9INE Officially Signs Latvian AWPer “shield” After phzy Exit

9INE Officially Signs Latvian AWPer “shield” After phzy Exit

International CS2 side 9INE have completed their latest roster change with the permanent signing of Latvian AWPer Roberts “shield” Tipsis. The move was confirmed on January 30, 2026, after shield spent roughly a month with the squad as a stand-in.

Transition in the AWP Role

shield steps into the AWP position left vacant by Swedish sniper Love “phzy” Smidebrant, who recently departed 9INE after his contract was bought out. Soon after, phzy was linked with a new opportunity at Astralis, becoming the organization’s newest AWPer.

Before his exit, phzy had multiple stints with 9INE — including a short loan earlier in 2025 — but the latest run lasted only a few events, averaging around a 1.00 performance rating across 23 maps played.

Who Is shield?

Roberts “shield” Tipsis is a 23-year-old AWPer from Latvia, known within the CS2 scene for his aggressive sniper style and recent rise as a reliable stand-in. Over his previous 89 maps played before signing, shield maintained a 1.15 rating, showcasing strong performances across multiple maps and events.

Prior to his official contract, 9INE utilized shield in key tournaments such as Fragadelphia Miami 2026 and qualifiers for events including IEM Rio 2026. His play helped the team achieve placements such as second place at Fragadelphia Miami and competitive outings in BLAST Bounty and Clutch Series events.

9INE’s Current Context

With shield now locked in as their AWPer, 9INE’s active lineup is:

• Rasmus “raalz” Steensborg

• Tobias “kraghen” Kragh Jensen

• Jan “cej0t” Dyl

• Bartosz “bnox” Niebisz

• Roberts “shield” Tipsis

• Coach: Danny “BERRY” Krüger

The squad sits around #35–#39 in global rankings depending on the ranking system, with the team continuing to push for stronger competitive results in the CS2 season.

Competitive Outlook

Going into upcoming regional events and qualifiers, 9INE will seek to leverage shield’s sniper role to improve consistency and rise in the Valve and HLTV world rankings. Their near-misses on majors — such as not qualifying for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 and missing the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 LAN Finals — underline the importance of this roster adjustment.

shield’s addition represents both a strategic and stabilizing step for the international lineup, giving the Latvian AWPer a full contract following his trial period with the team.