SOULFLY Benched by AURORA as Turkish Roster Overhaul Continues

04.07.2026 - 04:23

SOULFLY Benched by AURORA as Turkish Roster Overhaul Continues

AURORA have officially moved Caner “SOULFLY” Kesici to the bench, marking another significant step in the organization’s ongoing Counter-Strike roster overhaul. The decision comes shortly after in-game leader MAJ3R stepped down and coach Fabre departed, leaving the team with only three active players on its main roster.

Rather than being an isolated roster move, SOULFLY’s benching signals that AURORA’s rebuild is entering a decisive phase ahead of the second half of the 2026 CS2 season.

Quick Summary

Item	Details
Team	AURORA
Player	SOULFLY (Caner Kesici)
Move	Benched
Status	Officially confirmed
Date	July 2, 2026
Time on roster	Approximately 6 months
Current active players	XANTARES, woxic, Wicadia
Coach	None currently announced
Replacement	TBD

What Happened?

AURORA confirmed that SOULFLY has been moved to the bench, ending the rifler’s six-month spell with the organization. The announcement follows a series of major personnel changes that have rapidly reshaped one of Counter-Strike’s strongest Turkish lineups.

SOULFLY joined AURORA at the beginning of 2026 after replacing jottAAA, arriving from Fire Flux as one of Turkey’s most promising young riflers.

During his time with the roster, he primarily occupied supportive positions while helping the team remain competitive at top-tier international events. According to HLTV, he averaged a 1.01 rating across his tenure.

Following the announcement, SOULFLY thanked teammates, staff and fans, saying he was grateful for the opportunity and proud to have been part of “a chapter in Turkish CS history.” He also confirmed he is free to explore new opportunities.

Key Details

Category	Information
Player	Caner “SOULFLY” Kesici
Nationality	Turkey
Joined AURORA	December 2025
Benched	July 2, 2026
Time with team	~6 months
Primary role	Supportive rifler
Official confirmation	Yes

Updated AURORA Roster

Status	Player
Active	XANTARES
Active	woxic
Active	Wicadia
Benched	SOULFLY
MAJ3R	Stepped down
Fabre	No longer coach

At the time of writing, AURORA have only three active players on the main roster and no confirmed head coach.

Background: A Rapid Rebuild

The roster changes did not begin with SOULFLY.

Within a short period, AURORA have:

seen MAJ3R step down from the active lineup;
parted ways with coach Fabre;
now benched SOULFLY.

Together, these moves leave the organization with multiple vacancies and suggest a comprehensive rebuild rather than incremental adjustments.

Although reports have linked AURORA with potential international additions, no new signings had been officially confirmed at the time of publication. Any rumored roster moves should therefore be treated as unconfirmed until announced by the organization.

Timeline

Date	Event
December 2025	SOULFLY joins AURORA, replacing jottAAA
January 2026	Makes official debut for AURORA in BLAST Bounty 2026
First half of 2026	Helps team reach ESL Pro League Season 23 final and IEM Cologne Major top four
Early July 2026	MAJ3R steps down
July 2, 2026	SOULFLY officially moved to the bench

Tactical Impact

SOULFLY was primarily responsible for many of AURORA’s supportive positions, allowing the team’s star trio to take more aggressive roles.

Replacing players who perform these less visible responsibilities is often more difficult than replacing high-fragging stars, as support players contribute through utility usage, positioning and team structure rather than headline statistics.

Without a confirmed replacement, it remains unclear whether AURORA intend to maintain a Turkish identity or transition toward a broader international lineup.

Tournament Impact

The timing of the move leaves AURORA needing to complete their roster before future top-tier events.

Until new players are officially announced, uncertainty remains regarding:

the team’s final five-man lineup;
coaching staff;
tactical direction;
long-term roster identity.

What Changes Now?

The organization now faces several immediate priorities:

signing at least two starting players;
appointing a new coach;
rebuilding in-game leadership after MAJ3R’s departure;
integrating newcomers before upcoming tournaments.

With only three active players remaining, further announcements are expected.

Why This Matters

This is more than the departure of one player.

Over the past year, AURORA established themselves among Europe’s most competitive teams and one of the strongest Turkish rosters in Counter-Strike.

The departures of MAJ3R, Fabre and now SOULFLY represent the dismantling of much of that project.

How successfully AURORA rebuilds could determine whether the organization remains a consistent playoff contender or begins a longer transition period.

What to Watch Next

Several questions remain unanswered: