Report: Liquid look to sell EliGE; transition to Europe
Jeffrey "Mnmzzz" Moore contributed to this report.
Following a report by Aleksey "OverDrive" Biryukov that Liquid are targeting Russian Spirit player Robert "Patsi" Isyanov, Dust2.us now understands that Liquid are also interested in signing 22-year-old Bulgarian rifler Aleks "Rainwaker" Petrov and making a general pivot towards being a European team.
In line with this general pivot, Dust2.us understands that Liquid are aiming to sell talismanic franchise player Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski to interested parties, ending his seven-year career-defining time under Liquid.
Contracts have not yet been signed with either Patsi or Rainwaker at this time, with crucial decisions set to be made over the next 36 hours. Sources tell Dust2.us that there is a chance for EliGE to remain with the North American team and that negotiations with the European imports could break off.
The implications of this move for Liquid could prove to define the North American scene as a whole in Counter-Strike 2 as one of NA's few tier one organizations has made the decision to look elsewhere for talent. Due to the organization potentially fielding a European core, they would no longer be able to compete in the Americas RMR and would instead join the hyper-competitive EU RMR.
Additionally, to see one of NA's marquee stars leave Liquid after such a long time would close a chapter in NA history, coinciding with Nick "nitr0' Cannella's decision to retire post-IEM Dallas.
This new reality would see Liquid transition to an EU-centric roster consisting of:
-
Keith "NAF" Markovic -
Josh "oSee" Ohm -
Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis -
Robert "Patsi" Isyanov -
Aleks "Rainwaker" Petrov -
Damian "daps" Steele (Coach)
