malbsMd's new team benches their IGL

G2 has announced that the much-scrutinized Danish in-game leader Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen has been benched from the starting lineup just days after announcing the arrival of Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa from M80.

HooXi has been criticized consistently since his arrival at G2 despite leading the organization to wins at BLAST World Finals 2022, IEM Katowice 2023, IEM Cologne 2023, and a semi-finals finish at the 2024 PGL Copenhagen Major.

His individual fragging performance has been the target for much critique as has his ability to call. It certainly did not help his case when the roster won IEM Dallas 2024 with Jake "Stewie2k" Yip as the Dane was attending a family member's wedding.

G2 have not yet announced who will replace the outgoing leader, but with the Esports World Cup roster deadline later today, will have to submit a formal roster with their newest addition.

malbsMd will begin his new journey with the star-studded squad at the Saudi Arabian event later this July, likely under an IGL that will be playing in his first event overall with the organization. The entire lineup will also need to do some positional rejiggering as the Guatemalan's current positions clash with many of his teammates.

With the benching of HooXi, G2 is now:

• Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač

• Nikola "NiKo" Kovač

• Ilya "m0nesy" Osipov

• Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa

• Wiktor "TaZ" Wojtas (Coach)

• Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen (Inactive)

• Nemanja "nexa" Isaković (Inactive)