Rumors: Heavygod and ICY to join Cloud9
The future Cloud9 roster remains a mystery, but recent rumors and reports suggest that an official announcement may be imminent.
Please note that all information provided is speculative and based on rumors and unofficial reports.
Nikita shoots himself in the foot
Nikita "HeavyGcd" Martynenko is poised to be a significant signing for the North American organization, sparked by a leak during his live stream where he accidentally displayed Telegram messages from a group chat featuring the Cloud9 logo labeled “3/5”.
This follows several "unofficial" reports from CIS insiders. Vlad "harumi" Radvilovich initially broke the news, with backing from Team Spirit's scout Alexey "OverDrive" Birukov. However, Cloud9’s in-game leader Kirill "Boombl4" Mikhailov responded skeptically to Radvilovich's statement, remarking on his Telegram channel, "Ah, insiders, insiders... How can they know better than us what we ourselves don't know?"
The rifler costs a pretty penny
Additionally, French insider Sebastien "KRL" Perez has reported that the rifler has already notified his teammates of his decision. Perez further stated that the initial transfer buyout was around $500,000, but negotiations may have reduced it to $300,000. These developments indicate that the deal is progressing towards completion, possibly nearing finalization.
Moreover, Nikita was observed practicing and playing alongside “Boombl4” and Sergey "Ax1Le" Rykhtorov, adding credibility to the reports. This strongly suggests that Nikita is actively engaged in discussions with Cloud9, with an official announcement anticipated around July.
ICY might be on Cloud9
With Dmitriy "sh1ro" Sokolov already making strides under the Team Spirit banner, Cloud9 find themselves without an AWPer. However, this situation is set to change following Kaisar "ICY" Faiznurov’s benching from AMKAL.
AMKAL has decided to bench Kaisar "ICY" Faiznurov while launching an investigation into potential misconduct towards the organization. The Russian team has not disclosed specific details but has promised updates on the matter. This development aligns with speculation connecting ICY to Cloud9, who are reportedly looking to bolster their roster with the player.
A giant leap to Cloud9
The sniper has been with AMKAL since the team's inception into Counter-Strike in late 2023, when they signed the ex-1WIN trio. Their success earned them a spot in the RMR Closed Qualifier, where they achieved their main objective of qualifying for the Major.
Kaisar caught the attention of spectators with an outstanding performance during the RMR, establishing himself as a formidable contender to wield the AWP for Cloud9. ICY's recent benching and the ongoing misconduct investigation have unexpectedly thrust him into the Cloud9 conversation, adding credibility to the potential move.
Cloud9 has remained inactive with an incomplete roster for over two months, ever since sidelining Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy and Abay "HObbit" Khassenov. This period of inactivity has resulted in the team missing out on key tournaments such as ESL Pro League Season 19, BetBoom Dacha Belgrade, and IEM Dallas.
As we await an official announcement, we'll continue to keep you updated with the latest news on the roster shuffle, so stay tuned.
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