MaiL09 Secures Season-Long Loan Move to Alliance After Bench Surprise

MaiL09 Secures Season-Long Loan Move to Alliance After Bench Surprise

Swedish Counter-Strike prodigy Liam “MaiL09” Tügel has joined Alliance on a season-long loan from Metizport, the organisations confirmed on January 22, 2026.

The move fills the roster spot left vacant by Alex “poiii” Nyholm Sundgren, who transferred from Alliance to 100 Thieves earlier this month.

Background on the Transfer

At the end of December 2025, Metizport unexpectedly moved MaiL09 to the bench, citing difficulties in finding the best role for him within their competitive structure. This decision surprised many in the CS2 community given MaiL09’s reputation as one of the most promising young talents.

Prior to being benched, MaiL09 had been widely discussed as a rising star: he was ranked #33 in the latest HLTV Prospect Report and was picked by six players in the HLTV Top 20 list as a bold 2026 breakout prediction.

Earlier signals of Alliance’s interest in the Swedish talent emerged last week, when insider reports indicated the organisation was testing the 16-year-old following his benching at Metizport.

Role at Alliance

Alliance have confirmed that MaiL09 will make his debut for the team at the United21 ESPlay Challenge Season 1 — a USD 10,000 challenger-level LAN event in Norrköping, Sweden. The tournament runs on January 23, 2026 and features teams such as BIG, Johnny Speeds, SemperFi, and Metizport (his loan club).

What This Means for MaiL09

At just 16 years old, MaiL09 is considered a top teenage prospect in professional CS2. His move to Alliance is described as an opportunity for valuable competitive experience at a high level as he continues his development. Metizport publicly framed the loan as a step forward in his growth as a player.

This loan also provides MaiL09 the platform to contribute as a starter in official matches, a chance he may have lacked while benched at Metizport.

Current Alliance Lineup (Post-Loan)

Alliance’s active starting roster now includes:

• Simon “twist” Eliasson (In-game leader)

• Sean “eraa” Knutsson

• Markus “upE” Johansson

• Arvid “avid” Åberg

• Liam “MaiL09” Tügel (on loan)

• Simon “Hawk” Vävinggren (Coach)

Context in the Scene

The loan continues a trend of young talent movement in CS2, where standout prospects are increasingly gaining opportunities with established organisations. MaiL09’s high prospect pedigree and rapid ascent within the community have drawn attention beyond official statistics, with fans and analysts debating his potential impact and development trajectory as he steps into a more prominent competitive environment.