Monte Finalize CS2 Lineup With Signing of Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov

Monte Finalize CS2 Lineup With Signing of Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov

Monte have officially confirmed the signing of Bulgarian professional CS2 player Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov, completing the construction of their Counter-Strike 2 roster ahead of a busy competitive season. The announcement was made on February 10, 2026, shortly after Rainwaker debuted in competitive action under the Monte banner at the ongoing BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 event. 

Rainwaker replaces Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas, who departed Monte after being acquired by Astralis earlier in the year. Glušauskas’ move to the Danish organization marked one of the more notable roster shifts in the European CS2 scene; Monte’s decision to turn to Rainwaker reflects both their desire to stabilize the lineup and the increasing movement of players among tier-two and emerging teams. 

Rainwaker’s Monte debut was held in the online portion of BLAST Bounty, where the Bulgarian contributed to a surprising upset victory over Natus Vincere before Monte were eventually knocked out of the competition by Falcons. 

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Who Is Rainwaker?

Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov is a 24-year-old Bulgarian professional Counter-Strike player whose competitive journey began several years ago. According to player profiles on Liquipedia and HLTV, Rainwaker has competed at a high level in CS2 and CS:GO events, previously featuring for teams such as Team Liquid and 500. 

Before joining Monte, Rainwaker spent time competing with 500 Esports, where he built a reputation as a consistent performer across multiple tournaments. Database sites report that he has played hundreds of maps and earned significant prize money over his career, with some sources suggesting his total earnings exceed six figures from competitive events alone. 

While Rainwaker may not yet have claimed titles at the very top of the CS2 scene, his experience includes notable placements in European development circuits and participation in major regional tournaments — attributes that give Monte a blend of raw firepower and seasoned match experience. 

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Monte’s Current Roster and Competitive Plans

With Rainwaker now locked into their active lineup, Monte’s CS2 roster stands as follows:

• Jack “Gizmy” von Spreckelsen (United Kingdom)

• Aurélien “afro” Drapier (France)

• Oscar “AZUWU” Bell (United Kingdom)

• Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras (Lithuania)

• Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov (Bulgaria)

• Alexander “kakafu” Szymanczyk (Austria) – Coach

This multinational lineup has begun competing under the Monte banner and will be active next at Copenhagen Gaming Week 2026, where the team is seeded into Group B alongside teams such as Tricked, ENCE and illwill. 

The Copenhagen event will offer Monte one of their first major opportunities to test the completed roster in an offline, LAN setting — a step up from the online BLAST Bounty showing. Performance there may offer an early indicator of how well the new configuration can contend with established European competitors. 

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What This Means for Monte

Monte’s signing of Rainwaker fills a key roster slot and signals the organization’s clear intent to remain competitive in European CS2 circuits. Close observers of the scene had noted the team’s gradual evolution throughout early 2026, and bringing in an experienced player like Rainwaker reflects a broader trend in CS2 of teams blending rising talent with seasoned veterans to find synergy.

Going forward, Monte will aim to build on the momentum from their upset win against NAVI and use upcoming events to sharpen their coordination and results at a higher level of competition. The move could also enhance Rainwaker’s individual profile, offering him a platform to showcase his skills against stronger opposition across the season.