Natus Vincere officially announce new International Roster

Natus Vincere (Na'Vi) has recently confirmed the much-speculated transition to an international roster with the signings of Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen, Justinas "jL" Lekavicius, and Ivan "iM" Mihai. The Ukrainian organization, known for its strong presence in the CIS region, has decided to retain only Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev and Valeriy "b1t" Vakhovskiy from their previous roster. Additionally, Denis "electroNic" Sharipov and Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy are rumored to be joining Cloud9.

Aleksib's Return to Action

Aleksib, previously with Ninjas in Pyjamas, joins Na'Vi as the in-game leader (IGL). Having previously led international rosters during his time with OG, he brings valuable experience to the team. After a short stint with G2, Aleksib's tenure with NiP was marked by multiple roster changes, resulting in him being benched. Eager to regain his past form showcased with ENCE, the Finnish IGL is determined to lead the new European project.

iM's Impressive Rise

Mihai "iM" Ivan, formerly a key player for GamerLegion, has emerged as their highest-rated player throughout his tenure. In 2023, his performance experienced a significant upswing, with an average rating of 1.19. Notably, his exceptional showing at the French Major, with a rating of 1.35, positioned him as a strong contender for the MVP title. iM's outstanding reputation and contributions ultimately earned him a spot on Na'Vi's roster.

jL Completes the Puzzle

Justinas "jL" Lekavicius, who gained recognition during the BLAST.tv Paris Major, joins Na'Vi from Apeks. Maintaining an impressive rating of 1.13 throughout 2023, jL's performance at the Paris Major saw a slight dip to 0.94. Nevertheless, his skillset and potential make him a valuable addition to Na'Vi's lineup.

Debut at BLAST Fall Groups

The revamped Natus Vincere roster will debut at the BLAST Fall Groups event, scheduled to take place from July 13 to July 23. Placed in Group B, they will face off against formidable opponents such as BIG, Astralis, and Heroic. The tournament will serve as an initial test for the new lineup's synergy and performance.

Revised Na'Vi Roster:

Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev (Ukraine)

Valeriy "b1t" Vakhovskiy (Ukraine)

Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen (Finland)

Justinas "jL" Lekavicius (Lithuania)

Mihai "iM" Ivan (Romania)

Coaching the team will be Andrey "B1ad3" Gorodenskiy from Ukraine.

Looking Ahead

With the introduction of Aleksib, jL, and iM, Natus Vincere has embarked on a new chapter with an international roster. The team's performance in the upcoming BLAST Fall Groups will undoubtedly be watched closely by fans and the CS:GO community. As Na'Vi sets its sights on reclaiming its position at the top, time will reveal the success of this ambitious transition.