GUN5 Suspends Operations and Releases CS2 Roster — Full Timeline, Verified Quotes, and Industry Context

Russian esports organization GUN5 has officially suspended its operations and released its Counter-Strike 2 roster, making all players and staff free agents. The announcement was published via the club’s official Telegram channel and later confirmed by multiple industry figures, including founder Vyacheslav “Buster” Leontyev.

GUN5 Suspends Operations: Official Statement

In its statement, GUN5 confirmed a temporary suspension of all organizational activities. The organization also announced that:

All CS2 players

Management

Social media staff

have been granted free-agent status.

GUN5 thanked fans for their support, noting that “every match, every round, every post mattered” and emphasizing the role of the community throughout the project’s lifespan.

Buster Confirms Shutdown, Promises Explanation

Shortly after the announcement, Buster, streamer and founder of GUN5, published a brief message on his personal Telegram channel:

“GUN5 — that’s it. I’ll write in detail on December 23.”

As of publication, no further explanation has been released, but the statement confirms that the decision was finalized at the organizational level.

Former Manager: “This Is Not About Results”

Former GUN5 manager Dmitry “dimar1o” Zhdanov commented on the situation, stressing that the shutdown was not related to competitive performance. According to him:

The real reasons cannot yet be disclosed

There are no immediate plans to rebuild a new roster

This aligns with the organization’s decision to release not only players, but also operational staff.

Coach NMV: Players Want to Stay Together

Former GUN5 coach Maksim “NMV” Naumov revealed that the roster is interested in continuing together as a mix, though external factors may prevent that:

“Not everything depends on us.”

He also pointed out that GUN5 narrowly missed several key milestones:

A Top-40 ranking

An RMR qualification spot, missing out by just one point

Crucial losses against K27, which impacted the team’s ranking trajectory

Analyst Reaction: Possible Betting Market Impact

Esports commentator Aleksey “PCH3LK1N” Pchyolkin suggested that GUN5’s suspension could be among the first visible consequences of changes in betting-related legislation affecting esports organizations.

It is important to note that this is an expert opinion, not an officially confirmed cause.

Released GUN5 CS2 Roster

The following players are now unrestricted free agents:

SELLTER

mag1k3Y

tex1y

Sdaim

yiksrezo

At the time of suspension, GUN5 was ranked around #66 in the global CS2 rankings and had primarily competed in Tier-3 tournaments.

Background: GUN5’s Short but Active History

Founded: 2023

Founder: Vyacheslav “Buster” Leontyev

Total prize money: approximately $151,000

Competitive focus: CS2 Tier-3 events

In May 2025, Buster publicly stated that he was open to selling the organization, valuing GUN5 at $14 million, while joking that he would consider offers starting from $1 million.

What’s Next for GUN5 and Its Players?

As of now:

GUN5 remains inactive

All players are free agents

No new roster has been announced

A detailed explanation from Buster is expected

Whether the former lineup continues together or signs with a new organization will likely become clear in the coming weeks.