00NATION and 9z Team have announced the completion of a player swap, with Lucas “nqz” Soares moving to 00NATION and Santino “try” Rigal returning to 9z. The two Counter-Strike: Global Offensive snipers have officially swapped teams between the Argentinian and Brazilian esports franchises in preparation for the 2023 season.
An earlier report in January had indicated that a player exchange between the two teams was imminent, even though nqz was also in talks to join Fluxo at the time. This report has now been confirmed with the official announcements made by both teams.
After spending six months with the team, Nqz has decided to leave 9z. During his time with the team, Nqz was the highest-rated player, boasting a 1.19 rating. The 17-year-old Brazilian was instrumental in helping the South American team qualify for the IEM Rio Major, posting a 1.17 rating during their third-place finish in the IEM Road to Rio Americas RMR tournament.
Nqz confirmed his move to 00Nation to his fans on his official Twitter page, and looks forward to commencing his new journey.
“Happy to announce my new home, looking forward to the new stage and even more looking forward to the chance to represent this giant organization with these great players,” Nqz wrote.
He also bid farewell to his former team and teammates in a Twitlonger post. He thanked the fans of the South American franchise for their continuous support.
“I would like to start by thanking all of you, fans from all over South America, who, even without knowing me, supported me with open arms and encouraged all the moments that this shirt represented, it takes a lot of courage and affection for that, and I love you very much. everyone and I am grateful for everything I lived, experienced and got here,” he said.
“To everyone who has been with me during this time @maxgzez @dgtcsgo @budafps @ dav1deuS_ @roxfps @zakkfps @tgefps @siagfps, I am grateful for all that they have taught me and for all that we have been through together, I came into this team as a player and today I am leaving as a completely different person, you will always have a place in my heart.”
Try, on the other hand, left 00NATION and returned to 9z, the team he represented from February 2020 to January 2022. Despite 00NATION experiencing multiple setbacks, try remained a reliable player for the Brazilian team and ended his time there with a strong 1.13 rating. He was also the only member of the 00NATION lineup to achieve a 1.00+ rating during the IEM Rio Major Challenger Stage.
With the addition of nqz, 00NATION’s roster now consists of Marcelo “coldzera” David, Eduardo “dumau” Wolkmer, Bruno “latto” Rebelatto, and in-game leader Epitacio “TACO” de Melo, with Olavo “cky” Napoleão serving as coach.
9z’s lineup, on the other hand, includes Franco “dgt” Garcia, in-game leader Maximiliano “max” Gonzalez, David “dav1deuS” Tapia Maldonado, Nicolás “buda” Kramer, and try, with Martin “rox” Molina on the bench.
The player swap marks a significant change for both 00NATION and 9z, with both teams looking to build on their recent performances and make a stronger push in the competitive CS:GO scene. Nqz will bring his impressive skills and experience to 00NATION, while try will look to make a splash in his return to 9z.
It remains to be seen how the player swap will impact the teams’ fortunes, but with both franchises boasting talented rosters and experienced coaches, fans can expect some exciting matches and top-notch gameplay from both sides in the coming season.
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