Kristou Benched by ECSTATIC

Kristou Benched by ECSTATIC

ECSTATIC have officially moved Danish AWPer Kristoffer “Kristou” Aamand to their inactive roster after a 17-month tenure with the team. This decision comes on the heels of a disappointing campaign for the Danish squad, which failed to advance past the group stage at BLAST Open London 2025. ECSTATIC suffered defeats against both FaZe and fnatic, including a resounding 0-13 loss to FaZe on Dust2, where Kristou recorded the second-lowest rating of his career at just 0.20. 

Despite a stronger showing on Inferno with a rating of 0.97, the result marked a bitter end to his year-long run with ECSTATIC. Over 425 maps played for the team, Kristou averaged a solid rating of 1.02 and captured his first LAN title in two years at the Elisa Nordic Championship 2025 in May. 

ECSTATIC also announced the mutual termination of coach Marcus “maNkz” Kjeldsen’s trial, citing his personal commitments. The core active roster now consists of Thomas “TMB” Bundsbæk, Anton “Anlelele” Huynh, Martin “nut nut” Holm Vestergaard, and William “sirah” Kjærsgaard. 

Expanded Background & Context

Player Biography

Name: Kristoffer "Kristou" Aamand

Date of Birth: January 5, 2002, making him 23 years old 

Role: AWPer (primary sniper)

Nationality: Denmark

Career Highlights & Timeline

Kristou has been active in pro Counter‑Strike since approximately 2016, competing across both CS:GO and Counter‑Strike 2.

His tenure with Astralis Talent lasted from mid‑2022 to June 2023, during which he posted a rating around 1.03 and contributed to multiple tournament wins—including LAN titles at the NPF Invitational 2022 and POWER Ligaen Season 23 Finals, plus six online tournament victories. 

In May 2024 Kristou joined ECSTATIC, quickly establishing himself as a mainstay and achieving a 1.02 rating across 425 maps. He also helped them capture the Elisa Nordic Championship 2025 LAN title in May. 

Overall Career Achievements (per Liquipedia)

First-place finishes include:

• • Elisa Nordic Championship 2025 (B‑Tier, Offline)

  • Dust2.dk Ligaen Season 28 (C‑Tier, Online)

  • European Pro League Season 14 (C‑Tier, Online)

  • Dust2.dk Ligaen Season 23 and Y‑Games Pro Series 2023 (CS:GO, C‑Tier, Online & Offline)

  • CCT Season 1 North Europe Series #4 (CS:GO, C‑Tier, Online) 

At BLAST Open London 2025, ECSTATIC failed to win a map against fnatic and were eliminated in the group stage after a narrow 1‑2 loss to FaZe.

Across his time with ECSTATIC, Kristou maintained a respectable 1.02 rating over 425 maps 

Contextual Analysis

A tough strategic move by ECSTATIC — benching a long-standing AWPer like Kristou signals the organization’s urgency to reset after underwhelming tournament results, particularly in high-profile events like BLAST Open.

A proven performer — despite this recent setback, Kristou brings a strong track record with consistent ratings and several tournament victories, suggesting potential interest from other teams seeking a skilled sniper.

No quotes from Kristou or the organization were included in the HLTV announcement; ECSTATIC only noted “further updates will follow soon” 

Potential Next Steps

• Track future updates — HLTV promised more information soon, possibly unveiling his next move or team interest.

• Follow roster movements — ECSTATIC’s restructuring could lead to new signee announcements or strategic shifts.

• Watch for team trial news — Kristou’s experience and recent results position him well for pickup by squads needing firepower.