r3salt Returns to 9 Pandas as Sangal Loan Expires

Evgeny “r3salt” Frolov has officially returned to 9 Pandas after his loan spell with Sangal came to an end, according to HLTV.

The 20-year-old rifler is once again listed on the bench of 9 Pandas, marking the conclusion of his short-term move to the Turkish organization, which lasted until the end of the year.

r3salt’s Performance at Sangal

Despite Sangal’s inconsistent results in tier-two Counter-Strike, r3salt was one of the team’s most effective players during his loan period.
He finished his stint with an average rating of around 1.10, the highest on the roster during that time.

However, Sangal were unable to convert individual performances into consistent team success, remaining outside the top 50 in Valve’s ranking system, which limited their visibility at major international events.

Why the Loan Happened

The move to Sangal came shortly after 9 Pandas benched their entire active roster earlier in the year.
At the time, the organization stated that declining results and internal motivation issues made a reset unavoidable.

For r3salt, the loan represented an opportunity to regain form and playing time in an international lineup, rather than remaining inactive on the bench.

Upon joining Sangal, the player publicly stated that he had not been able to show his true level in recent months and was motivated to prove himself again in official matches.

Statements from Sangal

When announcing the loan deal, Sangal emphasized that r3salt was brought in to complete the roster after starting the season with a stand-in.

The organization’s management described the signing as the final piece needed to stabilize the lineup, while the coaching staff highlighted r3salt’s potential and individual skill ceiling.

What Happens Next?

With the loan now expired, r3salt returns to 9 Pandas without a confirmed role in the active lineup.

Key questions moving forward:

Will 9 Pandas reintegrate r3salt into a future roster?

Will the organization explore another loan or permanent transfer?

How will Sangal fill the vacant spot left by his departure?

As of now, no additional roster announcements have been made by either team.

r3salt Career Context

This is not the first transitional period in r3salt’s career.
In previous seasons, his name appeared in multiple roster discussions involving CIS and European teams, highlighting ongoing interest despite instability at the organizational level.

At just 20 years old, r3salt remains a high-upside prospect in the CS2 tier-two scene, making his next move particularly important for his long-term career trajectory.