Report: Liquid finalize Patsi signing

Ryan Friend contributed to this report

Sources have told Dust2.us that Liquid have completed the signing of Russian rifler Robert "Patsi" Isyanov to realize their five-man roster. Three days ago, Dust2.us reported that Liquid were looking to acquire Patsi and Aleks "Rainwaker" Petrov to move to a European core with the continuation of Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis.

While Rainwaker has joined as the replacement for the outgoing Nick "nitr0" Cannella, Patsi joins the squad as the replacement for Liquid icon Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski, who ends his over eight-year tenure with the squad. EliGE sports the longest reign in an organization in all of professional Counter-Strike, an era that is soon coming to an end as he is poised for a new life in Complexity.

Despite no partner status, Spirit still turned heads at many events over the past few years with dynamic rifling and upsets over established teams. Part of their success was no doubt Patsi, who held a 1.13 HLTV Rating, 84.2 ADR, and 1.29 Impact Rating over the 2022 calendar year. Nonetheless, Patsi's move to Liquid will be his first stint in an international team, playing only in Russian teams for his whole professional career.

With the completion of both the Rainwaker and Patsi signings, Liquid have officially moved to a European core. While previous rumors of Shahar "flameZ" Shushan would have allowed them to remain North American for the purposes of the Major, now Liquid have a 3-player core of European talent, making them decidedly a European team for the first time in their eight year history.

Barring any further changes, Liquid's new roster coming into the second half of 2023 will be:

• Keith "NAF" Markovic

• Josh "oSee" Ohm

• Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis

• Aleks "Rainwaker" Petrov

• Robert "Patsi" Isyanov

• Damian "daps" Steele (Coach)