nafany Becomes Free Agent After Leaving AMKAL, Continues Playing With TDK

Russian Counter-Strike veteran Vladislav 'nafany' Gorshkov has officially entered free agency after his contract with AMKAL expired, marking another major turning point in the career of one of the CIS scene’s most recogn HLTV izable in-game leaders. According to a recent report by , nafany confirmed that he is no longer tied to any organization, although he will  continue competing with the TDK lineup while exploring new opportunities both individually and as part of the entire roster. 

The announcement arrives during a difficult and unstable period for the Russian-speaking Counter-Strike scene, where organizations continue to restructure rosters amid financial pressure and inconsistent tournament results. Nafany’s departure from AMKAL was not described as a dramatic split, but rather as the natural end of a contract following the organization’s operational changes earlier this year. HLTV previously reported that AMKAL had effectively ceased its Counter-Strike operations at the end of 2025, forcing players and staff to search for new directions. 

Despite becoming a free agent, nafany is far from inactive. He recently helped launch the TDK project together with former teammates and long-time associates, including Sergey 'Ax1Le' Rykhtorov and coach Konstantin 'groove' Pikiner. The roster was assembled shortly after AMKAL’s collapse and appears to be an attempt to rebuild a competitive CIS lineup around experienced players who already share chemistry and history. 

In interviews over the past few years, nafany has repeatedly spoken about the difficulties of leading unstable rosters and the pressure that comes with being an in-game leader at the top level. During his time with, he became known for his aggressive calling style and emotional leadership, helping the former Gambit core transition into one of the world’s strongest teams. Under his leadership, the roster achieved several deep playoff runs and captured major international victories, including IEM Dallas 2022 after Cloud9 acquired the former Gambit lineup. 

However, the project eventually began to decline. In 2023, Cloud9 replaced nafany with Denis 'electroNic' Sharipov as part of a high-profile rebuild that also included Ilya 'Perfecto' Zalutskiy. At the time, many fans questioned whether removing nafany was the correct decision, especially considering the structure and identity he had built within the team. Nafany himself later admitted that the benching did not completely surprise him. In interviews, he openly stated that electronic was individually stronger as a player, while also suggesting that he had lost part of his authority inside the roster near the end of his Cloud9 tenure. 

After leaving Cloud9, nafany quickly became the centerpiece of BetBoom’s Counter-Strike project. The organization signed a lineup built around his vision, featuring players such as Aleksandr 'zorte' Zagodyrenko and Pavel 's1ren' Ogloblin. Initially, the move was viewed as an opportunity for nafany to prove himself outside the former Gambit system and demonstrate that his leadership could succeed with a completely different roster. 

The results, however, remained inconsistent. BetBoom showed flashes of potential but struggled to establish itself as a stable top-tier contender. Following disappointing performances during the RMR cycle, the organization eventually sidelined nafany and began another restructuring process. Reports from late 2024 and early 2025 suggested internal issues and a lack of chemistry within the lineup, something nafany himself later acknowledged in public comments. 

Even so, nafany remains one of the most respected leaders in the CIS scene. At just 24 years old, he already possesses years of Tier-1 experience, deep playoff appearances, and a reputation for developing talent. His statistics have never been superstar-level individually, but his value has consistently come from team structure, communication, and tactical leadership. HLTV’s player database still lists him among the most experienced active Russian IGLs currently competing in CS2. 

The biggest question now concerns his future destination. Since nafany stated he is open both to individual offers and complete lineup proposals, several scenarios remain possible. He could join an established organization searching for an experienced caller, continue building TDK into a permanent project, or even reunite with former teammates if another CIS reshuffle occurs later this season. The current Counter-Strike market remains highly volatile, especially among Russian-speaking teams, where roster changes continue almost monthly. 

For now, nafany’s free agency represents more than just another contract expiration. It is the latest chapter in a career that has already included the rise of Gambit, the pressure of leading Cloud9, the ambitious BetBoom rebuild, and now another attempt to return to the highest level of Counter-Strike through TDK. Whether he finds success again at Tier 1 remains uncertain, but his experience and reputation ensure that he will remain an important figure in the CIS scene moving forward.