BESTIA bench timo amid expected roster change

Why BESTIA made the move

According to HLTV, the decision is tied to an expected roster addition: Ignacio “nacho” Rodriguez, most recently of ShindeN, is anticipated to take over the open spot. Dust2 Brasil reported the same direction of travel, noting that “nacho” recently left ShindeN and is expected to be announced by BESTIA soon (this is still framed as an expectation/insider report rather than a finalized signing). 

On the ShindeN side, multiple public databases reflect that “nacho” is no longer with the team and had departed in early February 2026, which lines up with the timing referenced by HLTV and Dust2. 

What timo’s time on BESTIA looked like

Perez joined BESTIA in March 2025 and became part of the roster’s push through a packed South American schedule. 
HLTV credits his tenure with helping BESTIA climb to around the high-30s in the global Valve Regional Standings (VRS) — described as the organization’s best placement since late 2024. 

One of the most notable storylines during that period was BESTIA qualifying for the BLAST.tv Austin Major, only to be replaced before the event after failing to secure visas by the required deadline. HLTV’s earlier reporting on the situation includes BLAST reaffirming the substitution decision after BESTIA could not provide visa documentation in time. 

From a results perspective, BESTIA also ended 2025 on a positive note by winning Digital Crusade DraculaN Season 4, a title HLTV highlighted as a strong finish to the year. 
Dust2 additionally listed several trophies and notable runs during timo’s spell, and reported that over the previous three months he posted an average rating of 1.02 across 52 maps (per their compilation). 

The likely replacement: “nacho” in context

If the expected move is completed, BESTIA would be adding a 22-year-old Argentinian player with significant tier-two/tier-three experience in the region. HLTV’s database pages show “nacho” as an Argentinian player with a large sample of official maps played, and his stats page lists him in the context of ShindeN matches and history. 
Public roster trackers and Liquipedia’s team history also reflect that his time at ShindeN ended in early February 2026, which matches the “parted ways last week” framing in HLTV’s report. 

Current roster picture

With timo benched, HLTV currently lists BESTIA’s core as:

• Nicolás “Noktse” Dávila

• Cássio “cass1n” Santos

• Nicolás “buda” Kramer

• Tomas “tomaszin” Corna

• Coach: Julián “Zote” Acosta

• Cristhian “timo” Perez — benched

Until BESTIA officially confirm a fifth starter, the “nacho” move should be treated as the most credible expectation reported by multiple outlets, not as a finalized transfer. 

What to watch next

1. Formal announcement / registration: The key confirmation will be BESTIA publishing the final lineup (and HLTV updating the roster status accordingly).

2. Role fit and short-term results: BESTIA have been active in online circuits and regional qualifiers; a fifth player change often shows immediately in map pool choices and mid-round structure. (No speculation needed here — just the practical competitive impact to monitor.)

3. timo’s next step: HLTV already flags him as benched, meaning he’s available for transfer opportunities and could re-enter the South American shuffle quickly.