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❘ Printed: 2022-10-27T08:00:41
❘ Up to date: 2022-10-27T08:33:25
Danish CS:GO star Nicolai ‘dev1ce’ Reedtz has re-signed with Astralis, the group with which he gained 4 Majors between 2017 and 2019, after lower than 18 months on NIP’s books.
The announcement marks a return to competitors for dev1ce, who has spent the final 11 months out of motion resulting from psychological well being functions.
dev1ce, who replaces Asger ‘Farlig’ Jensen within the beginning lineup, returns to the group that he represented throughout 5 profitable years between 2016 and 2021. Throughout that point, he established his popularity as top-of-the-line gamers within the historical past of the Counter-Strike franchise, successful a deluge of titles, together with 4 Majors, together with a number of particular person accolades.
“I can’t describe how comfortable I’m to be house once more,” he stated in an announcement. “Astralis may be very near my coronary heart and everybody who has been right here for a time period is aware of that it’s a very particular group with nice values, a lot of inside help, and I’m greater than prepared to assist construct Astralis’ future!”
Monetary particulars of the switch weren’t disclosed by Astralis, who stated that dev1ce has signed “a multi-year deal” with the group.
dev1ce’s return comes lower than 18 months after he left Astralis to affix Swedish group NIP in a blockbuster deal reportedly value $700,000. In explaining the transfer, he expressed his want to cement his legacy and win the PGL Main in Stockholm — NIP’s house and town the place he was residing along with his then-girlfriend.
dev1ce leaves NIP midway by his three-year contract
dev1ce turned the face of a brand new period for a NIP group desirous to return to their glory days. However whereas outcomes did enhance after his arrival, worldwide success remained elusive. On the Stockholm Main, NIP couldn’t transcend the quarter-finals, a lot to the frustration of the house crowd and dev1ce himself.
On the BLAST Premier Fall Finals, it turned clear that each one was not nicely with dev1ce, who seemed dejected after NIP’s stunning loss to Group Liquid. On December 10, NIP introduced that the participant can be sitting out the rest of IEM Winter resulting from well being causes. He would by no means play once more for NIP, who remained silent on the participant’s scenario.
A big enhance
dev1ce’s return occurs throughout one of many darkest intervals within the historical past of Astralis’ CS:GO crew. The group continues to be making an attempt to choose up the items after the crew didn’t qualify for the IEM Rio Main (the primary Main that it’s going to miss). The scenario was so extreme that it warranted a remark from CEO Anders Hørsholt, who usually stays within the background.
Step one of their rebuilding course of got here with the termination of Kristian ‘k0nfig’ Wienecke’s contract after he broke an ankle throughout a battle in Malta, lacking the Main qualifying occasion. It was later reported that this was not an remoted occasion and that the participant had displayed “aggressive conduct” at IEM Cologne in an incident involving an unnamed member of the on-air crew.
dev1ce solves one in all Astralis’ largest issues: the evident lack of a world-class AWPer. The group tried a number of methods to fill the void created by dev1ce’s departure to NIP, first placing the AWP in Peter ‘dupreeh’ Rasmussen’s arms. When that failed, they went for devoted AWPers. However neither Philip ‘Fortunate’ Ewald nor Farlig was in a position to ship the form of high-impact, constant AWP output that the crew had gotten used to with dev1ce, with each gamers shortly coming beneath criticism from followers.
dev1ce reunites with Xyp9x and gla1ve on Astralis
In June, Fortunate returned to Tricked, the group he had left to affix Astralis. Farlig, too, should proceed his profession elsewhere, with Astralis Director of Sports activities Kasper Hvidt stating that the group has “already began the work to discover a good answer” for the previous FunPlus Phoenix participant.
After nearly a 12 months on the sidelines, dev1ce is predicted to come back in rusty and never on the proper depth stage. He has stored himself busy by enjoying pug video games with different Danish gamers, however he may require just a few months to return to his greatest. Elisa Masters Espoo, a small occasion in November in Finland with $200,000 on the road, might be seen as the proper alternative for Astralis to ease dev1ce again into motion with out the added stress of an enormous title on the road.
This would be the ultimate cease of the season for Astralis, who will miss the final two large occasions of the 12 months, the Fall Closing and the World Closing of BLAST Premier’s circuit.
However the adjustments gained’t cease with dev1ce’s arrival. Astralis nonetheless must discover a everlasting answer to exchange k0nfig (academy participant Mikkel ‘MistR’ Thomsen is at the moment filling the vacant function on the roster) in addition to a brand new head coach. On the identical time, query marks proceed to encompass the way forward for Andreas ‘Xyp9x’ Højsleth, one of many two gamers with whom dev1ce is reuniting on this second spell on Astralis.
“Everybody is aware of that I’ve been by a tough interval, however I’ve taken the outing that I wanted to get well and discover one of the best model of myself,” dev1ce stated. “That solely offers me additional motivation and I wish to focus my power on trying ahead. I’ve discovered the need and pleasure to play once more – I’m excited to get again to doing what I really like, contributing to the crew, and I can’t wait to get began.”
Astralis CS:GO roster
- Lukas ‘gla1ve’ Rossander
- Andreas ‘Xyp9x’ Højsleth
- Benjamin ‘blameF’ Bremer
- Nicolai ‘dev1ce’ Reedtz
- Mikkel ‘MistR’ Thomsen (stand-in)
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