Zont1x Temporarily Steps Aside as Team Spirit Signs tN1R – A Strategic Shift Amid Continued Success

Zont1x Temporarily Steps Aside as Team Spirit Signs tN1R – A Strategic Shift Amid Continued Success

Team Spirit announced today that their rifler Miroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia will be stepping away from the active roster at his own request. The team has also confirmed the signing of Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich from HEROIC—marking the second anchor change in the span of a single offseason. 

Zont1x’s Contributions & Reason for Inactivity

Zont1x joined Spirit’s main squad in July 2023, after a successful stint in the academy. Over two years, he helped lead the team to numerous CS2 titles, including:

• IEM Katowice 2024

• BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024

• Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024

• BLAST Bounty Fall 2025

• PGL Astana 2025

• IEM Cologne 2025

• BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals

Spirit’s statement indicates that zont1x requested time off to “solve certain personal issues,” a transition they supported while mitigating disruption to the team. They emphasized his stabilizing influence, maturity, and dedication. Spirit also clarified that he remains under contract, and his return “is highly anticipated,” signaling this is a hiatus, not a departure. 

tN1R Joins Spirit Upon EWC Completion

HEROIC announced the sale of tN1R—previously their standout rifler—to an undisclosed team. HLTV and Esports Insider confirm Team Spirit will indeed be the destination. tN1R will join Spirit right after the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, wrapping up with HEROIC. His debut is anticipated at upcoming tournaments such as ESL Pro League 22. 

Media speculation suggests a notable buyout, possibly reaching $1.5 million, reflecting Spirit’s clear investment in bolstering the roster’s aggressiveness and firepower. 

A Calculated Roster Evolution

This move follows another mid-summer adjustment: Ivan “zweih” Gogin replaced magixx—another structural shake-up that preceded Spirit’s IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty successes. The addition of tN1R marks a continued evolution—a shift from defensive consistency to aggressive adaptability. 

Spirit's new projected roster includes:

• chopper (captain)

• donk

• sh1ro

• zweih

• tN1R

• Coach hally

⏳ Timing & Fan Reaction

Interestingly, recent reports indicate zont1x will continue playing through IEM Chengdu in November, despite murmurs about his impending replacement. Official graphics for Chengdu’s announcement included zont1x, suggesting no immediate break. Yet, the transfer remains actionable before the October 20 roster lock deadline. 

Fans have reacted with both shock and admiration. Many praised zont1x’s consistent anchoring—even calling him one of the best in the world in 2025—and expressed concern over the ramifications of his departure during a period of high competitive momentum. 

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Summary Table

Element	Details
Departing	zont1x – stepping back due to personal reasons; remains under contract
Incoming	tN1R – from HEROIC; expected to outperform as Firepower addition
Timing	tN1R joins post-EWC, possible departure of zont1x before October 20 roster freeze
Team Outlook	Aggressive evolution of Spirit’s playstyle and team structure
Fan Sentiment	Mixed—appreciation for zont1x’s role, excitement for tN1R’s potential