“Mayline‑Joy “ASTRA” Champliaud: ‘I’m really sad that ESL Impact League is ending, but I’m so glad that it happened’”

“Mayline‑Joy “ASTRA” Champliaud: ‘I’m really sad that ESL Impact League is ending, but I’m so glad that it happened’”

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On 1 December 2025, Mayline-Joy “ASTRA” Champliaud — the in-game leader for the all-female roster of BIG EQUIPA — reflected on the conclusion of the ESL Impact League. The statement comes in the wake of BIG EQUIPA’s victory over MIBR fe with a 2-1 scoreline in the grand final of Season 8, held in Stockholm. 

ASTRA opened the interview by acknowledging the mixed emotions surrounding the event: “I’m just really sad that it’s ending, but, [at the same time], so glad that it happened,” she told HLTV.  She went on to highlight the impact the league had on the female Counter-Strike ecosystem: “The whole female scene got so much better thanks to ESL making tournaments and stuff like this. I just wish there were more tournaments for us.” 

The Final Chapter of ESL Impact

It was a historic moment: the final edition of the ESL Impact League (Season 8) concluded in Stockholm, and BIG EQUIPA claimed the title as the last-ever champion of the series.  The league has been operating since 2022, and its organisers — ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) — announced back in October 2025 that they would suspend the circuit following Season 8, citing that the “current economic model is simply not sustainable”. 

That closure announcement made clear that while ESL Impact had achieved its mission of providing a dedicated competitive platform for women in Counter-Strike, the financial underpinnings were no longer viable in the existing structure. 

ASTRA’s Perspective and Personal Journey

ASTRA, aged 25, whose full name is Mayline-Joy Champliaud, has played a central role on BIG EQUIPA’s roster in recent years. In the HLTV interview, she candidly described the emotions of the grand-final LAN: she admitted to being “really tilted” at her individual performance — unable to hit shots she normally makes, while simultaneously managing IGL duties on LAN, which intensified pressure and disrupted focus. 

Despite those personal struggles, ASTRA emphasised her overriding desire: the team should win. “In the end I wanted the team to win, and even if I played like shit, so be it,” she said.  That mindset, combined with a composed team effort under pressure, led to that grand-final victory which punctuated the league’s final chapter. 

Reflecting on her four years competing in the Impact circuit she said: “Honestly, I have a career thanks to ESL Impact. And I’m just really sad that it’s ending, but, [at the same time], so glad that it happened.” It’s a tribute both to the platform and to what it offered players like her — visibility, stability, career opportunity — even if the ending is bittersweet.

Broader Impact on Women’s Counter-Strike

From its inception, ESL Impact was designed to amplify the presence of women in CS: the programme emphasised skill over gender, offered dedicated leagues and global finals, and became a platform for female players to grow professionally.  Over the course of eight seasons, the circuit helped raise the profile of female CS teams, provided meaningful prize pools, and introduced many viewers to female-only competition. 

The league’s suspension now leaves a glaring gap. ASTRA herself acknowledged this by saying “I just wish there were more tournaments for us.” The timing of the pause is critical, not only emotionally but structurally, as teams, players and sponsors must now navigate the uncertainty of what’s next for women’s CS competition outside the Impact ecosystem. 

What the Future Holds

ASTRA confirmed that BIG EQUIPA’s roster will stay together for now, despite the uncertainty: “We’re going to stick with the team. We’re going to keep practicing … we hope to win the next ones.”  While no specific tournament plans were disclosed, the statement reflects the team’s resolve to continue in competitive CS—even if the established platform they participated in is no longer active.

For the broader women’s CS scene, the ending of ESL Impact opens both a challenge and an opportunity. With a major league paused, organisers and community stakeholders must consider alternative frameworks, perhaps more sustainable models that can support female-only or inclusive events without relying on unsustainable funding models. The original mission of Impact — giving competitive space and visibility to women in CS — remains relevant.

Final Thoughts

ASTRA’s words capture the paradox of this moment: the sadness of an era ending, and the gratitude for what was built. The phrase “so sad … but so glad that it happened” underlines that while tangibly the closure represents a loss, in memory and legacy it remains a net positive. For ASTRA personally, for BIG EQUIPA, and for the women’s CS community, Season 8 of ESL Impact will stand as a closing chapter of one major initiative — but also as a potential springboard to what comes next.

The final champion, the final grand final win, and the final tear, all mark a culmination—but perhaps also a beginning: a moment to reflect, adapt, and build a new future. ASTRA and her teammates leave the stage not just as winners, but as part of that legacy.