One Week of Madness: Reliving NA's 2023 summer rostermania

Every year in Counter-Strike, there are two main periods of time during which teams like to make roster moves: the summer and winter player breaks. During these tournament breaks, teams take this natural lull in competition to make roster changes without incurring consequences like lack of practice time before official matches. Every year, this part of the year becomes a flurry of roster moves, what-ifs, and rumors flying around in a whirlwind. Just now, speculation runs rampant for how many top teams will look in the second half of the year.

But, in the wide range of roster moves and mania, one tournament break, even just a single week, stands out amongst all the others in North America: 2023's summer break. Let's take the anniversary of this special time to look back upon what transpired in that all-important week for North American Counter-Strike's history.

First, let's set the scene. North America's big three organizations are anticipating a seismic shift of the NA scene. Liquid reel from the loss of veteran leader Nick "nitr0" Cannella, who retired from the game following the final tournament of the season, IEM Dallas. To replace him, they need someone of an equal caliber of experience and leadership, or to look in a completely different direction entirely. Add in worse-than-expected results for a team with the caliber of Liquid, tension is brewing.

Evil Geniuses are the laughing stock of international Counter-Strike, to put it plainly. The team has won so few BO3s that the victories could be counted on one hand. The roster is past due and needs a major face-lift to redeem any goodwill the organization could still muster. The Blueprint project remains ill-received with the community. Much has to change to bring EG back into the good graces of the Counter-Strike world.

Finally, Complexity do not actually show much tension from the outside, but remain a stable team. You know what to expect coming out of Complexity, but if the right opportunity arose, they can attempt to snatch up a valued player and bolster their squad.

With the stage set and all the actors ready to play their roles, we can begin the play.

June 12: A change in the Liquid camp

With the departure of nitr0, everyone expects Liquid to pick up a new IGL, likely a European one. After all, it is the most plug-and-play move. With Josh "oSee" Ohm on the roster, nitr0 is long removed from his AWPing days, and picking up a second European player alongside Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis could help the team grasp the European meta which has so eluded them.

Yet, sources revealed to Dust2.us that Liquid is not prioritizing IGL's for nitr0's replacement. Instead, the organization will transfer in-game leadership duties over to YEKINDAR, who has already become a strong secondary voice and even primary caller during nitr0's absence for the birth of his child. This move has ramifying consequences, even to this very day, but at the time, it dramatically changed the type of player Liquid hopes to attract as nitr0's replacement.

Liquid are in search for fragging riflers for nitr0's replacement, and in fact, for another replacement which would be revealed a few days later...

June 16: EG targets Frenchman, goal remains unclear

A few days later, 1pv reports that Evil Geniuses has been in contact with former G2 and HEET player Audric "JACKZ" Jug to take a spot on the organization's roster.

The report sheds no light on the player JACKZ would replace and community sentiment is rather poor overall on the potential move. NA CS fans lament the lost opportunity to promote a North American player to EG's ranks, and French fans express disappointment that one of the region's bannermen will be sent to an underachieving, American squad.

However, the next few days elucidate EG's goals for the community.

June 17: EG widens scope

The following day, a collaborative report between HLTV and 1pv lists a number of potential moves in the works, but for our North American purposes, divulge Evil Geniuses' interest in Monte's BLAST.tv Paris Major breakout star, Mohammad "BOROS" Malhas.

Further reporting by Dust2.us adds that Evil Geniuses are taking a broad approach in evaluating potential moves in the off-season, with JACKZ and BOROS being far from the only players on EG's radar.

Later that very day, CIS insider Aleksey "OverDrive" Biryukov adds one more name to the shopping list: FORZE's Aleksandr "zorte" Zagodyrenko, another strong BLAST.tv Major performer. The AWPer had been transfer-listed earlier that year and would offer a significant upgrade over Jerric "wiz" Jiang.

However, replacing wiz would shift the majority of the team to Europe rather than North America, marking a dramatic step for the organization which had always called NA its home. With these moves, the community remains split. While either of these players would be upgrades on paper, it could be interpreted as a slap in the face for EG Black, the domestic team intended to develop talent for EG's main team. https://www.dust2.us/news/50137/one-week-of-madness-reliving-nas-2023-summer-rostermania

June 19: Liquid shock the world, EG attempt to take advantage

After EG's targets were reported by the press, we all need a moment to catch our breath. That moment proves necessary as two days later, everybody has the wind punched out of them.

Liquid's newest player is revealed to the world in an OverDrive tweet, followed up with a report by Dust2.us clarifying the matter. Liquid has found their fragging rifler: Robert "Patsi" Isyanov. At the time of reporting, the move is "95% complete". Community sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. Patsi is a strong player with LAN experience, but a report by Dust2.us later that day reveals what could have been. Liquid were in the running for OG's young prodigy of Shahar "flameZ" Shushan, but lost in the final hurdle to Vitality.

A flameZ signing would have turned heads and truly cemented Liquid as a roster to watch for coming into the second half of the year, but alas, the spot goes to Patsi. Bigger questions remain with YEKINDAR leading the team and the role clash between him, Patsi, and EliGE. However, that last point will be answered quickly.

Just a few hours later, Dust2.us breaks news that Liquid look to sell their star franchise player, Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski. With seven years, an Intel Grand Slam, and countless events under the Liquid banner, EliGE's time in Liquid wanes to a close. That same report sheds light on who would take up the spot left by EliGE's departure: the unknown Aleks "Rainwaker" Petrov.

Shock, disgust, and outrage are just some of the words used to describe this move. Not only did Liquid lose a face of North American Counter-Strike in nitr0, they removed the man whose name has screamed Liquid for the better part of a decade. Worse than that, his replacement was a no-name Bulgarian player who had less than fifty maps on LAN. And potentially the worst slap in the face of all, this move made Liquid a majority European roster, finally setting sail on the region Liquid had buoyed for years.

The final blockbuster report of the day reveals that EliGE had potentially already set his sights on his next organization: Evil Geniuses. Not only that, the organization has continued to make moves elsewhere, targeting NAVI's Denis "electroNic" Sharipov as another potential addition to the squad. Committing to a European core, EG has secured verbal agreements with JACKZ and zorte, nearly completing their full rebuild. The Frankenstein roster is reportedly close to completion, with the final five being some amalgamation of EliGE, electroNic, zorte, JACKZ, Sanzhar "neaLaN" İskhakov, and Timothy "autimatic" Ta.

While fans remain angered by the seeming betrayal of the NA scene, the project sparks curiosity and intrigue. Could this actually happen? Could EG collect players from around the globe and create a competitive European team? Can EG seriously go from being under consideration of losing their ESL Pro League spot due to lack of competitiveness to assembling a roster of two Grand Slam winners and genuine promise?

June 20: Complexity enter the fray

Prior to the 20th, all news had been centered around Liquid's shock moves and Evil Geniuses newfound ambition. Those two dominated the North American news-sphere, so of course, its only right for Complexity to stick their foot in the door and put their name out there. On the 20th, Dust2.us reports that Complexity had sent a bid Liquid's way for EliGE.

However, EliGE is more enticed by EG's offer, likely enamored with the superteam that EG has put on the table. Complexity has the funds to meet Liquid's buyout, but EliGE turns down Complexity's offer in favor of the Geniuses, who look to be ever closer to securing their international roster.

June 21: It all goes wrong for EG

The day starts out with some solid confirmations. Dust2.us reports that Rainwaker and Liquid have come to an agreement and finalized the contract. Patsi's contract has hit a snag, with unspecific issues holding up the finalization, but both parties are intent on ironing out the wrinkles. With Rainwaker's addition completed, Liquid are near the completion of their roster for the second half of 2024. Meanwhile, that can not be said for Evil Geniuses.

Dexerto shares that head coach Daniel "Vorborg" Vorborg is accessing his options, left out of the loop of EG's plans for the upcoming competitive season. However, that was the least of EG's problems by the end of the day.

The first bombshell: EliGE's move to EG is in danger of collapse. Reached for comment, Evil Geniuses says there is "still a lot up in the air" as the star evaluates his options elsewhere. At this point, Liquid's negotiations with Patsi have continued with strong interest from both parties, so re-integrating the American with Liquid is not a priority.

The next blow lands: zorte's deal collapses. Dust2.us reports that negotiations were progressing well until they broke down today due to "unspecified roadblocks". EliGE is out of EG's plans. zorte is no longer on the cards. That's it for the day, but that's hardly the end of the story.

June 22: EG lowers ambitions, Complexity make a move

Early in the morning, EG's house of cards tumbles down. The last of three reports from Dust2.us hit the public: JACKZ will not be joining Evil Geniuses.

Today is the roster lock for BLAST Fall Groups. Plans have crumbled at the last possible moment. EG's dreams of an international roster have faded before their very eyes. They find themselves with less than 12 hours to field a roster for the second half of the year.

Just two hours after the final domino fell, Dust2.us reports EG's solution: promotion of nearly the entire EG Black team. None of JACKZ, electroNic, or zorte will be part of Evil Geniuses this year, but hope remains yet for EliGE to be enticed over to the squad. As for EG Main, Vorborg, neaLaN, Vincent "Brehze" Cayonte, Ismail "refrezh" Ali, and Jerric "wiz" Jiang are all considered to be out of the main roster, however, anything can happen with talks still ongoing.

EliGE is himself surprised by the sudden change. EG's plan went from surrounding him with veteran players and young stars to autimatic and three academy players. Dust2.us reveals that with EG's situation continuously changing, they no longer find themselves the frontrunner for EliGE's destination. Instead, that prize goes to Complexity, who have continued to stay in contact with EliGE on-and-off since his removal from Liquid's plans. FURIA are also floated as a potential destination for EliGE, though such a possibility is not considered to be feasible at the moment.

Finally, in a rare sigh of relief, a move reportedly goes to plan: Patsi and Liquid have finalized the contract. Days of wrinkles have been smoothed out and the two now find themselves agreed on all counts, paving the way for a European centered Liquid. Later this day, Liquid officially announce the two signings, putting a bow on their part of the story.

The day is hardly over, though. As the sun wanes in the sky, Complexity complete their talks with EliGE and Liquid, welcoming the star into the fold. To make way for EliGE, Justin "FaNg" Coakley is unfortunately benched.

With the main attraction finally finding a home, the silly season nears a close. Liquid have made the transition to a European roster for the first time in history. Complexity pounce on the opportunity and attract EliGE, replacing FaNg. Those two acts have concluded, now we just need to finish the story of Evil Geniuses.

June 23: EG make room

Evil Geniuses bench coach Vorborg from the team. His period on the team is not one particularly noted by success, but this news hardly rocks the boat. Everybody expects EG to make moves, the question is not just who leaves, but who joins.

June 24: Promotion

After a difficult time securing European talent for the main team, Evil Geniuses cuts their losses and bench nearly all of the main team. Only autimatic stays, while surrounding him will be EG Black, the academy team, bar Will "RUSH" Wierzba, who is relegated to 6th man. EG Black's coach Tommy "Axed" Ryan will take the reins.

At the end of the long and arduous affair, nearly nobody from Evil Geniuses' main team remains, and no European players are imported. What could have been is a mirage, and only what truly happens remains. There is no Evil Geniuses superteam.