GamerLegion Bench IGL ztr as Part of Ongoing Roster Overhaul

GamerLegion Bench IGL ztr as Part of Ongoing Roster Overhaul

GamerLegion have announced that Erik “ztr” Gustafsson has been benched, bringing an end to his role in the active Counter-Strike 2 lineup after more than a year as the team’s in-game leader (IGL). The Swedish player’s departure from the starting roster comes as the organisation looks to “add more experience to the roster to better support the team’s long-term growth,” according to the club’s official statement to HLTV. 

At just 22 years old, ztr has been a core part of GamerLegion since signing for the team in May 2024, when he was recruited from Metizport to replace Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski and take on the IGL responsibilities. His benching marks a significant change for the organisation’s strategic leadership heading into 2026.

Over his time at GamerLegion, ztr played hundreds of maps and maintained solid individual statistics — but the team’s results in the latter half of 2025 fell short of expectations, particularly following disappointing placements at several key events. According to recent tournament reports, GamerLegion struggled in competitions like the CS Asia Championships 2025, exiting in last place after losses to Lynn Vision and Team Liquid that underscored systemic performance issues. 

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Team Statement and Future Direction

In their official communication, GamerLegion expressed gratitude for ztr’s professionalism and contributions, highlighting his character and commitment throughout his tenure. The organisation framed the decision as strategic, aiming to bring in more proven experience that can guide the squad through the upcoming competitive cycle.

While the club did not yet announce a direct replacement for ztr as IGL, the move aligns with a broader set of roster tweaks made by GamerLegion throughout 2024–2025. Earlier in the year, the team benched AWPer Henrich “sl3nd” Hevesi after a run of mixed results and replaced him with French sniper Jeremy “Kursy” Gast, before eventually signing Milan “hypex” Polowiec to take over primary AWPing duties. 

Similarly, in early 2025 the club moved Sebastian “volt” Maloș to the bench in search of a more dynamic rifler.  These changes reflect a consistent pattern: GamerLegion has been willing to reshuffle its lineup in pursuit of stronger competitive stability and results.

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Roster Context and Recent Results

GamerLegion currently fields a roster that includes the likes of:

• Fredrik “REZ” Sterner — a veteran rifler with extensive experience from Ninjas in Pyjamas 

• Sebastian “Tauson” Lindelöf — a reliable mid-round presence

• Oldřich “PR” Nový — a high-impact Czech rifler

• Milan “hypex” Polowiec — the newly signed AWPer 

ztr’s benching now reshapes the squad’s in-game leadership responsibilities, and at the time of writing no official announcement has been made about who will inherit the IGL role full-time. Even so, fans and analysts have speculated about a possible external signing or internal restructuring part of an ongoing 2025–2026 rostermania cycle affecting many CS2 teams. 

GamerLegion currently sit at #18 in the world rankings, demonstrating that while they remain a competitive side capable of strong individual performances, consistency at premier events has been elusive. 

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ztr’s Career and Legacy at GamerLegion

Erik Gustafsson first joined GamerLegion in mid-2024 as part of a strategic plan to rejuvenate the team with young talent. Originally playing for Metizport, ztr stepped into one of the most demanding roles on a CS2 roster — in-game leadership — at a formative stage of his career. 

Over his tenure, he accrued experience against top-level competition and logged a significant number of maps, contributing both tactically and through individual fragging. His time as IGL witnessed highs and lows: while GamerLegion showed flashes of strong play, the team also endured stretches of inconsistent results that ultimately factored into this decision.

The bench move does not necessarily preclude future opportunities at the organisation or elsewhere; ztr remains a young prospect with valuable leadership experience under his belt. As seen across the CS2 ecosystem, players frequently cycle between bench and active status before solidifying their place at the top level. 

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Broader CS2 Rostermovement and Competitive Picture

GamerLegion’s decision comes amid a busy period of transfers and roster changes across Counter-Strike 2. Major teams have been actively reshaping their squads — from FaZe and G2 to NAVI and HEROIC — in a post-Major roster shake-up that has been dubbed “rostermania.” 

This wider context highlights how competitive pressure and performance expectations are driving organisations to make bold decisions, often seeking a blend of experience and rising talent. For GamerLegion, benching ztr may signal an intent to pivot toward a more seasoned lineup and establish a clearer path into 2026’s competitive calendar.

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Summary:

• GamerLegion have benched Erik “ztr” Gustafsson, ending his role as IGL.

• The move is framed as part of a strategy to add experience and strengthen long-term growth.

• ztr joined the team in 2024 and led the squad through many matches before recent underperformance.

• The organisation has made multiple roster changes in 2025, reflecting ongoing roster refinement.

• With attention on competitive CS2 rostermania, GamerLegion’s next steps will be closely watched