G2 Makes Surprising Roster Change After IEM Dallas Victory

Remarkably, two weeks after the team won its first CS2 trophy at IEM Dallas, Serbian player Nemanja “nexa” Isaković was benched by G2 Esports, a well-known name in the Counter-Strike 2 scene. This move was made in response to nexa’s unexpectedly poor performance at the event, which led to a move to the inactive roster, as the organization announced.

Nexa, a prominent figure in Counter-Strike, originally joined G2 in late 2019 along with Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač, marking a significant shift in the team’s roster. His first stint, which ended in early 2022, was marked by highs and lows. At the height of his abilities, he placed second at IEM Cologne in 2021. After that, Nexa was traded to OG for Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen. However, in November 2023, Nexa returned to G2 to take Justin “jks” Savage’s place, which helped the team win big at IEM Dallas 2024.

Despite this victory, Nexa was benched as a result of his later performances, which included a 0.85 rating at IEM Dallas and a 0.81 rating at the BLAST Premier Fall Finals. This action is indicative of G2’s commitment to upholding competitive excellence and adjusting to the changing needs of the professional Counter-Strike scene.

nexa goes inactive while we help him find a new team.

— G2 CS (@G2CSGO) June 17, 2024

Stand-in performances, such as that of North American player Jacky “Stewie2K” Yip, were partially responsible for the team’s recent success at IEM Dallas. This raises concerns about the team’s long-term lineup, particularly with regard to in-game leader HooXi. This has sparked conversations and conjecture about possible roster changes within the community.

In the future, it is rumored that G2 is negotiating the transfer of Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa, a Guatemalan player from M80 Esports who has the highest individual player rating according to HLTV over the last six months.