BIG Part Ways With FreeZe: Ranking the Shortest IGL Era in Recent CS2 History

BIG have announced the departure of Lukas "FreeZe" Hegmann, concluding his brief but intense spell as the team’s in-game leader. The move comes just three months after FreeZe was promoted into the role during a turbulent period for the German organization.

BIG confirmed the decision publicly, thanking FreeZe for stepping up during a transitional phase:

“You came in and guided us through chaotic times. We couldn't be more grateful ❤️ Best of luck in your next adventures.”

Ranking FreeZe’s BIG tenure: context over results

🥉 Duration: One of BIG’s shortest IGL stints

FreeZe’s time as BIG’s primary caller lasted roughly three months, placing it among the shortest leadership experiments in the team’s modern Counter-Strike history.

🥈 Circumstances: Emergency promotion

Originally part of BIG’s academy system, FreeZe was:

1. Promoted to assistant coach

2. Then elevated to starting IGL
   after Johannes "tabseN" Wodarz stepped away from calling duties.

This made FreeZe’s appointment more of a structural necessity than a long-term project.

🥇 Impact: Stabilization during internal reset

While results did not dramatically improve, BIG internally credited FreeZe with providing stability during a chaotic restructuring phase—an important but difficult metric to quantify statistically.

The roster moves that led to FreeZe’s exit

FreeZe’s departure cannot be viewed in isolation. It follows several interconnected decisions within BIG:

tabseN relinquishing IGL responsibilities after nearly six years

Karim "Krimbo" Moussa stepping down from the active lineup by mutual agreement

A broader coaching reshuffle that included Alexander "xenn" Ziegler returning as head coach

BIG management previously stated the goal was to introduce “a new structure and a fresh perspective” while keeping tabseN’s influence within the team.

Performance backdrop: why BIG keep rebuilding

Throughout the year, BIG struggled to find consistency:

Failed to qualify for both CS2 Majors

Still managed notable results:

Runner-up finish at DreamHack Knockout Atlanta

Tournament wins at Skyesports Chennai Global Championship and CCT Season 3 Europe Series 12

This mixed performance profile has fueled repeated roster and leadership changes.

Current BIG CS2 roster (post-FreeZe)

As listed following the announcement, BIG’s lineup stands as:

tabseN

Jon "JDC" de Castro

Nils "prosus" Prüfer

Dmitry "gr1ks" Grishin

Coach: xenn
Benched: Krimbo

What’s next for BIG? (rumors clearly labeled)

According to unconfirmed reports cited by HLTV and German insider sources, BIG are rumored to be exploring:

Benjamin "blameF" Bremer as a potential IGL signing

The addition of Florian "faveN" Rische, possibly affecting prosus’ position

No official confirmation has been issued by BIG at the time of writing.

Final verdict

FreeZe’s departure highlights BIG’s ongoing struggle to balance short-term stability with long-term leadership identity in CS2. While his stint was brief, it served as a bridge during one of the organization’s most unstable periods—an often overlooked but critical role.

For BIG, the search for a permanent in-game leader continues.