Heroic bring in hades as substitute for CS Asia Championships 2025

Heroic bring in hades as substitute for CS Asia Championships 2025

Heroic have confirmed that Olek “hades” Miskiewicz will join their roster as a substitute for the CS Asia Championships (CAC) 2025, which begins October 14 in Shanghai. The move comes as Heroic’s usual AWPer, Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbai, will miss the event due to ongoing visa complications. The organization expects Alkaren to return for PGL Masters Bucharest. 

— hades’s background and role
Hades is no stranger to stepping into teams — earlier this year, he stood in for G2 across three events, including the BLAST.tv Austin Major, where he posted an average rating of 1.02. 
Before the substitution news, he had been with Inner Circle, but was dropped along with his teammates after the organization acquired the TNL roster. 

In the interim, hades has been active: he finished second at Birch Cup 2025 playing as ex-Inner Circle, and also filled in for a match with Betclic during Galaxy Battle Phase 4. 

— Heroic’s intended lineup & expectations
Heroic’s announced CAC roster is:

• Linus “LNZ” Holtäng

• Simon “yxngstxr” Boije

• Linus “nilo” Bergman

• Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç

• Olek “hades” Miskiewicz (sub)

• Coach: Tobias “TOBIZ” Theo

• Absent: Alkaren (AWPer)

Heroic cited Alkaren’s visa issues as the reason for the substitution. They repeatedly affirmed that hades is a temporary stand-in, and Alkaren is expected to rejoin for future tournaments. 

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Why this matters: implications & context

1. Visa hurdles and roster flexibility

Visa issues have long plagued esports teams, especially when traveling to Asia. Heroic’s decision to replace Alkaren reflects a need to field a complete roster and avoid disqualification. Their expectation that he’ll return also shows they regard this as a stopgap, not a permanent roster change.

2. Hades’s experience & comfort as a stand-in

Hades’s track record as a substitute gives him credibility in this role. He has adapted quickly in previous stints and shown he can handle pressure — qualities Heroic will need in group stage matches abroad.

3. Heroic’s broader aims

Heroic, often competing at the top European level, will view CAC as an opportunity to maintain form and test depth. While not a premier event compared to Majors or Pro League stages, a solid showing will bolster their momentum heading into Bucharest.

4. Roster continuity & signaling

By avoiding a permanent roster shake-up and using hades temporarily, Heroic preserves internal stability. It also signals confidence in their existing core outside the AWPer slot — suggesting they foresee Alkaren’s return rather than a long-term replacement.

5. Pressure on hades

As a substitute, hades faces a dual-edged mandate: perform capably under pressure, while knowing his role is limited in scope. Strong results in CAC could enhance his marketability as a reliable support/stand-in option.