Acend Enter Counter-Strike 2 with All-Bulgarian Lineup Led by SPELLAN

Acend Enter Counter-Strike 2 with All-Bulgarian Lineup Led by SPELLAN

Acend have officially entered the Counter-Strike 2 scene with a full Bulgarian roster headlined by in-game leader Teodor “SPELLAN” Nikolov, signing the core of the team previously known as StoichkovPeek. The Austrian organization, best known for winning the first-ever VALORANT Champions title in 2021, is fielding a CS roster for the first time in its history.

Acend’s debut CS2 lineup

Teodor “SPELLAN” Nikolov – IGL

Kalin “KalubeR” Erenditsov – rifler (ex-500, ex-Partizan)

Dimitar “Skrimo” Yanulov – rifler

Slaven “AwaykeN” Lyubenov – rifler

Kaloyan “shaiK” Borisov – AWPer

The team has already found success together under the StoichkovPeek banner, winning Game Zone Masters 2025 in Poznań, Poland. They defeated Betclic 2-0 in the grand final and claimed the $5,000 first prize, showcasing early promise as a cohesive and competitive lineup.

Who are Acend?

Acend is an Austrian esports organization that rose to prominence in VALORANT, where they became the first-ever world champions by winning VALORANT Champions 2021 in Berlin after a five-map thriller against Gambit Esports.

Following several roster changes in their VALORANT division, Acend is now expanding into Counter-Strike 2, choosing to build around an experienced Bulgarian IGL and a group of players with proven chemistry in regional competition. The move has been celebrated within the Bulgarian esports community, marking a rare case of a top European organization backing a fully Bulgarian lineup.

From StoichkovPeek to Acend

Before signing with Acend, the roster played under the name StoichkovPeek, a tribute to Bulgarian football legend Hristo Stoichkov. Under this moniker, the team:

Qualified for Game Zone Masters 2025 at Poznań Game Arena via online qualifiers.

Defeated Betclic Apogee Esports 2-0 in the grand final to secure the trophy and prize money.

Several members – including SPELLAN, KalubeR, Skrimo, and shaiK – had previously played together in other Bulgarian lineups such as The Chosen Few, building the foundation for their current synergy.

Player backgrounds

Teodor “SPELLAN” Nikolov – veteran Bulgarian IGL

A long-time leader in the Bulgarian Counter-Strike scene, SPELLAN has played for Windigo, SKADE, MAD Lions, The Chosen Few, and 500. Earlier in 2025, he led 500 to a peak of 27th in the world rankings, after victories at events such as the ICE Invitational (Barcelona) and CCT Season 2 Europe Series 17.

In a past statement while benched by MAD Lions, SPELLAN admitted:

“I never really felt comfortable in the team ingame and didn’t really have the chance to lead the game the way I’m used to, so it affected my confidence and performance during my stay here.”

His analytical and structured approach to leadership has been a consistent theme throughout his career — a quality Acend will likely rely on as he leads their first-ever CS2 project.

Kalin “KalubeR” Erenditsov – experienced rifler

Born in 2000, KalubeR has years of tier-two experience, representing FATE, SKADE, and Partizan Esports before joining 500. Upon signing him, 500 described him as the missing piece that “completed their roster.” His move to Acend reunites him with SPELLAN after their previous stint together.

Dimitar “Skrimo” Yanulov & Slaven “AwaykeN” Lyubenov – rising riflers

The duo of Skrimo and AwaykeN first gained attention in 2024 while trialing with Viperio, a UK-based organization. Both have competed in mixed European lineups, gradually building their experience. Their move to Acend marks a new milestone — the first time they will compete under a top-tier organization’s banner.

Kaloyan “shaiK” Borisov – dedicated AWPer

shaiK has worked with SPELLAN and Skrimo before during their time in The Chosen Few, making him a natural fit for Acend’s lineup. He’s known for his consistent performances at the regional level, maintaining around a 1.00 rating across his career.

Transfer details

The roster’s registration on Liquipedia and HLTV confirms the lineup was finalized on November 3, 2025, with all five players officially joining Acend under their new banner.

The bigger picture

Acend’s arrival in Counter-Strike 2 marks a significant moment both for the organization and for the Bulgarian CS scene. For Acend, it represents a new chapter after their VALORANT triumph; for Bulgaria, it’s a rare opportunity to showcase national talent under an international organization’s brand.

As the team prepares for upcoming online qualifiers and regional tournaments, many fans see this as the most promising Bulgarian roster to emerge since the Windigo era.