Team Spirit Benches magixx, Signs 17-Year-Old Prodigy zweih

8 Jul

Thales Costa

Team Spirit has officially announced a significant roster change that marks the end of an era for the organization. Boris "magixx" Vorobyev, who has been with the team since September 2019, has been moved to the inactive roster. The Russian rifler's benching comes after nearly six years of service to the team, during which he played an instrumental role in establishing Team Spirit as one of the world's premier Counter-Strike organizations.

The End of a Historic Partnership

The announcement came via Team Spirit's official social media channels, where the organization expressed their gratitude for magixx's contributions over the years.

"We are truly grateful to Boris for all those six years he has spent in Team Spirit. He's been with us during several crucial stages of the roster formation and hugely affected the very shaping of our unique philosophy".

Magixx joined Team Spirit in September 2019 as a talented but inexperienced 16-year-old player. Over the course of his tenure, he became one of the team's most reliable players, participating in an impressive 1,050 maps at the highest level of competition. His consistency and dedication helped transform Team Spirit from a promising CIS team into a global powerhouse capable of competing with the world's best.

Career Highlights and Achievements

During his time with Team Spirit, magixx was part of numerous historic victories. The team's most notable achievement came at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, where they defeated FaZe Clan 2-1 in the grand final. In that memorable championship match, magixx delivered a stellar performance and matching superstar teammate donk with 69 frags. This performance epitomized his ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.

The Russian rifler also played crucial roles in Team Spirit's other major triumphs, including victories at IEM Katowice 2024, BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024, BLAST Bounty Spring 2025, and PGL Astana 2025. His career prize earnings exceed $500,000, reflecting his success.

The Decision to Make a Change

Despite magixx's significant contributions to Team Spirit's success, the organization decided to make a change following their disappointing performance at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by MOUZ. The team's inability to maintain their championship form in the first half of 2025, particularly their struggles against Team Vitality's dominant run, prompted management to reassess their roster composition.

Team Spirit's superstar Danil "donk" Kryshkovets offered emotional support for his departing teammate, stating:

"Boris is the best teammate I've played with in my short career. In my opinion, magixx is an example of what a teammate and professional should be".

The 17-year-old phenom also criticized fans and analysts who undervalued magixx's contributions, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that often goes unnoticed.

Enter zweih: The Next Generation

To fill the void left by magixx, Team Spirit has signed 17-year-old Ivan "zweih" Gogin from Nemiga Gaming. The young Russian rifler caught attention during the Austin Major, where he helped Nemiga reach Stage 3 of the competition with impressive performances in the early stages. Interestingly, zweih was previously identified by donk as a potential top-20 player for 2025, showcasing the young star's keen eye for talent.

Team Spirit's decision to invest in zweih represents their commitment to maintaining their competitive edge while nurturing the next generation of Counter-Strike talent. The signing continues the organization's tradition of developing young players, having previously seen success with donk, zont1x, and now zweih.

As Team Spirit prepares for IEM Cologne 2025, they'll debut their new lineup with zweih stepping into the anchor role previously held by magixx. The transition marks both an ending and a beginning for the organization as they continue their quest to remain at the pinnacle of competitive Counter-Strike.

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Featured Image Credits: Counter-Strike // Valve