Astralis Bench HooXi and jabbi in Major Roster Overhaul

Astralis have benched Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen and Jakob "jabbi" Nygaard with immediate effect, triggering a major CS2 roster rebuild shortly after the organization ended its long wait for another LAN trophy.

The October 9 move initially left Astralis with only Love "phzy" Smidebrant, Victor "Staehr" Staehr and Gytis "ryu" Glušauskas on the active roster. It also represented a wider strategic shift: the organization was preparing to move away from the Danish-majority identity that had defined Astralis throughout its Counter-Strike history.

The timing made the decision particularly notable. Astralis had just won Stake Ranked Episode 4, their first LAN tournament victory since December 2019.

The rebuild has since moved quickly. On October 13, Astralis officially signed former MOUZ and Liquid in-game leader Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek alongside Nikita "cmtry" Samolotov, completing a new international lineup.

Quick Summary

Team: Astralis
Players benched: HooXi and jabbi
Announcement date: October 9, 2026
Status: Official
Reason/context: Both players were approaching the end of their contracts
Immediate active core: phzy, Staehr, ryu
Replacements: siuhy and cmtry
Replacement status: Official as of October 13
Coach: NEO
Major context: PGL Major Singapore
First event with new lineup: Stake Pulse Beat III
Region/identity: Previously Danish-majority; now international

Astralis Bench HooXi and jabbi: What Happened?

Astralis confirmed on October 9 that HooXi and jabbi had been moved to the bench with immediate effect.

The official decision came only two days after reports emerged that Astralis were actively searching for replacements for both players.

Contract timing was central to the situation.

HooXi and jabbi were approaching the end of their existing deals, and Astralis opted to begin its next roster cycle immediately rather than wait until those agreements expired.

According to reporting preceding the announcement, jabbi's contract was due to expire at the end of November, while HooXi's ran until the end of 2026.

Astralis CEO Jonas Gundersen framed the move as the organization closing one chapter and creating space for a new direction.

The decision was particularly striking because of what had happened only days earlier.

Astralis had won Stake Ranked Episode 4 in Barcelona, defeating Nemiga in the grand final and securing the organization's first LAN trophy since December 2019.

HooXi therefore left the active lineup immediately after leading Astralis to a milestone the organization had spent years trying to reach.

Key Details

Detail	Information
Organization	Astralis
Players benched	HooXi, jabbi
Announcement	October 9, 2026
Status	Official
HooXi role	In-game leader
jabbi role	Rifler
HooXi joined	2025
jabbi joined	November 2023
Immediate remaining core	phzy, Staehr, ryu
Coach	NEO
Reported contract context	Both contracts approaching expiration
Replacement IGL	siuhy
Second replacement	cmtry
Replacement announcement	October 13, 2026
Major context	PGL Major Singapore
First event with new roster	Stake Pulse Beat III

Why Astralis Made the Change Now

The timing initially appeared unusual from a purely results-based perspective.

Astralis had just won a LAN trophy. HooXi had guided the organization to several deep tournament runs, and the Barcelona victory appeared to offer evidence that the project was finally converting competitive progress into titles.

The roster situation, however, extended beyond one tournament result.

HLTV reported on October 7 that Astralis were already looking for immediate replacements for HooXi and jabbi, with contract negotiations having reached an impasse.

HooXi and jabbi were both nearing the end of their contracts, while Staehr had previously extended his Astralis deal.

That created an important organizational decision: continue with a lineup containing players approaching free agency, or accelerate the next rebuild before the Major cycle.

Astralis chose the second option.

The organization did not wait for the contracts to expire. Instead, HooXi and jabbi were removed from the active lineup immediately, giving Astralis time to integrate their replacements before its next major championship appearance.

Updated Astralis CS2 Roster

Astralis initially dropped to a three-player active core after the double benching.

Four days later, the organization completed the rebuild by signing siuhy and cmtry.

Player	Role/status	Nationality	Current status
phzy	AWPer	Sweden	Active
Staehr	Rifler	Denmark	Active
ryu	Rifler	Lithuania	Active
siuhy	In-game leader	Poland	Active
cmtry	Rifler*	Ukraine	Active
NEO	Coach	Poland	Active
HooXi	In-game leader	Denmark	Benched
jabbi	Rifler	Denmark	Benched

*cmtry had previously played as an AWPer, but Astralis' new configuration has him moving to rifling while phzy retains the primary AWP.

That distinction makes the rebuild more than a simple two-for-two player replacement.

Astralis have changed both their leadership structure and the composition of the roster.

The End of Astralis' Danish Core

One of the biggest consequences of the move is historical rather than statistical.

Astralis became synonymous with Danish Counter-Strike during its championship era. Danish lineups were fundamental to the organization's identity, including the legendary roster that established Astralis as one of the most successful organizations in Counter-Strike history.

The arrival of siuhy and cmtry changes that structure.

The current lineup consists of players from Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.

For the first time, Astralis no longer fields a Danish-majority Counter-Strike roster.

That makes the HooXi and jabbi benchings a dividing line between two versions of Astralis: the organization built around maintaining a Danish core and the new international project being developed under NEO and siuhy.

HooXi's Astralis Tenure

HooXi joined Astralis permanently in June 2025 after initially playing with the organization as a stand-in.

He assumed in-game leadership duties following the departure of cadiaN and subsequently oversaw a period in which Astralis returned to regular deep LAN runs.

Under HooXi, Astralis reached the grand final of multiple tournaments, including:

• PGL Astana 2025

• FISSURE Playground 1

• PGL Bucharest 2026

The defining result arrived at Stake Ranked Episode 4 in October 2026.

Astralis defeated Nemiga in the grand final to claim the organization's first LAN trophy since December 2019.

Just five days later, HooXi was moved to the bench.

That sequence makes his departure particularly unusual: his active Astralis tenure effectively ended immediately after delivering the organization's long-awaited return to the LAN winner's circle.

jabbi's Astralis Tenure

jabbi's Astralis story began much earlier.

He joined in November 2023 alongside Martin "stavn" Lund after the pair left HEROIC in one of the most consequential Danish roster moves of that period.

jabbi remained through several iterations of the project while Astralis repeatedly rebuilt around different leadership structures and teammates.

His time with the organization eventually stretched for almost three years.

Before joining Astralis, jabbi had already established himself as a high-level Danish rifler with HEROIC, including earning recognition among HLTV's Top 20 players of 2023.

The October 2026 benching therefore closes one of the longest remaining links between Astralis and the Danish roster project assembled following the HEROIC transfers.

Timeline of the Astralis Roster Change

Date	Development	Significance
November 2023	jabbi joins Astralis alongside stavn	Major HEROIC-to-Astralis transfer
June 2025	HooXi officially joins Astralis	Becomes the team's IGL
2025–2026	Astralis reach several LAN finals	Team becomes a regular deep-playoff contender
October 4, 2026	Astralis win Stake Ranked Episode 4	First Astralis LAN trophy since 2019
October 7, 2026	Reports say Astralis are seeking replacements	HooXi and jabbi futures become uncertain
October 9, 2026	Astralis bench HooXi and jabbi	Double roster change becomes official
October 13, 2026	Astralis sign siuhy and cmtry	Five-player lineup completed
October 14, 2026	New roster debuts at Stake Pulse Beat III	Astralis begin international era

Tactical Impact: HooXi Out, siuhy In

The most important tactical change is the transition in in-game leadership.

HooXi was responsible for leading Astralis during the team's recent rise and its Stake Ranked Episode 4 title.

siuhy now inherits that responsibility.

The Polish IGL previously built his reputation through GamerLegion and MOUZ before joining Liquid. His Astralis arrival gives the organization another established in-game leader rather than forcing one of the existing players to assume the role.

That should reduce ambiguity around leadership, but it does not mean Astralis will immediately operate in the same way.

A change of IGL can affect calling tendencies, map preparation, player positioning, communication structures and mid-round decision-making. How much Astralis' tactical identity changes under siuhy will only become clear over a larger competitive sample.

The cmtry addition creates another adjustment.

cmtry has experience as an AWPer, but the new Astralis lineup retains phzy as the primary sniper. That means cmtry is transitioning toward a rifling role.

How quickly he adapts to that change is one of the central competitive questions surrounding the rebuild.

Why the HooXi and jabbi Benching Matters

This is not a routine roster adjustment.

Astralis are changing direction at a moment when results had actually improved.

Organizations frequently rebuild after extended failure. Astralis instead initiated its overhaul immediately after winning a LAN tournament.

That suggests the decision should be understood in the context of roster planning, contracts and long-term structure rather than simply recent match results.

It also changes Astralis at three levels simultaneously.

Leadership changes: HooXi is replaced by siuhy as IGL.

Firepower structure changes: jabbi exits and cmtry enters while changing from his previous AWP role toward rifling.

Team identity changes: Astralis transition away from maintaining a Danish-majority roster.

Few two-player changes alter that many structural elements at once.

Major and Tournament Impact

The timing creates an obvious risk.

Astralis are rebuilding shortly before PGL Major Singapore rather than preserving the lineup that just won Stake Ranked Episode 4.

That gives the new roster limited time to establish chemistry, refine communication and build a shared tactical system.

There is also an upside.

Making the change before the Major gives Astralis competitive matches in which to test the new configuration instead of postponing the transition until afterward.

Stake Pulse Beat III provides the first such test.

VRS context

Astralis' Stake Ranked Episode 4 title pushed the organization into the global VRS top 10.

HLTV's projections around the roster announcement indicated that the result had put Astralis in an extremely strong position to qualify for the Singapore Major.

No specific VRS points gained or lost directly because of the HooXi and jabbi benchings are stated here. Numerical ranking effects should not be inferred without verified VRS calculations.

Impact Analysis

Astralis

Astralis gain a new long-term leadership structure around siuhy while avoiding uncertainty surrounding two expiring contracts.

The trade-off is continuity.

HooXi had just led the lineup to a tournament victory, and replacing two players requires Astralis to rebuild chemistry shortly before a Major.

The organization's decision therefore prioritizes its next roster cycle over preserving the exact lineup responsible for its latest trophy.

HooXi

HooXi leaves the active lineup with his reputation strengthened by Astralis' improved results and eventual LAN victory.

His next destination remains TBD.

Until a new organization or agreement is officially announced, speculation about where he will play next should be treated as unconfirmed.

jabbi

jabbi also moves to the bench while approaching the end of his contract.

His next team is TBD.

Given his experience at tier-one level, his future will be a relevant storyline in the transfer market, but no destination should be treated as confirmed without an official announcement or reliable reporting.

siuhy

siuhy receives another opportunity to lead a major European organization after leaving Liquid.

His immediate task is substantial: establish a functional tactical identity while integrating himself and cmtry into the roster ahead of high-pressure events.

cmtry

cmtry faces perhaps the most visible individual adjustment.

Rather than replacing phzy as Astralis' AWPer, he is expected to operate as a rifler.

His adaptation to that role could become an important factor in determining the ceiling of the new lineup.

What Changes Now?

The most obvious change is the composition of Astralis itself.

The active lineup is now:

phzy — Staehr — ryu — siuhy — cmtry

with NEO remaining as head coach.

siuhy assumes leadership duties, while phzy remains on the AWP and cmtry transitions toward rifling.

The communication and cultural structure of the team also changes as Astralis becomes fully international rather than Danish-majority.

For HooXi and jabbi, the immediate situation is different. Both remain listed as benched Astralis players while their futures remain unresolved.

First Results With the New Astralis Lineup

The rebuild has already entered competitive play.

Astralis debuted with siuhy and cmtry at Stake Pulse Beat III on October 14 and immediately advanced from Group C.

The team defeated Sashi 2-0 before beating HOTU 2-1 in the winners' match.

ryu was Astralis' highest-rated player in both series, according to HLTV's event report.

These results provide an encouraging opening but remain a very small sample. Two victories are not enough to establish whether the new lineup represents an upgrade over the HooXi-jabbi configuration.

The more meaningful evaluation will come as Astralis face stronger opposition and the roster accumulates more maps together.

What to Watch Next

1. siuhy's calling structure

The biggest long-term question is how Astralis play under siuhy compared with HooXi.

Watch for changes in T-side pacing, mid-round calls and how Astralis distribute initiative between their riflers.

2. cmtry's transition to rifling

Moving away from the primary AWP is a meaningful role adjustment.

His performance over a larger map sample will provide better evidence of whether Astralis can successfully convert him into a consistent rifling piece.

3. phzy's role

Keeping phzy as the dedicated AWPer clarifies one important part of the roster structure.

His development remains important because the new lineup is explicitly being built with him retaining the sniper role.

4. Major readiness

Astralis now have to balance development with immediate competitive pressure.

The organization is not rebuilding during an inactive period; it is doing so around the Singapore Major cycle.

5. HooXi and jabbi's next teams

Both players' futures remain unresolved.

Any confirmed transfer involving either player would add another important chapter to this roster story.

Related Teams, Players and Events

Astralis: The central organization undergoing the rebuild.

HooXi: Former active Astralis IGL, now benched.

jabbi: Long-serving Astralis rifler, now benched.

siuhy: New Astralis in-game leader.

cmtry: New Astralis signing transitioning toward rifling.

phzy: Astralis' primary AWPer.

Staehr: The only Danish player in the new active five.

ryu: Lithuanian rifler retained through the rebuild.

NEO: Astralis head coach.

Stake Ranked Episode 4: Astralis' final event victory with HooXi and jabbi active.

Stake Pulse Beat III: First tournament featuring siuhy and cmtry.

PGL Major Singapore: The major competitive milestone surrounding the timing of the rebuild.

Suggested Internal Links

Where corresponding CS2News pages exist, internally link:

• Astralis team page

• HooXi player profile

• jabbi player profile

• siuhy player profile

• cmtry player profile

• phzy player profile

• NEO profile

• PGL Major Singapore event hub

• Stake Pulse Beat III event page

• Astralis Stake Ranked Episode 4 victory

• siuhy departure from Liquid

• Astralis signing siuhy and cmtry

• CS2 roster changes / transfer tracker

FAQ

Why did Astralis bench HooXi and jabbi?

Astralis moved HooXi and jabbi to the bench on October 9 while both players were approaching the end of their contracts. The organization described the move as part of a new direction for its Counter-Strike project.

Who replaced HooXi and jabbi on Astralis?

Astralis officially signed siuhy and cmtry on October 13. siuhy takes over the in-game leadership position, while cmtry is moving toward a rifling role.

Is HooXi still on Astralis?

HooXi is no longer part of Astralis' active five but remains listed as benched. His next team is TBD.

Is jabbi still on Astralis?

jabbi was moved to the bench alongside HooXi. His next destination is also TBD.

What is the new Astralis CS2 roster?

Astralis' active roster consists of phzy, Staehr, ryu, siuhy and cmtry, with NEO as head coach. HooXi and jabbi remain benched.