Team Spirit Crash Out of BLAST Open 2026 as Kassad Blasts Roster Decisions

Team Spirit have been eliminated from BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 after a 0–2 defeat to The MongolZ in the lower bracket.

Nuke: 11–13

Overpass: 9–13

The loss marks another disappointing result for the CS2 squad, which entered the event as one of the favorites but failed to reach the playoffs.

Kassad Criticizes Team Spirit’s Roster Strategy

Following the elimination, analyst Aleksandar “kassad” Trifunović publicly criticized Team Spirit’s approach to roster building.

He stated that the team is:

“A clear example of what happens when players influence roster changes.”

Kassad highlighted that despite having elite talent, Spirit have not delivered results expected at the top level.

He emphasized that the lineup still includes:

One of the best riflers in CS2 (donk)

A top-tier AWPer

A roster capable of winning tier-1 events

However, the team has not reached a LAN final in more than seven months.

Poor Tournament Run: Losses to PARIVISION and The MongolZ

Spirit’s BLAST campaign started to fall apart after a 0–2 loss to PARIVISION, where they were heavily outplayed.

They briefly recovered with a win over 9z but failed to maintain momentum, leading to their elimination match against The MongolZ.

This inconsistent performance has become a recurring issue in 2026.

December 2025 Roster Changes Still Under Scrutiny

Team Spirit’s current struggles are closely linked to their major roster overhaul in December 2025.

Key changes included:

magixx and zont1x returning to the lineup

chopper being benched

magixx taking over in-game leadership

These moves followed a drop in form despite earlier success, including wins at IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals.

So far, the rebuild has not produced stable results.

Player Quotes Reveal Ongoing Issues

zont1x on team direction

“From an organization’s perspective, you need changes to achieve better results.”

At the same time, he warned that constant roster moves can create instability.

donk adapts his playstyle

“Now I’m thinking about winning as a team, not as a star player.”

Despite his individual impact, Team Spirit have struggled to convert performances into victories.

tN1R explains team reset

“It looks like the same roster, but it’s actually a completely new team.”

He pointed out that systems, communication, and structure are still being rebuilt.

Insider Reports Suggest More Changes Could Come

According to industry insiders, Team Spirit could consider additional roster moves if poor results continue.

One report described the situation as:

“Something is broken. There is no progress.”

While unconfirmed, this reflects increasing pressure on the team.

Mental and Confidence Issues Impact Performance

zont1x also pointed to mental factors as a key issue behind recent losses:

“It’s about emotions and energy — it affects trust and decision-making.”

This suggests that Team Spirit’s problems extend beyond tactics and into team chemistry.

Former Player zweih Adds Extra Narrative

Spirit’s loss to PARIVISION gained additional attention because it featured former player zweih, who helped defeat his old team.

Reports indicated:

Spirit were not prepared for PARIVISION’s approach

The match carried extra motivation for zweih

This added to the narrative surrounding Spirit’s struggles.

Conclusion: Talent Isn’t Translating Into Results

Team Spirit remain one of the most talented rosters in CS2, but their 2026 results do not reflect their potential.

Kassad’s criticism highlights a key question in modern esports:

Should players influence roster decisions?

Or should organizations take full control?

With pressure mounting, Team Spirit may soon face another turning point.