Zews returns to Team Liquid: Major changes afoot!

Zews returns to Team Liquid: Major changes afoot!

Kaustavmani Choudhury

23 Sep, 2023, 15:20

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Last updated: 11 Apr, 2025, 02:30

Team Liquid is undergoing a significant transformation, with changes spanning from their coaching staff to their roster composition. In this article, we break down the latest developments that are reshaping the team's future.

Daps' Departure and the Quest for a New IGL

In a surprising move, Damian "daps" Steele is reportedly parting ways with Liquid, as per a report from Dust2.us. No specific reasons have been provided for his impending departure. Thus leaving fans and analysts speculating about the motivations behind this change. Daps had joined Liquid midway through 2022 and played a pivotal role in their rise to the No. 3 spot in the world rankings by November of the same year.

daps coaching Team Liquid at Blast Premier World Finals 2022
daps coaching Team Liquid at Blast Premier World Finals 2022
Image Source: Team Liquid

During his tenure, Liquid achieved notable results, securing second-place finishes at ESL Pro League Season 16 and BLAST Premier World Final, as well as a top-four placement at IEM Katowice. However, a disappointing loss to Apeks in the BLAST Paris Major quarterfinals marked the beginning of a turbulent period, culminating in an early exit at IEM Dallas.

Daps had even stepped into the starting lineup for the BLAST Fall Showdown, where Liquid claimed second place. Notably, Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis had hinted at daps taking over as the In-Game Leader for CS2.

Zews Rejoins Liquid and the Arrival of Skullz

Wilton "zews" Prado, a familiar face in the Liquid organization, has made a triumphant return. Zews, who previously coached the team for two years from 2016 to 2018, is already hard at work, assisting in the reconstruction of Liquid's lineup, as per reports from Dust2.br.

Zews Coaching Team Liiquid at EPICENTER 2018
Zews Coaching Team Liiquid at EPICENTER 2018
Image Source: EPICENTER / Epic Esports Events

Another exciting addition is Felipe "skullz" Medeiros. The agreement with paiN for skullz is valued at approximately $600,000, matching the player's buyout. Skullz, a top talent hailing from Brazil, had garnered attention with his stellar performances and caught the eye of Fluxo, but he has now set his sights on Liquid.

The Roster Shuffle and Uncertainty

With these changes, Liquid's roster has undergone a major shuffle. Keith "NAF" Markovic and Josh "oSee" Ohm remain. Which may once again make Liquid a majority-Americas roster. Thus making them eligible to participate in the Americas RMR for the upcoming PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen. However, it's not yet clear who will be part of the final starting lineup, as rumors also suggest the possibility of Casper "cadiaN" Møller joining the team. While Russian star Robert "Patsi" Isyanov is also rumored to have been let go by Liquid, by CIS insider Alexey "OverDrive" Birukov.

As Team Liquid embarks on this transformative journey, it raises questions about their future performance and the dynamics of their new-look roster. How will zews' return and the arrival of skullz impact their fortunes on the CS:GO stage? Only time will tell.

Featured Image Source: ESL

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Featured Image Source: ES

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