NAVI’s b1t Opens Up on Team’s Inconsistent Form and PGL Astana Progress

NAVI rifler Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy admitted that the team still struggles to properly evaluate its own level against elite opposition after a confident start at PGL Astana. In an interview with HLTV, the Ukrainian player explained that NAVI’s inconsistency over the last year has made every deep tournament run feel uncertain, even for the players themselves. According to b1t, the squad often enters major events without a clear understanding of how competitive it can truly be against top-tier opponents. 

The statement came after NAVI secured an important victory in Astana and showed signs of stabilization following several difficult months. While the team remains one of the most recognizable organizations in Counter-Strike, its recent form has been far less dominant than during the roster’s peak in 2024, when NAVI captured the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen title and several elite trophies. Since then, the lineup has struggled to maintain the same consistency against the strongest teams in the world. 

Speaking about the current atmosphere inside the roster, b1t emphasized that simply reaching international events and facing top opponents again already feels important for the team. He noted that NAVI spent long stretches playing against lower-ranked opposition or failing to make deep playoff runs, which limited their ability to accurately judge their progress. Because of that, every event against elite competition now serves as a test rather than a confirmation of the team’s status. 

The uncertainty surrounding NAVI has been one of the most discussed topics in the Counter-Strike scene throughout 2025 and early 2026. Community discussions on Reddit and esports media repeatedly highlighted the contrast between NAVI’s Major-winning run in 2024 and the disappointing results that followed. Analysts and fans pointed to declining consistency, map pool issues, and difficulties adapting to the evolving CS2 meta as major reasons behind the team’s unstable performances. 

NAVI coach Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy previously addressed some of those concerns in another HLTV interview earlier this year. He explained that the organization deliberately decided against major roster changes because management still believed the lineup possessed championship potential. According to B1ad3, the squad’s semifinal appearance at the StarLadder Major Budapest convinced the coaching staff that the team remained capable of competing for titles. However, he also admitted that changes to the active map pool seriously hurt NAVI’s preparation. The removal of Train — one of the team’s strongest maps — forced NAVI to rebuild parts of its tactical system almost from scratch. 

Those problems became increasingly visible during several tournaments where NAVI failed to reach finals despite respectable individual performances from players like b1t and w0nderful. Even during weaker stretches, b1t remained one of the roster’s most reliable performers statistically. He ended 2025 as NAVI’s highest-rated player and earned another appearance in HLTV’s annual Top 20 ranking. Analysts continued to describe him as one of the best anchor players in the world and arguably the least replaceable member of the roster. 

Part of NAVI’s ongoing challenge also comes from the enormous expectations attached to the organization. Since the legendary 2021 roster led by s1mple dominated the scene and won the Stockholm Major, NAVI has continuously been judged by championship standards. The current lineup initially appeared capable of creating a new era after winning the first CS2 Major in Copenhagen, but the following months proved far more complicated. Opponents adapted, tactical approaches across the scene evolved rapidly, and NAVI lost the aura of invincibility it briefly possessed during its strongest period. 

Despite the criticism, Astana could represent an important turning point for the squad. B1t’s comments suggested that the players are trying to rebuild confidence step by step rather than focusing on immediate dominance. The rifler avoided making bold statements about trophies or rankings, instead stressing the importance of proving themselves against elite opposition once again. That cautious tone reflects the reality of NAVI’s current position: still dangerous, still talented, but no longer guaranteed contenders at every tournament. 

At the same time, the roster continues to possess significant long-term potential. B1ad3 previously argued that the team had finally reached a stage where chemistry, structure, and individual skill could eventually translate into consistent title contention if given enough time. With players like b1t still performing at a world-class level and younger talents continuing to develop inside the system, NAVI remains one of the most closely watched projects in professional Counter-Strike. 

For now, however, NAVI’s immediate goal appears far simpler: proving that the team can once again compete confidently against the best squads in the world. B1t’s remarks captured that uncertainty perfectly. Rather than presenting NAVI as an established favorite, he described a team still searching for stability, identity, and confidence after months of uneven results. Astana may not fully answer those questions, but it has already provided NAVI with something valuable — belief that the roster can still challenge elite opponents when everything clicks together.