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cadiaN Benched from Heroic Due to Perspective Differences

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Publish Date: 04/10/2023

Fact checked by: James Leeland

ESL Pro League Season 18 News

Casper "⁠cadiaN⁠" Møller, the 28-year-old Counter-Strike player and in-game leader, has been benched and will no longer form part of Heroic's active lineup, as announced by the organization this Wednesday.

The decision came after a mutual agreement, with both parties citing divergent visions for the team's future. Having been with Heroic since 2019, cadiaN was instrumental in guiding the team to the top of world rankings – which led everyone to wonder the reason for this benching.

Highs and Lows Throughout the Years

After the return to LAN play, the team's victory streak slowed down, even though they achieved deep runs in major events, such as PGL Major Stockholm 2021 and PGL Major Antwerp 2022. Their fortunes seemed to be turning post the induction of Jakob "⁠jabbi⁠" Nygaard in June, as they clinched victories in the BLAST Premier Fall Final 2022 and Spring Final 2023.

Despite these victories, recent losses in matches where they were the clear favorites, such as at the BLAST.tv Paris Major and ESL Pro League Season 18, raised concerns. cadiaN highlighted that these lapses were an aberration from the team's core philosophies and principles.

cadiaN's Perspective – a peek into his mind

Speaking to Dexerto, cadiaN shed light on his perspective, stating his desire for certain changes to make the team more competitive, a vision that did not align with the organization's direction. He believes that a compromise would have undermined the team's future foundation.

While he remains uncertain about his next move, cadiaN emphasized his goal to join a team with which he can clinch victories. He further indicated a potential willingness to separate his dual roles of AWPing and in-game leading, depending on the right fit.

Heroic’s Current Roster

cadiaN's departure undoubtedly leaves a huge gap in the team. Apart from the pivotal roles he filled, his leadership, in-game energy, and mentoring were crucial for the roster as a whole. The present Heroic roster comprises:

Martin "⁠stavn⁠" Lund (active)
René "⁠TeSeS⁠" Madsen (active)
Rasmus "⁠sjuush⁠" Beck (active)
Jakob "⁠jabbi⁠" Nygaard (active)

Richard "⁠Xizt⁠" Landström (coach)

Casper "⁠cadiaN⁠" Møller (benched)

Future Challenges – Both for cadiaN and Heroic

Despite the setbacks, cadiaN reflected on Heroic's performance and approach. Emphasizing the team's high standards, he expressed his concerns about the recent drop in performance and execution. Heroic's proactive playstyle, based on seeking information and making informed decisions, has been a critical factor in their consistent performance over the years – something that cadiaN is single-handedly responsible for.

However, the current challenges underline the team's need to go back to their core principles and strategize for upcoming tournaments. As of right now, it’s unsure of where cadiaN will take his career, as well as to who will replace such an important figure in one of the best Counter-Strike teams in the world – but we’ll be sure to let you know, here at Strafe.