Liquid bench ultimate after one year as AWPer amid CS2 roster rebuild
Team Liquid have officially moved Polish AWPer ultimate to the bench, marking another major roster change for the organization as it prepares for the second half of the 2026 Counter-Strike season. The decision ends a year-long stint that saw the 22-year-old develop into Liquid's primary sniper after joining from the Polish scene in mid-2024.
Quick Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Team | Liquid |
| Player | ultimate (Roland Tomkowiak) |
| Move | Benched |
| Status | Official |
| Date | July 2026 |
| Role | AWPer |
| Replacement | TBD |
| Source | HLTV / Liquid announcement |
What happened?
Liquid have officially announced that ultimate has been moved to the bench, making him available outside of the team's starting lineup. The move is part of another restructuring period for one of North America's biggest Counter-Strike organizations. 
The announcement follows a difficult stretch of results during the first half of 2026, including an early exit from the IEM Cologne Major, where Liquid failed to build momentum despite flashes of strong individual performances.
While Liquid have confirmed the roster move, they have not yet announced who will permanently replace ultimate as the team's primary AWPer.
Background and context
ultimate joined Liquid in July 2024, arriving after impressive performances in Poland and quickly becoming one of the organization's most ambitious international signings. At the time, the roster overhaul also included the arrivals of jks and coach mithR as Liquid attempted another rebuild around Twistzz. 
His debut generated optimism:
-
he was viewed as one of Europe's emerging AWP prospects;
-
teammates publicly praised his potential during his first events;
-
Liquid reached several playoff appearances during his first season.
However, consistency proved difficult to maintain. Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, Liquid continued making roster adjustments while searching for long-term stability, adding players such as siuhy and later making further organizational changes.
ultimate's individual numbers also fluctuated, and despite remaining one of the team's dedicated AWP players, Liquid were unable to establish themselves among the world's elite throughout the first half of 2026.
Updated Liquid roster
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| EliGE | Active |
| NAF | Active |
| malbsMd | Active |
| siuhy | Active* |
| ultimate | Benched |
*Roster status reflects official information available at the time of publication. Additional changes may follow.
Why this matters
Benching an AWPer is rarely a minor change.
In modern Counter-Strike, the primary sniper shapes:
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opening duels;
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defensive map control;
-
economy management;
-
late-round win conditions.
Replacing the team's AWPer often requires tactical adjustments rather than simply swapping individual firepower.
For Liquid, this decision also signals that the organization is continuing its rebuild instead of treating recent tournament exits as isolated setbacks.
Tactical impact
Although Liquid have not explained the competitive reasons behind the move, several likely consequences follow:
-
a new AWP system will need to be integrated;
-
team roles may shift around the new sniper;
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map pool priorities could change depending on the replacement;
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the team's long-term identity may continue evolving after multiple roster changes across 2025 and 2026.
These are expectations based on typical roster dynamics rather than confirmed organizational statements.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2024 | ultimate joins Liquid |
| 2024–2025 | Competes as Liquid's primary AWPer |
| Early 2026 | Liquid struggle for consistent results |
| July 2026 | Liquid officially bench ultimate |
Key details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak |
| Nationality | Poland |
| Team | Liquid |
| Primary role | AWPer |
| Announcement status | Official |
| Successor | TBD |
Impact analysis
The move creates several immediate questions for Liquid.
1. Finding a new AWPer
Replacing a starting sniper is often one of the most difficult roster moves in Counter-Strike. The replacement must fit both mechanically and strategically.
2. Continued rebuild
Liquid have already undergone multiple roster changes over the past two years. This decision reinforces that the organization is still searching for a stable championship-caliber lineup.
3. ultimate's future
At just 22 years old, ultimate remains a relatively young AWPer with experience at tier-one events. His availability could attract interest from organizations seeking an established sniper rather than a long-term prospect. No destination has been confirmed.
What changes now?
Following the benching:
-
ultimate is no longer part of Liquid's active starting lineup;
-
Liquid are expected to announce or field another AWPer;
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further roster updates remain possible during the offseason.
No official replacement has been confirmed as of publication.
What to watch next
Several developments are worth monitoring:
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Liquid's announcement of a permanent replacement.
-
ultimate's next destination.
-
Liquid's roster registration for upcoming tournaments.
-
Whether additional lineup changes accompany this move.
Related teams, players and events
Teams
-
Team Liquid
Players
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Roland 'ultimate' Tomkowiak
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Russel 'Twistzz' Van Dulken
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Keith 'NAF' Markovic
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Kamil 'siuhy' Szkaradek
-
Jonathan 'EliGE' Jablonowski
FAQ
Why did Liquid bench ultimate?
Liquid have confirmed the roster move but have not publicly detailed the competitive reasons behind the decision.
Who will replace ultimate?
No official replacement has been announced.
Is ultimate leaving Liquid?
Not necessarily. He has been moved to the bench, meaning he remains contracted unless another transfer or release is announced.
When did ultimate join Liquid?
He joined the organization in July 2024.
Was this move official?
Yes. The benching has been officially confirmed.
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