ENCE Bench Entire CS2 Roster and Announce Strategic Return to Finnish Counter-Strike

ENCE Bench Entire Roster and Shift Focus Back to Finnish Counter-Strike

Finnish esports organization ENCE has announced a sweeping overhaul of its Counter-Strike 2 division, confirming that the entire active roster and coaching staff have been moved to the bench and made available for transfer. The decision marks the beginning of a new strategy for the organization, which plans to rebuild its team around Finnish talent and invest in developing the next generation of players from the country.

The move effectively ends the tenure of ENCE’s current international lineup, which consisted of Viktor “sdy” Orudzhev, Paavo “podi” Heiskanen, Ryan “Neityu” Aubry, Maciej “F1KU” Miklas, and Szymon “kRaSnaL” Mrozek, alongside coach Niclas “enkay J” Krumhorn. All members of the squad are now available on the transfer market while the organization begins its rebuild.

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Return to Roots After Years of International Lineups

ENCE explained that the decision is part of a long-term vision to return the organization to its roots by prioritizing Finnish players once again. According to the organization, the new direction will focus on nurturing local talent and building a roster capable of competing internationally while representing Finland.

This approach echoes the organization’s earlier identity. ENCE rose to global prominence with a Finnish lineup that reached the IEM Katowice 2019 Major final, led by Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, a run that remains one of the most iconic moments in Finnish Counter-Strike history.

However, following roster instability after that era, ENCE gradually transitioned to international lineups, eventually replacing all Finnish players in the main team and pursuing international talent in hopes of maintaining top-tier results.

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Struggles in the CS2 Era

ENCE’s decision also comes after a difficult period in the CS2 competitive landscape. The organization has struggled to regain consistent success since the transition from CS:GO to CS2.

The team managed to qualify for only one Major in CS2 — PGL Copenhagen, and has not appeared inside the HLTV top-20 rankings since the first half of 2024, highlighting the team’s declining results on the international stage.

The disappointing performances appear to have prompted the organization to reconsider its competitive direction and pursue a full rebuild rather than incremental roster changes.

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podi’s Situation

One of the notable details of the announcement concerns Paavo “podi” Heiskanen, who had been part of ENCE’s academy system before joining the main roster.

According to the organization, podi expressed a desire to continue competing in tier-one Counter-Strike, rather than participate in a rebuilding project centered around developing young Finnish players. As a result, he has also been placed on the bench alongside the rest of the roster.

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What Comes Next for ENCE

ENCE has not yet revealed the players who will form its new lineup, but the organization emphasized that Finnish talent will be at the core of the project. The goal is to create a team capable of growing over time while strengthening Finland’s presence in the international Counter-Strike scene.

The move represents one of the most significant roster resets in recent CS2 history, effectively closing the chapter on ENCE’s international roster experiment and signaling a return to the identity that originally brought the organization global recognition.