The controversy began when BLAST approved an emergency substitution for Astralis at the Fall Final, allowing their newly signed captain, Casper “?cadiaN?” M?ller, to replace Alexander “?br0?” Bro after the roster lock deadline.
Astralis claimed br0 was unfit to play due to a medical emergency, though br0’s agent publicly stated that the player was fully healthy and ready to compete.
As we represent @br0CSGO teams have reached out to me, regarding his health or medical condition, he is fully fine, obviously unfortunate he got benched. Nevertheless, Alex is fully healthy and ready to perform. So feel free to keep reaching out
— Fabian Broich (@SportsPsycFaBro) September 17, 2024
The decision has outraged several prominent players, including FaZe Clan’s Finn “?karrigan?” Andersen, Team Liquid’s Russel “?Twistzz?” Van Dulken, Team Vitality’s Dan “?apEX?” Madesclaire, and Falcons’ Marco “?Snappi?” Pfeiffer.
These IGLs, along with their teams, skipped the tournament’s media day in protest, with karrigan leading the charge by declaring, “I might be unfit for BLAST Media tomorrow,” a statement echoed by others.
Six out of eight teams followed suit, with only Astralis and Team Spirit’s IGL Leonid “?chopper?” Vishnyakov attending the event.
The protest stems from accusations that BLAST applied a double standard in allowing cadiaN to replace br0, whereas other teams have had similar requests denied in the past.
For example, in 2023, FaZe Clan’s request to replace H?vard “?rain?” Nygaard with Kristian “?k0nfig?” Wienecke was rejected, forcing FaZe to play with their coach instead.
Heroic faced a similar situation earlier in the year when they were denied a substitute for player Abdul “?degster?” Gasanov, who was unable to play due to visa issues.
The captains argue that if br0 was indeed unable to play, Astralis’ coach Danny “?ruggah?” S?rensen should have been the substitute, as per tournament rules.
The lack of transparency and perceived favouritism towards Astralis has fueled outrage among both players and fans.
Adding to the complexity is BLAST’s historical connection to Astralis, having shared ownership ties in the past, which raises concerns of a conflict of interest.
Though BLAST’s parent company, RFRSH Entertainment, divested from Astralis in 2019, the lingering ties still cast a shadow over such decisions.
In response to the controversy, the captains, led by karrigan, published an open letter criticising BLAST’s handling of the situation.
There are two things we as IGLs want to address when it comes to Blast’s decision regarding the allowance of Cadian to play for Astralis at Blast Fall Finals.
Firstly, integrity is at utmost importance. The roster lock rules are established for this very purpose. There have been 2 separate cases where coaches were forced to play for their respective teams: Heroic at Blast Fall Groups, and G2 at Blast Spring Finals. Emergency substitutes have previously been denied, and in this case, we believe that if br0 is in fact unfit to play, Astralis coach Ruggah would have to step in and play.
The results at Blast Fall Finals have a significant impact on the RMR Rankings, as well as a significant impact on the teams that are currently fighting for crucial points to qualify for Blast World Finals.
The second aspect we wish to address is our firm stance against the exploitation of mental health or physical health issues as a means to justify the allowance of an emergency substitute. We believe that such matters should never be taken lightly. In the event that a player faces an emergency in the future, it is essential to respect their privacy and extend our wishes for a speedy recovery to them.
We are not requesting evidence of br0’s situation, and we extend our best wishes and respect to him, if an emergency is indeed the case. As previously mentioned, rules are rules, and according to the precedent set by Blast stating that if no substitutes are added prior to the event, the coach would be the primary substitute.
Given the circumstances, we believe that Ruggah should serve as a substitute, and permitted to play, if he is in good health and fit to do so.
Finally, if Astralis were to receive a penalty or sanction, we advocate that any fine imposed should be going towards a mental health charity donation.
Sincerely,
karrigan, apex, snappi, aleksib, twistzz, snax, chopper
The duo will be taking over from Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer and Eetu “sAw” Saha, who played crucial roles in elevating ENCE to second place in the world rankings twice.
Gla1ve, a 28-year-old Danish in-game leader, is making a return to competitive play after a brief hiatus since June, when he was benched by Astralis.
His departure from Astralis coincided with the team undergoing significant changes, including the addition of Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard and Martin “stavn” Lund.
Despite his prior success with Astralis, gla1ve struggled to lead the team to notable achievements upon his return in October 2021.
Joining him is kuben, a former player and veteran coach with a five-year stint at Virtus.pro.
After parting ways with Apeks, where he guided the team to a semi-final finish at the BLAST.tv Paris Major, kuben will now be providing his coaching expertise to ENCE.
Niklas “Willkey” Ojalainen, ENCE’s General Manager, expressed excitement about the new additions, emphasizing the importance of big names to fill the void left by the departing players.
He highlighted the crucial working relationship between the coach and IGL and praised kuben for his scouting abilities and skill in building a team structure.
Gla1ve’s addition to the roster is hailed as one of the most significant in ENCE’s history, given his extensive achievements, including four Major championships with Astralis.
The Danish IGL is eager to prove himself once again and relishes the responsibility that comes with leading the team.
ENCE’s debut with the new lineup, featuring gla1ve and kuben, is scheduled for the Elisa Masters in Espoo, Finland, where they will face HAVU on Wednesday, November 29.
This marks a crucial moment for both gla1ve and kuben, as they aim to build on the legacy left by Snappi and sAw, who propelled the team to success in various tournaments and achieved a top-five world ranking.
Two legends of the game.
We warmly welcome @gla1ve_csgo and @kuben_tt as the new ENCE CS IGL and coach duo!
Read more: https://t.co/c9L8HffHTW#EZ4ENCE pic.twitter.com/j3j1mTUret
— ENCE (@ENCE) November 27, 2023
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The departure comes after his benching in June, during which he yielded the in-game leader role to Benjamin “blameF” Bremer and his playing position to Victor “Staehr” Staehr.
Astralis, in a heartfelt acknowledgment, highlighted gla1ve’s pivotal role in their success, including four Majors, an extended period as the top-ranked team, and a transformative impact on CS:GO strategy.
Despite challenges in the last two years, marked by the departure of key players and the coach, gla1ve expressed deep gratitude for the significant lessons learned during this period.
In a poignant tweet, gla1ve bid farewell to Astralis, describing the last seven years as a life-changing journey.
He recognized Astralis as not just a team but a family, expressing gratitude to fans, behind-the-scenes staff, and teammates who shared in the highs and lows.
It's hard to put into words how grateful I am for the last 7 years I've spent with Astralis. They will always hold a special place in my heart as a team where we were able to reach new heights and create something never seen before.
What we achieved and experienced as a team is… pic.twitter.com/jklH22l9es
— Lukas Rossander (@gla1ve_csgo) November 22, 2023
The parting of ways, after 734 maps together, signifies the end of an era that witnessed unprecedented success.
As speculation swirls regarding gla1ve’s next destination, rumours suggest a potential move to ENCE.
This possibility gains traction as ENCE reportedly faces the departure of their current in-game leader, Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, to Team Falcons.
If confirmed, this move could reshape the dynamics of both ENCE and Team Falcons.
Gla1ve, in his departure, hinted at the anticipation of a new chapter in his illustrious career.
The esports community is left wondering about the strategies he will bring to a new team and how his leadership will redefine the dynamics of the squad fortunate enough to have him at the helm.
The departure from Astralis is not just an end but a prelude to a narrative yet to unfold, a legacy etched in the history of Astralis and CS:GO.
The echoes of gla1ve’s departure will serve as a reminder of an era defined by strategic brilliance, unyielding determination, and unparalleled success.
A message from everyone in Astralis.
Thank you, @gla1ve_csgo. pic.twitter.com/La164af9mH
— Astralis Counter-Strike (@AstralisCS) November 22, 2023
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