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Cloud9 starts rebuilding, Perfecto and HObbit benched
Kaustavmani Choudhury
23 Mar, 2024, 07:00
|Last updated: 10 Apr, 2025, 05:45
Cloud9, one of the prominent names in the Counter-Strike scene, has made significant changes to its roster by benching Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy and Abay "HObbit" Khassenov. The organization also bid farewell to its assistant coach, Ivan "F_1N" Kochugov, signaling a strategic shift in their approach.
Transfer Market Moves
Perfecto and HObbit, previously integral parts of Cloud9's lineup, are now available for transfer. This move comes in the wake of the recent departure of Denis "electroNic" Sharipov, who was sold to Virtus.pro in an unexpected transaction.
With these changes, Cloud9 finds itself with only two active players, namely in-game leader Kirill "Boombl4" Mikhailov and the emerging talent Sergey "Ax1Le" Rykhtorov.
Jack Etienne, the CEO of Cloud9, took to Twitter to confirm that, despite the roster shakeup, the organization is committed to rebuilding. Etienne stated that they are collaborating closely with Ax1Le and Boombl4 to navigate this transitional phase, emphasizing their determination to bounce back stronger.
Challenges and History
Cloud9's decision to overhaul its roster comes after a challenging start to 2024. The team experimented with a no-AWPer approach following the departure of Dmitry "sh1ro" Sokolov to Spirit. Despite qualifying for the PGL Major Copenhagen, Cloud9's performance fell short, culminating in a disappointing early exit from the playoffs at the hands of Vitality. Subsequent tournaments, including IEM Katowice and IEM Chengdu, further underscored the need for change.
HObbit joined Cloud9 in April 2022 and experienced success early on, winning IEM Dallas during his tenure. However, despite reaching the pinnacle of the world rankings at No. 3, Cloud9's recent struggles prompted the organization to reevaluate its roster composition.
Perfecto's tenure with Cloud9 began in July 2023, following a high-profile transfer from Natus Vincere alongside electroNic. Despite his consistent performance amidst turbulence within the team, Perfecto's role became subject to scrutiny, particularly as he occasionally assumed AWP duties on certain maps.
Upcoming Challenges
As the BetBoom Dacha Belgrade tournament approaches, Cloud9 must regroup and adapt to their revised lineup. They'll be up against tough opponents such as Team Spirit and MOUZ. The team aims to demonstrate resilience and adaptability under the guidance of coach Konstantin "groove" Pikiner. It's a crucial opportunity for Cloud9 to prove themselves on the competitive stage once again.
Revised Roster
Cloud9's current active roster consists of:
Sergey "Ax1Le" Rykhtorov
Kirill "Boombl4" Mikhailov
Konstantin "groove" Pikiner remains the Head Coach of the team.
Benched Players:
Abay "HObbit" Khassenov
Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy
Cloud9's decision to bench Perfecto and HObbit marks a significant turning point for the organization. They now embark on a journey of rebuilding and renewal. With the guidance of experienced leadership and the talent of emerging stars, Cloud9 aims to reclaim its position among the elite in the CS2 competitive scene.
Featured Image Source: Cloud9 | @C9CSGO on X (formerly Twitter)
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