SunPayus Explains G2 Exit After 14-Month CS2 Stint

Álvaro “SunPayus” García has commented on the end of his time with G2, closing a 14-month chapter that included a trophy at BLAST Open London 2025 and eventually a move to the bench.

G2 officially confirmed the Spanish AWPer's departure on September 29, 2026. SunPayus had already been outside the active lineup for roughly three months after Artem “r1nkle” Moroz replaced him as G2's AWPer in June. 

The announcement formalizes a change that had effectively taken place months earlier. Attention now turns to SunPayus' next team, with reports linking him to FUT, although that move had not been officially announced at the time of G2's farewell. 

SunPayus spent approximately 14 months with G2 before officially leaving the organization in September 2026.

 

Quick Summary

 

What Happened Between SunPayus and G2?

G2 officially parted ways with SunPayus on September 29, ending the Spanish sniper's 14-month spell with the organization.

The departure itself was not unexpected.

SunPayus had been moved to the bench on June 25, 2026, when G2 brought in former Ninjas in Pyjamas AWPer r1nkle. HLTV's G2 transfer history records both changes on the same date. 

That meant the September announcement was less a sudden roster move and more the formal conclusion of an already-completed competitive transition.

SunPayus' response to the departure, as reported by Cybersport.ru, framed the move as the closing of his G2 chapter rather than a new competitive announcement. Crucially, neither G2's departure announcement nor the information available at publication officially confirmed his next organization.

That distinction matters because SunPayus has been strongly linked with FUT.

HLTV reported that FUT were closing in on the Spanish AWPer, with SunPayus expected to replace Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov. Until the organization announces that move, however, it should be treated as a reported transfer rather than a completed signing. 

 

SunPayus' G2 Story: From m0NESY Replacement to the Bench

SunPayus joined G2 in July 2025 during one of the organization's most important rebuilding periods.

G2 needed a long-term AWPer after Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov transferred to Falcons. SunPayus arrived from HEROIC alongside coach Eetu “sAw” Saha after the BLAST.tv Austin Major. HEROIC had disclosed the planned move before the Major because of conflict-of-interest requirements. 

Replacing m0NESY was always going to be a significant structural change.

SunPayus brought extensive tier-one experience and an established identity as a dedicated AWPer. G2 also reunited him with sAw, with whom he had previously worked before their move.

The new project produced an early result: G2 won BLAST Open London 2025 roughly a month after SunPayus joined. HLTV nevertheless notes that sustained success proved harder to achieve afterward, with G2 frequently missing playoffs or exiting early in playoff stages. 

By June 2026, G2 had decided to change direction at the AWP position.

r1nkle arrived from Ninjas in Pyjamas on June 25, while SunPayus moved to the bench. Three months later, G2 confirmed his permanent departure. 

 

SunPayus and G2 Timeline

 

Why the SunPayus Departure Matters for G2

The announcement removes the remaining uncertainty around G2's AWP position.

SunPayus had not been the active sniper since June, so his departure does not represent another immediate starting-lineup change. G2 had already transferred the primary AWP position to r1nkle. 

That is the key competitive distinction.

The September 29 announcement closes the contractual/roster chapter surrounding SunPayus, while the tactical transition had already occurred three months earlier.

It also underlines how quickly G2's post-m0NESY project evolved. SunPayus was initially recruited as the long-term replacement for one of Counter-Strike's highest-profile AWPers, but G2 changed snipers again less than a year after his arrival.

Tactical Impact

The immediate tactical impact on G2 should therefore be limited.

r1nkle has already been playing as the team's AWPer, meaning G2 does not need to redistribute the sniper role as a consequence of the September announcement.

Instead, the more relevant question is how far G2 can develop the lineup built around its newer configuration.

Recent results provide some encouraging context. HLTV lists G2 as finishing second at FISSURE Playground 3 in September, including victories over BIG, 9z, 5STAR, FURIA and BETBOOM before losing the final to Legacy. 

That does not establish that the AWP change alone caused G2's results, but it gives the organization a competitive foundation on which to continue building.

 

G2 AWP Transition

r1nkle took over G2's primary AWP position after SunPayus was moved to the bench in June 2026.

 

The sequence illustrates an unusually concentrated period of change at one of the most influential roles in a CS2 lineup.

SunPayus was not simply another roster piece. His arrival represented G2's original answer to losing m0NESY.

The organization has now moved to its second long-term solution.

 

Tournament Impact

Because SunPayus had already spent three months on the bench, his official exit should not force G2 into another adaptation period before its next tournament.

The team has already competed extensively with r1nkle.

According to HLTV's current G2 page, the team's recent 2026 results include a second-place finish at FISSURE Playground 3 and a 5th–6th-place finish at BLAST Open Porto 2026. 

At the time of verification, HLTV did not list an upcoming G2 match. The next match should therefore be treated as TBD rather than inferred from an unconfirmed schedule. 

VRS/ranking impact

No specific Valve Regional Standings change attributable to SunPayus' September 29 departure was provided by the primary source.

VRS impact: TBD.

Any ranking consequences should be assessed separately once an official roster registration or relevant Valve ranking update is available.

 

G2 in action against Team Liquid during BLAST Open London 2025, with SunPayus operating as the team's primary AWPer.

 

 

What Changes for G2 Now?

Very little changes overnight on the server.

The active lineup had already moved forward without SunPayus. The departure instead gives both sides a cleaner separation: G2 continues with r1nkle as its AWPer, while SunPayus becomes free to begin his next competitive chapter.

For G2, the bigger question is now stability.

The organization has gone through several important personnel changes since the departure of m0NESY. The current project needs tournament results over a longer sample to determine whether the latest configuration can provide the consistency G2 has been seeking.

For SunPayus, the next announcement could be much more consequential.

 

Is SunPayus Joining FUT?

A move to FUT is the major storyline to follow.

HLTV reported in September that FUT were closing in on SunPayus. The proposed move would reportedly see the Spanish AWPer replace cmtry. 

There is a natural competitive connection here.

FUT enjoyed a breakthrough 2026 campaign that included winning PGL Bucharest 2026, while cmtry earned the event's MVP award according to HLTV's event coverage referenced on its player pages. 

That context would make an AWP change notable rather than routine.

However, readers should distinguish clearly between the two developments:

SunPayus leaving G2 is official. SunPayus joining FUT remained reported, not officially confirmed in the sources verified for this article.

 

What to Watch Next

The first development to monitor is an official announcement regarding SunPayus' next organization. FUT is the reported destination, but confirmation from the player or organization would turn the current report into a completed transfer.

A second question is when SunPayus returns to official competition. His last months at G2 were spent outside the active lineup, so a new team would mark his return to regular tournament play.

For G2, attention shifts away from roster speculation around its former AWPer and toward results with r1nkle. Upcoming event registrations and tournament announcements will provide a clearer picture of the team's next competitive test.

Finally, any future VRS consequences should be evaluated only after official roster registrations and updated Valve standings become available.

 

FAQ

Did SunPayus leave G2?

Yes. G2 officially confirmed SunPayus' departure on September 29, 2026, ending his approximately 14-month spell with the organization. 

Why did SunPayus leave G2?

The final departure followed an earlier competitive change. G2 benched SunPayus on June 25, 2026 and brought in r1nkle as its new AWPer. SunPayus remained on the bench for roughly three months before officially leaving the organization. 

Who replaced SunPayus in G2?

Artem “r1nkle” Moroz replaced SunPayus in G2's active CS2 lineup in June 2026 after transferring from Ninjas in Pyjamas. 

Is SunPayus joining FUT?

The move has been reported, and HLTV said FUT were closing in on SunPayus. However, G2's departure announcement did not confirm his next organization, so the FUT move should remain labeled reported until officially announced. 

How long did SunPayus play for G2?

SunPayus spent approximately 14 months with G2 after joining in July 2025. He spent the final three months of that period on the bench.