B8 Exit PGL Cluj-Napoca Early as npl Praises s1zzi’s “X-Factor” for Future Tier-One Aspirations

B8 Bow Out at PGL Cluj-Napoca; npl Highlights s1zzi’s Potential

At PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, B8 suffered an early elimination, finishing the group stage with losses to Aurora, The MongolZ and FURIA. The Ukrainian squad’s result saw them exit the tournament without reaching the playoff stage.

In a candid exit interview with HLTV.org following B8’s defeat to Aurora, Andrii “npl” Kukharskyi — the team’s IGL and star rifler — was upfront about his team’s struggles throughout the event. According to npl, the team repeatedly made the same strategic and mid-round errors across their matches, which prevented them from establishing any consistent game rhythm or strong performances. B8’s inability to adapt and fix mistakes, in his view, was the chief reason for their disappointing run.

“We played very bad. Bad mid-round decisions, bad calls […] so we weren’t able to show our game.” — npl on B8’s Cluj-Napoca performance.

First Look at s1zzi at a Top Event

A major talking point from the interview was npl’s assessment of Daniil “s1zzi” Vinnyk, B8’s newly added AWPer. 16-year-old s1zzi was competing at this tier of international competition for the first time after joining B8, and although the team’s overall play limited his impact on the scoreboard, npl was quick to highlight his individual promise.

npl described s1zzi as possessing a rare “X-factor” — the kind of explosive individual talent often found on elite tier-one rosters — and emphasized that such a player could be key to B8’s progression in the long term. npl also suggested that the team simply failed to give s1zzi the platform to showcase his full skill level due to B8’s broader tactical and execution issues.

“Obviously, he has that X-factor. That’s what every tier-one team needs, and if we want to become a tier-one team in the future, we need it.” — npl on s1zzi’s potential.

Statistical Snapshot

According to HLTV’s statistics summary for this event, s1zzi finished with a 1.00 rating over 13 maps, an average 0.72 kills per round (KPR) and 0.68 deaths per round (DPR) — a modest output reflective of both his limited opportunities and the team’s overall form throughout the tournament.

What This Means for B8

B8’s performance at PGL Cluj-Napoca marks a setback for the organization’s current competitive ambitions. After previously announcing roster adjustments — including s1zzi’s signing on loan and the temporary academy return of former AWPer segukawa earlier in February 2026 — the team had hoped to make a statement on the international stage. Instead, they failed to register a single group-stage win.

npl’s comments underline a broader message: while individual talent like s1zzi’s may be emerging, systematic issues in coordination and strategy must be addressed before B8 can consistently compete with the upper echelons of the Counter-Strike scene.

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Sources

• Core interview & match results: HLTV.org: npl on s1zzi: “He has the X-factor…”

• Roster transaction context: Player profile / news listing for s1zzi & B8 updates.