birdfromsky and b0RUP depart kONO amid unpaid salary dispute

birdfromsky and b0RUP depart kONO amid unpaid salary dispute

Danish Counter-Strike players Thomas “birdfromsky” Due-Frederiksen and Johannes “b0RUP” Borup have officially parted ways with the Ukrainian esports organization kONO after alleging that the team failed to pay their salaries for several months. The dispute became public after both players released statements on social media describing prolonged payment delays and unsuccessful negotiations with the organization. 

According to b0RUP, neither he nor birdfromsky had received salary payments from kONO for approximately four months. The situation eventually led the players to publicly announce their departure from the team, stating that communication with the organization had effectively broken down. 

Background of the roster

The roster that later signed with kONO had originally formed independently before joining the organization in August 2025. At the time, birdfromsky, b0RUP, and Belgian player Nicolas “Keoz” Dgus were part of a developing lineup alongside other teammates such as vegi and BODenmaster. The players reportedly invested their own funds to attend international LAN events and compete in smaller tournaments in order to improve their standing in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) system. 

Their goal was to build enough ranking points and visibility to attract organizational backing and gain access to events such as CCT or NODWIN tournaments. Eventually, kONO approached the lineup and signed the core of the roster, offering contracts that, according to b0RUP, contained several safeguards intended to protect players financially. 

The contract reportedly prevented the organization from terminating players within the first six months and required additional salary compensation in the event of early termination. It also did not include provisions that would allow salary reductions if players were moved to the bench. These clauses were important to the players, who had already spent personal funds on travel and tournament participation before signing with the organization. 

Dispute begins in December

Problems reportedly started in early December when the organization informed the roster that teammate cptkurtka would be trialing for another team. At that stage, the lineup expected to continue competing while the situation was resolved, but the scenario changed after the player eventually transferred. Instead of replacing him and continuing with the roster, kONO reportedly decided to bench the remaining players and place them on the transfer list. 

The situation soon escalated into a contract dispute between the players and the organization regarding termination conditions and salary obligations. According to b0RUP, the team management believed that benched players should receive only half of their salary, while the players argued that such a clause was not included in their contracts. 

Negotiations reportedly continued for several months without reaching a resolution. During this time, the players also became concerned about rumors that the organization might declare bankruptcy, which could potentially make it impossible to recover the owed payments. 

In an attempt to resolve the situation quickly, birdfromsky and b0RUP even proposed accepting only half of the owed salary. However, the offer was reportedly rejected. Later, the organization allegedly proposed paying around 60 percent of the outstanding amount on the condition that the players publicly state that an agreement had been reached and that earlier accusations made by teammate Keoz were inaccurate. The Danish duo refused this proposal. 

Earlier accusations from Keoz

The controversy surrounding kONO had already surfaced earlier in 2026 when Belgian player Keoz publicly accused the organization of failing to pay his guaranteed salary for December. He also claimed that he faced pressure, threats, and attempts to damage his reputation after raising concerns about the unpaid wages. 

Keoz stated that he had tried to resolve the issue privately and even issued a formal legal demand before making the dispute public. The player emphasized that he was not asking for additional compensation but only the minimum salary guaranteed in his contract. 

The organization denied wrongdoing at the time, with CEO Oleh Shustenko stating that the claims about unpaid salaries did not correspond to reality and insisting that the team had fulfilled all of its obligations toward players. 

Wider issues in the tier-2 Counter-Strike scene

The situation highlights recurring financial instability in the tier-2 Counter-Strike ecosystem, where smaller organizations often struggle with sustainable funding and consistent operational management. While top-tier teams benefit from strong sponsorship deals and stable tournament circuits, many developing rosters rely on uncertain funding sources and short-term agreements. 

As a result of the unresolved dispute, birdfromsky and b0RUP have confirmed that they are no longer representing kONO. At the time of the reports, the organization had not issued a new public response addressing the latest accusations from the players.