Gambit Esports Reportedly Preparing a Return to Counter-Strike With a New CS2 Roster

17.11.2025 - 06:08

Gambit Esports Reportedly Preparing a Return to Counter-Strike With a New CS2 Roster

Russian esports organization Gambit Esports is reportedly planning a return to professional Counter-Strike, this time with a Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) lineup. The information comes from insider Vladislav “harumi” Radvilovich, who stated on his Telegram channel that “Gambit plans to return to CS!” Multiple Russian and international esports outlets have echoed the report, noting that the organization is currently exploring options for assembling a new roster.

According to Russian media, Gambit is evaluating candidates for a CS2 team, but no details have surfaced regarding potential players, coaching staff, or timelines. The organization has not issued any official statements, leaving the situation firmly in the rumor category for now. English-language platforms have also covered the story, emphasizing that harumi did not provide information beyond his initial short message.

Why a Gambit Return Is Significant

Gambit remains one of the most accomplished organizations in the CIS Counter-Strike scene. The club launched its CS:GO division in 2016 and quickly climbed to international relevance. In 2017, Gambit made history by becoming the first CIS team to win a Major, securing the trophy at PGL Major Kraków 2017 after defeating Immortals in the grand final.

A new generation of Gambit talent emerged in 2021—including nafany, sh1ro, Ax1Le, HObbit, and interz—dominating the online era and winning prestigious events such as IEM Katowice 2021, where they defeated Virtus.pro 3–1 in the final. Records also show numerous top-tier and high-tier finishes, including DreamHack Open Winter 2016, several online tournaments in 2020–2021, and a period of dominance around BLAST Premier: Spring Finals 2021.

Currently, Gambit does not field an active Counter-Strike roster and is absent from the global rankings.

What Happened to Gambit’s Previous Roster

Gambit’s last presence in Counter-Strike at the highest level ended during the political and tournament restrictions of 2022. As major organizers introduced limitations for Russian-affiliated teams, Gambit’s players were forced to compete under the neutral tag “Players.”

By early 2022, reports confirmed that the roster was being prepared for sale. On April 24, 2022, Cloud9 officially announced the acquisition of the entire Gambit lineup, marking Cloud9’s return to CS:GO. At the time, the team had already secured a Legends slot for the upcoming Major. Cloud9 described the move as a major comeback for the organization, stating in its announcement:

“When we left the league, we always promised that we would be back. This week, we are returning to the scene with an iconic lineup.”

This roster remained active under Cloud9 for several years, leaving Gambit without a Counter-Strike division.

Player Perspectives on the Gambit Legacy

Although no players have yet publicly commented on the CS2 return rumors, past statements highlight the impact Gambit has had on its former athletes.

In a 2020 interview, Mihail “Dosia” Stolyarov reflected on the breakup of the Major-winning lineup, calling the decision a mistake and noting that the roster could have remained competitive longer if internal decisions had been different:

“Breaking up our roster was a mistake, but the question was whose mistake it was; Zeus could have stayed.”

Cloud9’s leadership also praised the Gambit-developed players during their acquisition, emphasizing the strength of the system that produced stars like sh1ro and Ax1Le, further contributing to fan expectations surrounding a potential CS2 return.

Current Status of the Report

Various Russian and international esports outlets have picked up harumi’s statement, repeating that Gambit is considering re-entering Counter-Strike but that no concrete details have been revealed. There are no official comments from the organization, no confirmed lineup, and no timeline for a possible announcement.