compelling “underdog versus titan” narrative that is crucial for viewer engagement and the overall spectacle of a Major tournament. Fans eager to follow the action can tune in to the official broadcasts, which are available on Twitch and YouTube.
The BLAST.tv Austin Major Stage 1 has served as a critical initial filter, successfully identifying three resilient teams—Lynn Vision Gaming, Legacy, and TYLOO—prepared to advance to the next phase of the tournament. The outcomes of this stage reveal significant competitive trends, particularly the strong emergence of Chinese Counter-Strike, with two teams from the region securing qualification. This performance suggests a robust and developing competitive landscape within China. Conversely, the complete elimination of North American teams from Stage 1 raises questions about the region’s current international standing and the need for a deeper examination of its competitive ecosystem. The progression to Stage 2 promises a substantial increase in competitive rigor, as the newly qualified teams will now face some of the world’s most dominant organizations. The narratives of resilience, strategic adaptation, and regional competitive shifts established in Stage 1 are poised to intensify as the tournament moves towards its climactic stages.
BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) Season 4 has now moved past its League Stage, and the competition is heating up as we head into the Playoffs. This stage will determine which teams move forward to join the Semi Finals and keep their championship dreams alive.
The Playoffs feature 16 teams in total, including the bottom 12 teams from the League Stage and the top 4 teams from the BGCS (Battlegrounds Challengers Series). These squads will battle it out across four matches on September 9th, 2025, with only the top 8 teams advancing to the Semi Finals. The bottom 8 teams will be eliminated, ending their BGMS Season 4 run.
All Participating Teams on BGMS Season 4 Playoffs: All Participating Teams
Following are the teams qualified for BGMS Season 4 Playoffs from BGCS and BGMS League Stage, respectively:
Teams Qualified from the BGCS
Four squads from the Battlegrounds Challengers Series earned their spot in the Playoffs by showcasing incredible consistency and grit:
Nebula Esports (1st in BGCS)
Sinewy Esports (2nd in BGCS)
Team Versatile (3rd in BGCS)
Team H4K (4th in BGCS)
These teams have everything to prove as they go head-to-head with experienced BGMS contenders.
Teams Qualified from the BGMS League Stage
Joining them are the bottom 12 squads from the League Stage standings (13th to 24th). Despite missing direct Semi Finals qualification, these teams still have one last chance to stay in the hunt for the trophy:
Victores Sumus (13th)
MYG Los Hermanos (14th)
4TRX Official(15th)
Team AX (16th)
MadKings (17th)
Marcos Gaming (18th)
iQOO Reckoning Esports (19th)
FS Esports (20th)
Phoenix Esports (21st)
Meta Ninza (22nd)
Likitha Esports (23rd)
TWOB (24th)
With just four matches on the Playoffs day, every finish and placement point will be critical. Only the top 8 teams from this pool of 16 will book their ticket to the Semi Finals (September 10th–11th). From there, they’ll face the 8 already-qualified teams from the League Stage (5th–12th placed).
The bottom 8 teams in Playoffs will be eliminated outright, making this one of the most high-pressure stages of the tournament.
Stay tuned to the TalkEsport app for detailed gaming and esports coverage, latest news, and much more!
After 21 action-packed matchdays and 84 total matches, the League Stage of the BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) Season 4 has officially come to an end. The points table is now locked, and each team’s journey towards the championship has been decided based on their league standings.
With the tournament format being multi-layered, here’s a detailed breakdown of which teams go directly to the Grand Finals, which squads must fight in the Semi Finals, and which teams will have to survive the deadly Playoffs.
BGMS Season 4 League Stage Overall Standings
Following is the overall standing of BGMS Season 4 League Stage:
BGMS Season 4 League Stage Seedings
Following are the team seedings from League Stage:
Direct Grand Finals (Top 4)
The top four teams from the League Stage qualify directly to the Grand Finals, skipping both the Playoffs and Semi Finals.
iQOO Revenant X Spark (1st)
iQOO SouL (2nd)
OnePlus Gods Reign (3rd)
NoNx (4th)
These squads are now guaranteed a spot among the final 16 teams competing for the BGMS Season 4 trophy.
Semi Finals (5th – 12th)
Teams finishing between 5th and 12th place get a big advantage — they skip Playoffs entirely and start directly in the Semi Finals. Here they will face 8 Playoff survivors, making it a 16-team Semi Finals.
Genesis Esports (5th)
Hero Xtreme GodLike (6th)
iQOO Orangutan (7th)
Global Esports (8th)
Medal Esports (9th)
iQOO 8Bit (10th)
Infinix True Rippers (11th)
OnePlus K9 Esports (12th)
These 8 teams only need to finish Top 12 in the Semi Finals to make it to the Grand Finals.
Playoffs (Bottom 12)
The Bottom 12 teams from the League Stage are in danger. They fall into the Playoffs, where they’ll meet 4 hungry Challenger Series teams.
Victores Sumus (13th)
MYG Los Hermanos (14th)
4TRX Official (15th)
Team AX (16th)
MadKings (17th)
Marcos Gaming (18th)
iQOO Reckoning Esports (19th)
FS Esports (20th)
Phoenix Esports (21st)
Meta Ninza (22nd)
Likitha Esports (23rd)
TWOB (24th)
The Playoffs will be cutthroat. Only the Top 8 teams move on, while the bottom 8 are eliminated outright.
Stay tuned to the TalkEsport app for detailed gaming and esports coverage, latest news, and much more!
Ukrainian esports legend Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov has confirmed his retirement from competitive play, bringing a 20-year career across Counter-Strike and Valorant to a close. With just five days remaining until his 36th birthday, the legendary in-game leader broke the news on social media, expressing his desire to make the move into coaching for the new season.
ANGE1 launched his professional esports career in 2005, which made him one of the most enduring players in competitive gaming. His career began in Counter-Strike, where he played for 15 years before making a drastic change to Valorant in 2020 at the age of 30. The move turned out to be career-defining, as he found his best success playing Riot Games’ tactical shooter.
The Ukrainian legend is most remembered for his six-and-a-half years with HellRaisers in Counter-Strike, where he was the team’s in-game leader and became the figurehead of the organization. Under his stint with HellRaisers, ANGE1 helped cultivate young players, particularly bringing Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, aged 16, into the starting lineup and giving him his first platform to demonstrate his skills.
20 years of gaming comes to an end.
After taking a small break, I understood that it takes too much focus and energy for me to compete on the highest level. I truly did my best in the last 2 years, but expectation and reality unfortunately did not meet.
ANGE1’s transition to Valorant in 2020 initiated the most successful period of his career. For FunPlus Phoenix, he led the team to victory at VCT Masters Copenhagen 2022, earning him his first and sole S-tier international championship. He became the oldest player in history to win an international Valorant event at 32 years old, proving that age is not a hindrance to becoming elite.
The Masters Copenhagen win was especially personal for ANGE1, as he was wrapped in the Ukrainian flag following the final against Paper Rex, a moment that felt “like I went home.” The run in the tournament was all the more impressive given FPX had to play out the early rounds with a stand-in player due to visa problems impacting teammate Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyushin.
Final Chapter with Natus Vincere
After his achievement with FunPlus Phoenix, ANGE1 then signed with Natus Vincere in late 2022 and spent the last three years of his professional career there. Despite appearing in another international semifinal at the 2023 LOCK//IN São Paulo and attending Champions the same year, ANGE1 admitted that his performance steadily dropped while he was part of NAVI.
In his retirement post, ANGE1 mentioned his recent performance, saying: “I truly did my best in the last 2 years, but expectation and reality unfortunately did not meet”. Since 2024, NAVI has not managed a single VCT EMEA podium and has not even qualified for any international competitions.
Transition to Coaching
Instead of completely distancing himself from esports, ANGE1 will continue to be involved in the competitive arena as a coach. “I still believe in my vision of the game. And there are a lot of things I learnt during this long-ass career,” he clarified in his retirement announcement. His wealth of experience as an in-game leader on both Counter-Strike and Valorant makes him an ideal candidate for this role.
The gaming community welcomed ANGE1’s retirement news warmly, with fellow professionals commending his achievements in competitive gaming. Fnatic IGL Boaster commended his career, while Vitality’s apEX jokingly alluded to their extensive past of rivalry in Counter-Strike.
G2 Esports is in the Grand Finals of the BLAST Open London after dominating FURIA across both maps to secure their matchup against Vitality. Having struggled after losing m0NESY and NiKo, the G2 rebuild is delivering on the big stage, and once again, they are a force to be reckoned with. While many doubt huNter as an in-game leader, the fantastic T sides laid out by the G2 roster are a testament to his impeccable shot-calling ability.
Starting strong on the offense, G2 looked super sharp right from the get-go in Inferno. While FURIA did manage to get on the board as soon as the fourth round, the ones they won were few and far between. Dominating the Majority of the first half, G2 closed their offense with double the rounds of FURIA. Switching sides, FURIA T side failed bizarrely; a perfect 4-round streak for G2 closed any chance of a comeback that the Brazilians had. While they did manage one more round, G2 closed it in the 18th round to take an early lead in the series. MATYS and HeavyGod pulled most of the weight for G2 along with a brilliant supporting cast.
Map 2: Mirage; Pick: FURIA ; Winner: G2
G2 picked up the momentum from the round, having lost the pistol, but FURIA gave a tough fight with a T side that often caught them off guard. Having managed 5 rounds, FURIA failed to tie the half as G2 roped in the final two rounds to edge out a narrow lead. What followed after a shaky defense by G2 was a flawless T side that put the nails in the coffin for FURIA. Not only did G2 manage to win all of the rounds, FURIA looked like leagues behind huNter’s men. With the B site split, G2 put an end to FURIA’s run in London with a 13-5 scoreline. Calling from the front, huNter put up a stellar map with impact as an anchor, then as a caller in the second half.
G2’s performance has put them in a prime position to come out on top against Vitality tomorrow. Vitality looked shaky all tournament long, and under different circumstances, Vitality would have taken home the trophy effortlessly, but this new look on G2 has the best shot at beating them more than anyone.
