Rare Atom Sign 18-Year-Old Chinese Talent chengking to Their CS2 Main Roster

Rare Atom Sign 18-Year-Old Chinese Talent chengking to Their CS2 Main Roster
Chinese Counter-Strike organization Rare Atom continue to rebuild and bolster their lineup ahead of future seasons

Rare Atom have officially announced the signing of Shengxuan “chengking” Zu, an 18-year-old Chinese Counter-Strike player, adding him to their active Counter-Strike 2 roster. The move, confirmed in mid-December 2025 on HLTV and reflected in the team’s roster timeline, marks another strategic adjustment for one of China’s most prominent teams as they seek to climb up the competitive ladder following a year of roster shuffles and mixed results. 

chengking’s Promotion and Background

Shengxuan “chengking” Zu is a young rifler originally competing for Chinese side FengDa before making the switch to Rare Atom on December 11th, 2025. Prior to the move, he had been gaining experience in domestic competitions and was viewed as a rising talent within the region. His official player profile lists him as an 18-year-old competitor previously active with FengDa. 

While he has yet to play an official map for Rare Atom at the time of this announcement, his potential contribution is seen as an investment in long-term growth rather than a short-term fix. As of the latest HLTV roster page, chengking is listed among Rare Atom’s starters alongside Summer, ChildKing, Tiger, and L1haNg. 

Context: Rare Atom’s 2025 Season and Ongoing Rebuild

Rare Atom’s CS2 project has undergone numerous changes throughout 2025, reflecting broader efforts to find the right competitive balance. Earlier in 2025 the organization moved veteran player HaoWen “somebody” Xu to the bench and eventually parted ways with him entirely in late August after a stint that included international and regional tournaments. That departure followed the team signing young prospect Aojie “Trash” Tian from E9 in June — another attempt to invigorate the roster with emerging talent. 

Trash’s own tenure with Rare Atom saw some positive flashes, such as contributing to a win at the GangKui Cup Season 1 where Rare Atom beat XDM in the semifinals in July 2025, but he struggled to maintain consistency at international events like FISSURE Playground 1. The team and player mutually agreed to part ways after internal evaluations. 

Before Trash, the squad saw the benching and movement of other players such as Marek and kaze, indicating Rare Atom’s willingness to make hard choices in search of a competitive core. 

What the Signing Could Mean for Rare Atom

The addition of chengking is significant for a few reasons:

• Youthful Potential: At just 18, chengking represents a longer runway for growth compared with some of the team’s older or more established names. 

• Strategic Rebalance: Rare Atom’s roster had lacked a stable lineup for much of late 2025. Adding chengking gives the team a fresh alternative to rotating veterans and bench players.

• Roster Evolution: As Rare Atom currently sits in the approximate range of #49 in the world rankings according to HLTV, restructuring the lineup could help them improve both in domestic Asian competition and on the international stage. 

Rare Atom’s trajectory through 2025 included a range of tournament results — from early exits at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 to respectable placings in the ESL Challenger League Asia-Pacific Cups and Perfect World CS Challenge Series. While they have not yet secured a major title, these events have provided valuable experience and data on competitive performance, arguably setting the stage for their next chapter. 

Team Identity and Competitive History

Rare Atom is a well-known Chinese esports organization with history in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and the current Counter-Strike 2 era. Since entering the scene, RA has built a reputation as a solid contender in the Asian region, often participating in local events and qualifying for international competitions. Liquipedia outlines Rare Atom’s organizational footprint across multiple esports titles, indicating strong institutional support for their Counter-Strike roster. 

Their performances throughout 2025 reflect a squad in transition: flashes of potential counterbalanced by inconsistencies at high-pressure events. Bringing in a younger player like chengking suggests Rare Atom are positioning themselves not just to compete now but to cultivate a core capable of sustained success.

Looking Ahead

As Rare Atom prepare for the upcoming competitive calendar — including regional qualifiers and online league play — integrating chengking into their strategies and chemistry will be one of their key focuses. Whether he will immediately feature in high-stakes matches remains to be seen; however, the organization’s willingness to make roster adjustments signals both ambition and urgency as they aim for better results in 2026 and beyond. 

Fans and analysts alike will be watching how this new roster configures itself, and whether Rare Atom can turn promising individual talent into stronger collective outcomes.