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Virtus.pro made waves in the Counter-Strike 2 scene with a high-profile signing, welcoming Denis “electroNic” Sharipov into their ranks while bidding farewell to Nikolay “mir” Bityukov.
The move, announced by the organization, aims to inject fresh firepower into the team after a string of underwhelming performances, notably their failure to advance past the IEM Katowice Play-in and a disappointing placement at PGL Major Copenhagen.
In a statement on Virtus.pro’s website, electroNic expressed his enthusiasm for joining the esteemed organization, citing their Major-winning pedigree and the readiness of the roster for triumphs.
Welcome electroNic – the new Virtus.рro player!
Denis "electroNic" Sharipov, a Major champion and four-time HLTV top 10 player, joins the Bears, replacing Nikolay "mir" Bityukov in the lineup. pic.twitter.com/u2tsFjNohf
— Virtus.pro (@virtuspro) April 15, 2024
He particularly highlighted his eagerness to collaborate with Dzhami “Jame” Ali, renowned for his unique in-game leadership.
This strategic roster change positions electroNic to inherit many of mir’s roles within the team, though his playstyle leans towards a more aggressive approach.
With electroNic’s proven track record of dominance, Virtus.pro aims to reignite their competitive edge as they gear up for ESL Pro League Season 19 and beyond.
Meanwhile, electroNic’s departure from Cloud9 opens up opportunities for the North American organization to address their longstanding need for a dedicated AWPer.
Despite initial expectations of dominance following electroNic’s and Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy’s acquisition last year, Cloud9’s performance fell short, culminating in Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov’s self-benching due to role conflicts.
With electroNic’s exit, Cloud9 faces the task of finding a suitable replacement, with speculation swirling around the necessity of Russian fluency due to the team’s primarily Russian composition.
However, Cloud9 remains tight-lipped about their plans for the future as they bid farewell to their departing star player.
Due to the sudden departure of electroNic, Cloud9 has been forced to pull out of the upcoming season of the ESL Pro League, with SAW set to take their place in the event.
#ESLProLeague Season 19 UPDATE:@C9CSGO have withdrawn from ESL Pro League Season 19.
They will be replaced by @sawggofficial who last joined us during Season 17! pic.twitter.com/kCqzmP7RM1
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 15, 2024
