Former Gambit & Cloud9 Core — Nafany, Ax1Le and groove — Reunite in New Org-less CS2 Lineup TDK

 

Former Gambit & Cloud9 Core — Nafany, Ax1Le and groove — Reunite in New Org-less CS2 Lineup TDK

A new Russian Counter-Strike 2 roster has been formed under the name TDK, featuring a reunited core of experienced players and a respected coach from the former Gambit and Cloud9 era. The project brings together Vladislav “nafany” Gorshkov, Sergey “Ax1Le” Rykhtorov, and long-time coach Konstantin “groove” Pikiner, marking groove’s return to coaching after approximately a year away from the scene.

Background on the Core Trio

• nafany and Ax1Le previously played together on Gambit and in Cloud9’s international roster, where the unit saw mixed success and notable achievements. Their history together includes competing at high-level events prior to both being benched by their respective organizations — nafany by AMKAL after the team ceased operations, and Ax1Le by BetBoom.

• groove, a coach with deep ties to the Gambit/Cloud9 setup, had been inactive since his release from Cloud9 following the organization’s withdrawal from Counter-Strike in February 2025.

Team Composition & Roster Structure

In addition to the reunited core, TDK’s lineup includes:

• Aleksandr “zorte” Zagodyrenko – former BetBoom player, benched alongside Ax1Le.

• Kirill “Xant3r” Kononov – previously with Nemiga.

• Amin “sugaR” Azimov – formerly of Insilio.

• Konstantin “groove” Pikiner – coaching the team.

Project Approach and Goals

According to nafany’s announcement, the new team is org-less — meaning there is no official organization signing the roster yet. Every member remains under contract with existing organizations, but all parties have given permission for the players to compete together under the TDK banner. Nafany emphasized that this initiative is driven by the group’s desire to stay active in competition rather than waiting idle due to a difficult transfer market environment; the squad plans to compete and climb the Valve world rankings through its own efforts and resources.

Current Status of Entropiq and Related Context

Formerly prominent CIS organization Entropiq, which used to house notable CS2 talent, currently has no active roster, underscoring broader volatility in the CIS Counter-Strike scene and contributing to why many players find themselves seeking new opportunities.

Summary of Key Points

• Team TDK formed with a blend of veteran and recently benched players.

• The roster is org-less but approved to compete by existing contracts.

• The core trio of nafany, Ax1Le and groove reunites after prior success together.

• The team aims to climb competitive CS2 rankings and maintain activity despite market challenges.