Luken departs 9z Team

Luca “Luken” Nadotti has decided not to extend his contract with 9z Team, the South American Counter-Strike 2 team announced on Wednesday, January 7.

The 28-year-old, who joined 9z in January 2025, has decided not to remain with the squad in 2026, forcing the team to find his replacement and sign a third new player in a span of two months.

9z had already signed Luciano “luchov” Herrera and Ignacio “meyern” Meyer in November, as the first two new arrivals since Luken.

The abrupt decision comes after a relatively successful start to 9z’s new campaign with the fresh roster.

Since the arrival of the Argentine duo, 9z have attended two tournaments, including ESL Challenger League Season 50: South America and Cajunto Copa do Brasil, placing second in the former and winning the latter.

“Throughout this process, we at 9z made a genuine effort to reach an agreement that would be sustainable for both parties,” read the announcement.

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“We are fully aware that this situation directly impacts our current performance, especially regarding our ranking and our path to the Major.”

Luken, who has been a key member of 9z over the last 12 months, has averaged an impressive 1.24 performance rating since joining 9z and 1.26 on LAN.

While 9z have not featured in a single big event in 2025, the South American outfit have been climbing the global rankings, peaking at no.40 in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) in October before ending the year at 44th.

With Luken’s departure, however, 9z lost their core associated with the VRS standing, forcing them to start from scratch.

9z Team now have to search for their new fifth player. However, with no confirmed tournaments in the coming weeks, they should have plenty of time to rebuild and enter the 2026 season with three new faces.

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9z Team Roster: