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Shocking Transfer of Eternal Fire to Aurora: Reasons and Context of One of the Biggest Deals in 2025

- - — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 10:46:58 +0000

On April 5, 2025, the Counter-Strike community was shaken by major news: the entire main roster of the Turkish organization Eternal Fire, one of the brightest teams in CS2 at the moment, transferred to the Serbian organization Aurora. This transfer marked the end of an era and simultaneously the beginning of a new one. To understand the scale of what happened, let’s examine the reasons for the departure, the team’s history, the community’s reaction, and what lies ahead for them.

Eternal Fire: Symbol of Turkish CS

Eternal Fire was founded on August 13, 2021, by Turkish legends XANTARES and woxic. After various successful performances in mixed teams, these Turkish CS diamonds decided to start a project with an ambitious goal: to put Turkey on the map of the global Counter-Strike scene. The team developed by attracting various legends of the Turkish scene from the Space Soldiers era, while simultaneously building an academy and nurturing young stars like Wicadia, jottAAA, xfl0ud, and others.

Eternal Fire Fans: Enormous Support

Eternal Fire is not just a team – it’s a symbol of national pride for Turkish fans, whose passion for esports knows no boundaries. Their support was especially evident at major tournaments, where thousands of fans gathered for viewing parties across Turkey. At one of the most memorable events in March 2024 at the Grand Pera shopping center in Istanbul, more than 2,000 fans filled the hall to watch a match against Vitality. People in team jerseys, with flags and banners, chanted slogans and erupted in applause after every successful play.

Such viewing parties became a tradition. In cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, fans rented cinemas, shopping centers, and even open venues to cheer for their heroes together. At ESL Pro League Season 20 in September 2024 in Ankara, around 1,500 people gathered, and the broadcast of the final against NAVI attracted a record 50,000 online viewers for Turkish CS, despite the Twitch block. Eternal Fire CEO Furkan Guven noted in an interview with HLTV in March 2024: “Our viewing parties grow with each tournament. We want to show the world the power of esports and our fan base.”

Government Issues: Financial Difficulties

However, the successes on the server and in building a community were overshadowed by serious problems outside the game. In Turkey, esports, especially CS2, faced strict limitations. Legislation prohibits sponsorship from betting companies and various roulette sites, which sharply reduces team revenues. Authorities repeatedly threatened to block Steam due to advertisements for such platforms, adding uncertainty to the lives of players and organizations.

Cultural peculiarities also played a role. In Turkey, many companies avoid associations with CS2 because of the word “Terrorists” in the game, considering it a reputational risk. The situation worsened in 2024 when Turkey blocked Twitch and Discord due to disputes about content regulation. These platforms were critically important for streamers, players, and fans, providing communication and broadcasts. In October 2024, the organization made the forced decision to relocate to Hungary, but even this didn’t solve all the financial problems, pushing the team toward a radical step – the transfer to Aurora.

Aurora: A Bold Step Out of the Shadows

Aurora, a Serbian esports organization founded in 2022, had long remained on the periphery of the top CS2 scene. Their previous rosters showed decent results, but none could break into the elite. Most of the noise around the tag comes from the organization’s owner, Valery “L3rich” Kharitonov, known for his ambitious statements and who repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire a world-class team.

On April 5, 2025, the dream became reality: Aurora benched their Russian-speaking roster and signed Eternal Fire in its entirety. The rapidity of the announcement just hours after benching the previous roster suggests that negotiations had been ongoing for months and were very thorough. One of the popular Russian streamers, Shadowkekw, revealed on his stream that he had known about this deal for a long time and was supposed to announce it on his Twitch channel.

There’s no reason to doubt this because Aurora had just started a media story with another Russian-speaking streamer, StRoGo, a couple of months ago, inviting him to play for their team. At that time, it seemed risky and questionable, but now it’s becoming obvious that the former roster already knew about the upcoming changes.

Why Aurora?

The decision to sign the entire Eternal Fire roster is not just a strengthening move but an immediate transition to the elite. The organization immediately found itself in the top 5 of the world rankings and guaranteed slots at all tier-1 events in the near future, including the Major.

Also, Aurora will finally get their stickers, which not only fulfills the owner’s dream but allows them to recoup a lion’s share of their investment in the roster. According to some information, the deal amounted to between 2 and 2.5 million dollars, while the Turkish players definitely received improved financial conditions.

The "Kebab Incident" of 2023

Interestingly, the organizations had an unpleasant history of interaction in 2023 at the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: European RMR B. During a match, viewers noticed that Aurora’s tactical sheets depicted a kebab with the inscription “Turkish Food.” This moment was broadcast and caused a mixed reaction. Some Turkish fans and players, including woxic, considered it disrespectful and provocative, especially given the national pride associated with Eternal Fire. Others called it a harmless joke, comparing it to depicting pizza for Italians or sausages for Danes.

Aurora, facing a wave of criticism, issued an official apology, reporting that they had fined the “guilty employee” and transferred the fine amount to Turkish Philanthropy Funds to help those affected by the recent earthquake in Turkey. The fine amount was not disclosed, but many considered it more of a PR move than sincere regret. This incident added tension to relations with Turkish fans, making the transfer of Eternal Fire to Aurora an even more ironic twist of fate.

Community Reaction: Patriotism vs. Reality

Turkish fans, for whom Eternal Fire was a symbol of national pride, took the news painfully. On social network X, their reactions ranged from anger – “They betrayed Turkey for money” – to sadness – “Eternal Fire was our soul, and now it’s just business.” Some even called for a boycott of the new roster under the Aurora tag. However, some fans acknowledged that Turkey’s financial realities left the team with no choice and expressed support for the players in their pursuit of stability.

The global CS2 community reacted with interest and surprise. Analysts compared the deal to high-profile transfers in traditional sports, noting that a complete transfer of a top team is rare not only in esports.

What's Next?

For the roster, this will be a serious test: new structure, new leadership, new responsibilities. But this time, perhaps they have everything needed not just to compete but to start winning trophies. Their first attempt will be this week at PGL Bucharest, but they decided to skip IEM Melbourne 2025 to give themselves a break. In 2025, the team hasn’t missed a single event and has repeatedly mentioned accumulated fatigue. Perhaps this is also part of a new approach from the new organization, which is more accommodating and doesn’t intend to make players appear at every event.

The story has turned out to be very interesting, and it will be extremely fascinating to follow. In any case, the transfer will be a turning point in the players’ careers, where the outcome could be absolutely anything. It’s worth remembering that MAJ3R is already 34 years old, and XANTARES and woxic are not young either, so it’s not excluded that this is simultaneously a pragmatic transition from a financial perspective and an adventurous one from a career standpoint, hoping to lift the coveted trophy for the Turkish public.

As stated in their farewell post: “This is not the end — this is a new flame.”

The post Shocking Transfer of Eternal Fire to Aurora: Reasons and Context of One of the Biggest Deals in 2025 appeared first on Sih.app blog.

Green Skins in CS2: Refreshing Your Inventory for St. Patrick’s Day

- - — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:25:56 +0000

Recently, on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated—a holiday where the color green takes center stage. Inspired by this, we have compiled a selection of Counter-Strike skins where green is the key design element. Such skins are rare, making them stand out in the game. Their prices are usually above average, and the community values them for their uniqueness and style. In this article, we’ll explore how green is used in skin design, highlighting their individuality and appeal to players.

Broken Fang Gloves | Jade

Factory New – $1122.95
Minimal Wear – $290.42
Field-Tested – $195.84
Well-Worn – $205.30
Battle-Scarred – $170.70

In our opinion, these gloves are one of the best choices in terms of price-to-visual value. Don’t be intimidated by the high cost of Factory New quality; even the Battle-Scarred version looks great. The gloves feature a rich green hue reminiscent of smooth jade with a cool metallic sheen. The leather appears dense and durable, while the green color is evenly distributed with a slight shimmer in the light. Brass spikes on the knuckles and plates with the Operation Broken Fang logo add a golden contrast, emphasizing the depth of the green tone and making the gloves stylish and eye-catching.

Glock-18 | Gamma Doppler

Factory New – $103.69
Minimal Wear – $87.75
Field-Tested – $81.00
Well-Worn – $83.11
Battle-Scarred – $115.00

This pistol from the Train collection will soon be available in a souvenir version at the next Major, but its price remains unknown. Therefore, it’s better to buy the standard version now, as its value is rising rapidly. To get the brightest green shade, we recommend looking for the Phase 4 variant, which you can easily find using our extension, Steam Inventory Helper. The slide of this pistol transitions smoothly into purple and turquoise, creating a pleasant and striking gradient. Green is the dominant color here—deep and soft—while wavy lines resembling smoke add dynamism. The metallic paint enhances the green glow, especially on the upper part of the slide, while the rest of the body remains in the standard black color.

Glock-18 | Nuclear Garden

Factory New – $5.17
Minimal Wear – $3.35
Field-Tested – $1.89
Well-Worn – $2.96
Battle-Scarred – $1.98

If you want a green Glock-18 without overpaying, check out this pistol from the 2018 Nuke Collection. The slide is covered in neon green, applied unevenly as if haphazardly smeared with toxic paint. The shades range from bright acid green to darker, almost emerald tones. White skulls and bones with yellow radiation symbols on their foreheads are scattered chaotically across the background, closely tying the skin to the collection’s lore. The grip and barrel remain unpainted, emphasizing green as the dominant element.

M4A1-S | Emphorosaur-S

Factory New – $13.45
Minimal Wear – $5.49
Field-Tested – $2.80
Well-Worn – $3.88
Battle-Scarred – $2.79

The upper part of this rifle is painted in a solid green shade, resembling the scales of a dinosaur in the jungle. The color is calm yet vibrant, with brown stripes along the body adding texture similar to reptilian skin. The receiver features a dinosaur eye in green tones and claws that appear to tear through the metal. The yellow magazine with an image of bullets and the number 94 contrasts with the green, while the black plastic grip completes the sleek design.

SSG 08 | Acid Fade

Factory New – $1.38

The chromed body of this sniper rifle blends green with yellow and gray in a smooth gradient. Green is the central color, starting with bright acidic notes near the receiver and gradually fading towards the edges. The intensity of green depends on the pattern index—sometimes it dominates, other times it gives way to other shades. In CS:GO, the scope remained silver, but in CS2, it unexpectedly turned a vibrant acid green, significantly increasing the skin’s popularity and demand after the game’s update.

AUG | Carved Jade

Factory New – $18.67
Minimal Wear – $18.33
Field-Tested – $16.99

As the name suggests, the green color on this rifle is inspired by jade: pure, even, and slightly translucent, covering the chromed body with thin wavy lines. The shade is calm with a cool undertone that beautifully reflects light, especially along the central part of the weapon. The barrel, magazine, and scope remain unpainted, allowing the green to stand out without excessive details, creating an elegant and restrained look. Before purchasing, inspect the skin in-game, as even in Factory New condition, it often has noticeable wear.

AWP | Containment Breach

Factory New – $525.59
Minimal Wear – $204.78
Field-Tested – $111.98
Well-Worn – $86.02
Battle-Scarred – $78.23

Neon green dominates the body of this AWP, depicting a radioactive forest. Trees and monsters with glowing eyes and open mouths seem to radiate this toxic shade. Green is especially prominent in the central part of the rifle, where it is dense and saturated, while the edges are more neutral. Small green accents on the stock and scope enhance the feeling of poisonous energy constantly emanating from this skin.

MP9 | Hydra

Factory New – $32.74
Minimal Wear – $14.00
Field-Tested – $7.83
Well-Worn – $7.88
Battle-Scarred – $6.69

A bright green color covers the body of this submachine gun with a geometric pattern intersected by black silhouettes of four snakes. The grip is decorated with a green silhouette of a snake’s tail, applied as if with spray paint, while the magazine and small details follow the same tone. The black barrel, front grip, and stock contrast with the green, making it the focal point of the design.

Nova | Toy Soldier

Factory New – $4.98
Minimal Wear – $2.07
Field-Tested – $1.16
Well-Worn – $0.86
Battle-Scarred – $0.83

A glossy green evenly covers the shotgun’s body, reminiscent of the color of childhood toy soldiers. It is bright but not overwhelming, with a smooth surface featuring light scratches for a worn effect. The stock is adorned with a raised star in a circle, in the same green tone, while white stickers with the text “TOY SOLDIERS MILITARY SERIES” complete the military toy concept.

P250 | See Ya Later

Factory new – $12.81
Minimal wear – $6.57
Field-tested – $4.08
Well-worn – $5.71
Battle Scarred – $4.18

The base background is done in bright shades of green, overlaid with a mechanical creature resembling a crocodile. Detailed yellow and blue elements complement the design, creating a vibrant and dynamic appearance.

Not for Everyone

As we mentioned earlier, green skins are often much more expensive—not just because of the color but also due to their rarity. However, they are undoubtedly popular among collectors and esports players, which is why we decided to highlight them separately:

Desert Eagle | Emerald Jörmungandr ≈ $700
★ Specialist Gloves | Emerald Web ≈ $7,000
AK-47 | Wild Lotus ≈ $15,000
★ Sport Gloves | Hedge Maze ≈ $44,000
Knives with Gamma Doppler skins

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The Best Patch for Counter-Strike 2. Changes that Many Are Waiting for and Will Make the Game Better.

- - — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:54:37 +0000

Counter-Strike 2 continues to evolve, and the player community actively discusses possible improvements that could make the game even more engaging and fair. Many features we want to bring back from CS:GO or borrow from others, while some are fantasies of ordinary players and esports athletes. In this article, we will look at key proposals for improving CS2 that should satisfy the needs of most of the community.

New Anti-Cheat

Fighting cheaters remains one of the main tasks for CS2 developers. Despite existing VAC systems, some players continue to use prohibited programs, which negatively affects the gaming experience. Implementing a more effective anti-cheat, possibly using machine learning technologies, could significantly reduce the number of violators and increase trust in the system. It is reported that even after the implementation of the new VAC Live software, hackers still find ways to bypass the system, which emphasizes the need for constant improvement of protection mechanisms.

Interestingly, according to VALVE, they have long had a 100% solution to the problem, but it requires gaining full control over players’ devices. According to a cybersecurity specialist, Valve doesn’t want to make kernel-level anti-cheat to avoid collecting too much information about users. Many experts also say that such anti-cheat would negatively affect performance and could cause blue screen errors, as happens in Valorant.

Improved Matchmaking System

Fair matchmaking is another key to player satisfaction. The current selection system sometimes leads to uneven matches, where beginners face experienced players or smurfs, worsening the gaming experience. Implementing a system that takes into account the number of hours spent in the game and player skills will create more balanced teams. According to analyst Richard Lewis, with the release of CS2, an improved matchmaking system with similar functions was planned, which could reduce the need to use third-party services for playing. However, they turned out to be faster, and FACEIT once again took care of the players, adapting and implementing this idea before VALVE.

Regular Battle Pass Releases

The community has been waiting for more than three years for the release of an operation, which is absolutely unimaginable in Dota 2, where VALVE regularly holds various events. Yes, there is a nuance that most cosmetic items in Dota2 cannot be sold, but if there is a skin rental feature, why not implement something similar in the form of rewards for Battle Pass in CS2. You actively play on servers, and developers reward you with temporary items that disappear from your inventory after the event ends. Introducing such a mechanic can encourage players to stay on the official game servers and not look for third-party services where various skin changers are actively used. We could go further and issue some skins with “Cannot be exchanged” status, but then the value of items available for sale and exchange would disappear, which would hardly please players who have been forming their inventories for years.

New Game Modes

Adding various game modes, similar to “Danger Zone” from CS:GO, will enrich the gameplay and attract a wider audience that loved the shooting mechanics from CS but are fans of Battle Royale. Also, recently in CS2, a “Subway Smurfers” mod appeared, in which players can enjoy gameplay inspired by the popular mobile game “Subway Surfers.” This map is available for download in the Steam Workshop and demonstrates the potential for introducing new and exciting modes directly into the game. Developers could buy the rights to such products and increase online presence on official servers.

Returning the official “Retake” mode will allow players to practice skills in real game situations, which can significantly improve their tactical abilities and speed up adaptation in the game.

Convenient Training for Beginners

To attract and retain new players, it is necessary to create intuitive and effective training modes. These modes should teach basic mechanics, tactics, and strategies, allowing beginners to adapt faster and start enjoying the game. VALVE’s progress in this direction is already visible, for example, in hints and grenade usage training on the Train map. At the very least, it’s worth expanding the pool of maps where this will become available. One can also think about creating various training grounds where beginners will be explained how most existing mechanics work: how to learn to shoot, how grenades work (how many seconds they work, how they can be used), how the economy works, and much more.

Quick Mode. Overtime Play.

Such a mode was once even used on the pro scene, for example, at IEM Katowice 2017 in the match between FaZe and Immortals. This was done to decide who and in what position would advance from the group. The team that first wins four rounds out of six will be the winner. Thus, the confrontation can end already with a score of 4:2 or even 4:0, or it may continue if the first six rounds end 3:3.

Three rounds will be played per side. There will be no pistol rounds in the match, as each user will have $10,000 in their account. Such a mode will allow players to instantly move to gun rounds and will help separately practice playing in overtimes as training.

Adding New Types of Weapons

Certainly, from a global perspective, such changes will affect the usual gameplay, and adding them to official competitions or matchmaking is definitely not worth it. But if the use of various tactical devices on hostage maps is allowed, it will help return the classic mode to its former popularity. For example, the installation of cameras, tripwires, reconnaissance drones, shields, etc. will make the game similar to tactical shooters like Rainbow Six Siege, where the defense gets time to prepare for defending against an attack from the offense.

Conclusion

Counter-Strike has long proven that it is capable of evolving while preserving the spirit of a classic shooter. The main thing is for Valve to listen to the community and not ignore third-party developers and ordinary enthusiasts, but strive to improve their own product.

Ultimately, the development of CS2 depends not only on the developers but also on the players themselves who form the community and move the game forward. Therefore, despite all the difficulties, we need to criticize less and suggest more, so that some of the innovations described above become a reality. Will this happen? Time will tell.

The post The Best Patch for Counter-Strike 2. Changes that Many Are Waiting for and Will Make the Game Better. appeared first on Sih.app blog.

New record capitalization of skins at $4.277 billion. Are skins more reliable than Bitcoin? Let’s analyze what you can invest in in the near future.

- - — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 11:24:11 +0000

The skin market in Counter-Strike 2 continues to develop rapidly, confirming its attractiveness as an alternative investment instrument. According to Bloomberg, since the beginning of 2024, the value of digital items in CS2 has grown faster than the S&P 500 index, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. Recently, a new record was set – the total trading volume of skins reached $4.3 billion. If you’ve been following items on the marketplace for a long time, it’s not difficult to notice that they have been steadily growing in price not only this year but throughout the game’s history. This is especially noticed by people who return to their abandoned accounts after some time, check their inventory, and are surprised that some items are significantly more expensive than they remembered. If you’re one of these players, go to Steam to search for treasures.

The main price jump occurred during the transition to CS2, when all skins were transferred to the new version of the game, which marked a new chapter in the shooter’s history that will exist for a long time. There were also specific cases where some items began to look much more interesting with the transition to the improved Source 2 engine.

Currently, there are many different items in the in-game store, so we decided to reflect on their future value. Let’s try to think through several scenarios, based on the current situation and experience from past events.

Arsenal Operation Items

There are currently 66 new weapon finishes from the Arsenal update in the game. Three collections: Overpass 2024, “The Graphic Design Collection”, “The Sport & Field Collection” as well as the “Gallery Case.” While items from past collections showed serious growth some time after their completion, the current situation here is quite ambiguous.

First, VALVE does not reveal to us even approximate dates for the end of the event, which makes any forecasts merely hypothetical. Second, unlike past operations, this event has a modified item acquisition mechanic. Now you cannot purchase “stars” for real money, and developers, in addition to purchasing a pass, force you to play to earn in-game currency. At first, this worked well, but after almost half a year, audience interest has waned, and players have returned to FACEIT and other third-party servers. For this reason, far fewer items have been appearing in the game, and they are practically not dropping in price. So what will happen to them next?

Why the collection should increase in value:

Items still won’t appear in large quantities due to the lost interest of players. This means their already limited circulation will not change.
To bring back active users, developers will release new collections within the current Arsenal event, while the current ones will become limited.
Any other sudden termination of the event or closure of access to the collection.

What might prevent Arsenal event items from growing in value:

The implementation of a substantial discount on the pass, more specifically – how long this discount will be in effect and whether it will be able to restore player demand.
Infinite duration of the event. There are rumors that this is quite a realistic outcome.

Charms

Moving on to the newest type of items in the game. The community had been waiting for the appearance of charms for a very long time, but the reaction to the presented models was ambiguous. This item left no one indifferent, and made players either fall in love with or categorically reject the new accessory.

As for future prices, over time our vision has changed somewhat. Initially, it seemed that the ability to apply and remove a charm at any moment would completely kill all hopes for growth, but time has shown that their prices have not changed. At the moment, this can be attributed to the general trend of all skins from the Arsenal update, but we have a couple of additional arguments for why charms might become more expensive in the future:

Analogy with agents. They also cannot be used in crafts or somehow disappear from the game, which did not prevent them from significantly increasing in price. Although skeptics will say that a significant percentage of growth is associated with the general boost of all items after the transition to CS2.
The presence of rare patterns. It would seem that the collection is transparent, but almost every charm has at least four varieties that differ in color or other pattern change parameter. It turns out that there are even fewer items of a specific “type” than shown on the marketplace.

Stickers

Here everything is quite simple, and you can be guided by the experience of past stickers from operations. When a sticker is applied, it cannot be removed, so after each application, they rapidly disappear from the marketplace. Given the actively developing fashion for sticker crafts, demand for them is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. It is especially impossible to ignore the number of ideas implemented with stickers from the Arsenal collections, which makes their potential scarcity almost inevitable.

Shanghai Major Items

The tournament ended last year, but we can still purchase stickers and souvenir containers from any of the matches of the main VALVE tournament. In fact, everyone has already gotten used to such huge periods of access to tournament attributes, so this fact does not cause surprise.

The main question: what will happen to prices? Here, everything is extremely unpredictable, and it is worth delving more deeply into the number of purchased capsules and sets. But one thing can be said for sure – the design turned out to be completely unimpressive and barely distinguishable from the previous Major. Traditionally, it would hardly be a mistake to stock up on stickers of unpopular teams that are unlikely to ever make it to a Major again. However, you need to understand that the demand for these stickers is not so great, so don’t expect a huge profit from this investment. Many pay attentions to player autographs, considering that this time the developers made the signatures themselves more expressive.

As for souvenir packages, the best way to make money on them is to guess the map that will be next to be removed from the map pool. For example, the Vertigo container, after replacement with Train, has already increased in price by 30%.

What can you invest in on the marketplace?

Finally, let’s talk about items that have been in the game a little longer and which of them could become a good investment. To jump ahead, we’ll clarify that these items have already given their main boost, which is why they have already grown to far from small sums.

First of all, we’re talking about items from the latest operations: Riptide and Broken Fang cases, as well as collections: Train 2021, Mirage 2021, Dust 2 2021, Vertigo 2021, Ancient, Chaos, and Control. You can also pay attention to items from even older operations, but the main take should revolve around the fact that items have been removed from active drop. Thus, after numerous crafts, items from the collection will disappear, accordingly becoming more rare. The cost of such skins will definitely not decrease in any way, with the exception of potential risks that will affect absolutely the entire market.

IMPORTANT – all thoughts are subjective and not financial advice. Also, it is worth remembering that when withdrawing to real money, you should understand that the price may differ from Steam both in greater and lesser value. Therefore, with any manipulations with your items, be extremely careful, especially if you do not have enough experience and knowledge in this matter.

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Cache: A Legendary Counter-Strike Map Returned to CS2, But Unlikely to Be Added to the Official Pool

- - — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:20:05 +0000

Counter-Strike has spawned many cult maps throughout its history, but not all of them managed to remain in the active map pool until today. Cache is one of the beloved locations that often fell out of not only the competitive but also the official map pool. Now, a year and a half after the CS2 release, the map has received a new life and was added to the Steam Workshop. Let’s understand what makes it so famous, what bright moments have occurred on it, why it was removed, and why we shouldn’t get too excited about its appearance too soon.

Creation History of Cache and Connection to Chernobyl

The Cache map was created by American level designer Michael “FMPONE” Vasilek in collaboration with Salem “Sal” Garcia. It first appeared in Counter-Strike: Source but gained popularity in 2013 when its updated version was released in CS:GO and added to the map pool of esports tournaments. On November 13, 2017, the map was officially included in the active tournament map pool.

One of the key features of the map was its atmosphere. The action takes place in an industrial area in Eastern Europe, strongly reminiscent of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Russian-language inscriptions, abandoned hangars, traces of radiation, and Soviet architecture all give the map a unique atmosphere. Fans even found similarities between Cache and the real Pripyat, such as the landscape with a Ferris wheel outside the game zone. The atmosphere of desolation is emphasized by rusty containers, peeling walls, and overgrown vegetation, which enhances the feeling of an abandoned facility.

In the updated version, everything became even more realistic, thanks not only to the author but also to the new Source 2 engine. However, the author made several changes that immediately caught the eye of many players.

Return of Cache to CS2 and Visual Changes

The map creator added an updated version of Cache for CS2 to the Steam Workshop and announced this on his X page. Improved lighting, reworked textures, and minor design changes made the map even more detailed and atmospheric. Visually, it remained true to its theme – an abandoned Soviet industrial facility with brick buildings, rusty containers, and peeling walls. Stained glass windows, old furniture, and an abundance of vegetation emphasize the desolation and create that recognizable atmosphere.

However, the updated Cache has its drawbacks. Lighting and improved textures can affect player visibility and performance. Some users report FPS drops of up to two times in certain areas of the map. Therefore, FMPONE continues to optimize the map, eliminating bugs and improving stability.

From the gameplay changes, the absence of a lamp on the B-plant immediately stood out, where the defense often took the terrorists’ approach to the point. Also, on the mid, the ability to climb into the window, which provided additional overview for the special forces, disappeared. Instead, a small gap remains, which allows safely throwing the necessary grenades. Perhaps the designer wanted to level the sides, as previously the defense was strongly prevalent on this map.

Legendary Moments. Why is s1mple's Famous Graffiti No Longer There?

Cache has repeatedly been the arena for incredible clutches and highlights. One of the most iconic moments occurred at the ESL One Cologne 2016 tournament in the quarter-final match between Fnatic and Team Liquid.

Alexander “s1mple” Kostylev single-handedly won the round by making an incredible double-kill with an AWP in mid-air, without aim (no-scope). This moment became so iconic that VALVE immortalized it with graffiti on the map, drawing a CT with wings and an AWP in hand.

However, in the CS2 version of Cache, this graffiti is no longer there. The disappearance of the cult drawing was an unpleasant surprise for fans, as it was part of CS history and a tribute to one of the most memorable moments of the esports scene. Perhaps Valve will return it in the future. FMPONE explained the absence of the graffiti with a desire to start from a clean slate and, despite community requests, is not going to bring it back.

Why Was Cache Removed from the Map Pool and Is There a Chance of Return?

Despite its popularity, Cache was removed from the competitive map pool in 2019. It was replaced by the reworked Vertigo, which caused an outcry among fans. The reason for removal was that the map required graphic and balance updates, as it had morally become outdated compared to new maps. Subsequently, it received an updated version but never returned to the main CS:GO map pool.

After the news of Cache’s appearance in the workshop, the community began to speculate which map might be replaced by this Chernobyl location. However, in our opinion, they are simply wasting time, as the reasons for the map’s absence since 2019 have not changed. The main takeaway is that VALVE wants to have complete control over the product and does not want to interact with authors as they did before. The developers want to obtain all rights to use the map, arguing this with the “ability to promptly eliminate various bugs and make necessary changes”. Even three years ago on Twitter (now X), the creator of Cache actively expressed dissatisfaction with this fact, but as we can see, VALVE’s course has not changed. The CEO of Complexity also did not remain on the sidelines and reminded the community of this nuance on his social networks and asked VALVE to openly give an answer to not play on users’ feelings.

The only thing we can count on is that VALVE will buy the map from FMPONE, and he will agree to give all rights to the developers. This was the case with maps like Anubis and Tuscan, and as a result of the deal, the authors received $150,000. Would such a sum satisfy the creator of Cache? The question is debatable. An even more controversial question is whether VALVE will want to buy the map from an author who has regularly expressed negativity towards the company.

The Coolest Skins from the Cache Collection

Galil AR | Cerberus — $22.31-$114.70. Souvenir — $44.62-$1135.41
MAC-10 | Nuclear Garden — $8.36-$14.45. Souvenir — $11.15-$43.66
FAMAS | Styx — $5.07-$23.00. Souvenir — $38.00-$141.31
Glock-18 | Reactor — $7.89-$18.07. Souvenir — $12.81-$15.75
Tec-9 | Toxic — $10.60-$13.80. Souvenir — $11.40-$78.78

Since we started talking about the Cache map, it’s time to remember the items from this collection. Like on most removed maps – souvenir versions cost more than classic ones, but during the map’s time in the game, enough of them have dropped, and these prices are likely not going to change for a long time. It will not be possible to get a solid profit from crafting, which means the skins will not disappear from the trading platform and will at most be lost in the inventories of abandoned accounts.

The main theme of the design of this collection was the image of skulls with applied radiation hazard signs, which strongly resonates with the Nuke collection. The only unique art can be considered Galil AR | Cerberus, depicting three heads of Cerberus with burning eyes and bared teeth.

Conclusion

Cache is not just a map, but a real legend of Counter-Strike. Its rich history, connection to the tragic Chernobyl story, iconic moments, and community love make it unique. Returning to CS2 will allow us to play a few nostalgic matches in a private lobby, but dreams of seeing it in top tournaments are still far from reality. At the moment, the most realistic scenario is to see the map in various show matches from tournament operators.

The post Cache: A Legendary Counter-Strike Map Returned to CS2, But Unlikely to Be Added to the Official Pool appeared first on Sih.app blog.

Plant and Flower Skins in CS2. Welcome Spring and Add Bright Colors of Awakening Nature to Your Inventory.

- - — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 12:24:54 +0000

Spring is a time of nature’s awakening, renewal, and bright colors. In the Counter-Strike world, this is also reflected in skin choices: after winter’s dark and cold shades, you want something fresh, vibrant, and blooming. In this collection, we’ve gathered skins that perfectly convey the spring mood – from delicate floral patterns to rich greenery symbolizing new life. If you want to add some spring atmosphere to your inventory, these options definitely deserve attention!

P90 | Verdant Growth

Factory new – $4.40
Minimal wear – $4.17
Field-tested – $3.94
Well-worn – $4.19
Battle Scarred – $4.99

This skin reminds us that nature has begun to awaken from its winter slumber. Its body is decorated with lush plant ornaments in rich green tones, reminiscent of the first spring foliage breaking through melting snow. In certain parts of the pattern, you can notice white flowers, similar to delicate snowdrops or the first forest lilies of the valley. They seem inconspicuous, but at the same time continue to symbolize rebirth and the inevitable approach of warm days. P90 | Verdant Growth seems to invite us for a walk in the spring forest, where the air is filled with freshness and aromas of awakening earth.

MP9 | Rose Iron

Factory new – $11.42
Minimal wear – $9.44
Field-tested – $7.90

Spring is not only tenderness but also strength hidden in its flowering splendor. MP9 | Rose Iron perfectly conveys this contrast, combining an elegant rose and its sharp, piercing thorns. The main black background resembles the night spring sky when the first buds are just beginning to open in the darkness. The bright yellow and pink shades of the flower evoke associations with the morning sun painting the horizon in warm tones. Chaotically scattered spots of pink paint look as if the spring wind is carrying away petals, playing with them in the air. This item will fit into any inventory and give you those very sensations for which you want to refresh yourself in spring.

MAC-10 | Aloha

Factory new – $4.00
Minimal wear – $3.35
Field-tested – $3.49
Well-worn – $3.60
Battle Scarred – $3.84

When spring arrives, the desire for life immediately awakens, and there’s a thirst for travel and new discoveries. MAC-10 | Aloha takes us to sunny tropical islands where life buzzes year-round, but especially in spring when nature blooms particularly lushly. The red-beige pattern covering the body is made in the form of hibiscus flowers and leaves, which symbolize joy and sunny mood. This skin reminds us of a light spring breeze carrying the aroma of blooming gardens, and seems to invite us to leave behind cold winter days, heading towards warmth and light.

USP-S | Black Lotus

Factory new – $11.27
Minimal wear – $4.07
Field-tested – $2.14
Well-worn – $2.01
Battle Scarred – $1.72

Spring doesn’t always shout with bright colors – there is room for mystery, sophistication, and aesthetics. USP-S | Black Lotus conveys this special, mystical side of awakening nature. The dark background and image of a black lotus in purple shades are reminiscent of the nocturnal blooming of this mysterious plant, which unfolds in complete silence, under the cover of the moon. Its smooth contours seem magical, as if from another world, and the muted purple gradient on the handle resembles the evening sky in early spring, when the air is still cool but already filled with the premonition of warmth. If you liked this pistol, you can also purchase an equally charming younger brother in the form of M4A1-S | Black Lotus.

SG 553 | Desert Blossom

Factory new – $22.00
Minimal wear – $20.76
Field-tested – $19.94
Well-worn – $21.91
Battle Scarred – $28.75

Winter leaves even the driest and harshest corners of nature, leaving new life behind. SG 553 | Desert Blossom conveys exactly this natural plot – its beige-burgundy pattern resembles cracked earth that finally feels the first drops of spring rain. And among these dry textures emerge delicate pink flowers – a symbol of hope and renewal. The matte pink barrel reminds of the first rays of sun coloring the horizon in gentle dawn hues. This skin seems to have captured the very moment when spring begins to defeat winter, bringing life even to the most lifeless corners of the world.

M4A4 | Spider Lily

Factory new – $27.56
Minimal wear – $10.41
Field-tested – $6.02
Well-worn – $4.80
Battle Scarred – $4.46

The bright red spider lily flowers adorning the rifle’s body look like tongues of flame flaring against a deep blue sky. This is a skin about spring at its peak – when nature is no longer timidly awakening but vigorously blooming, demonstrating its strength and beauty. The abstract pattern decorating the stock and forend creates a feeling of light wind that carries petals through the air, turning them into a bright whirlwind. M4A4 | Spider Lily conveys the energy of spring, its turbulent awakening that cannot be stopped.

AWP | Corticera

Factory new – $72.00
Minimal wear – $23.41
Field-tested – $21.17

This skin brings the spring landscape to life. On the rifle’s body, corticera branches bloom – they stretch upward, enveloped in dense green leaves, creating the image of a flowering tree in the rays of the spring sun. Delicate floral patterns, complemented by black outlines, resemble a watercolor sketch drawn by the light hand of an artist inspired by the first greenery. Complete a full set by bringing the P2000 from the same collection into your inventory.

SG 553 | Aloha

Factory new – $0.32
Minimal wear – $0.18
Field-tested – $0.11
Well-worn – $0.11
Battle Scarred – $0.09

The Hawaiian greeting “Aloha” in the name of this skin conveys the warm mood of locals who put a wreath of bright flowers on you and invite you to enjoy their island. The pattern of hibiscus flowers, made in delicate blue and purple tones, resembles flowering fields under a clear spring sky. This skin gives a sense of freedom, freshness, and warmth, like the first sunny day after a long and gloomy winter.

Sawed-Off | Morris

Factory new – $0.46
Minimal wear – $0.24
Field-tested – $0.16
Well-worn – $0.12
Battle Scarred – $0.13

The white lilies adorning the shotgun are the embodiment of spring purity and renewal. They seem fragile and refined, but consistently reach for the light, like all of nature after long cold spells. Green leaves add a sense of freshness, as if this skin was created by spring itself, inspired by the first run through the morning dew. Meanwhile, the wooden elements of the weapon emphasize the naturalness of the design, creating a warm, almost homely atmosphere.

Exclusive! AK-47 for gardeners.

AK-47 | Wild Lotus

Factory new – $13642.73
Minimal wear – $10947.85
Field-tested – $8064.74
Well-worn – $5504.58
Battle Scarred – $3066.54

There could have been many more skins from this collection, but it’s too difficult to close our eyes to their high cost. Therefore, we took the brightest item from “St. Marc” in which spring has bloomed in all its glory. Lush green leaves and large lotus flowers cover the automatic rifle’s body, creating a feeling of a real blooming garden. The orange-pink shades of petals resemble the dawn sky when the first rays of sunlight break through the morning mist. AK-47 | Wild Lotus conveys the spirit of spring, its generosity and natural magnificence, when everything around is filled with life, aromas, and a riot of colors.

The post Plant and Flower Skins in CS2. Welcome Spring and Add Bright Colors of Awakening Nature to Your Inventory. appeared first on Sih.app blog.

s1mple vs ZywOo: The Greatest Rivalry in Counter-Strike History. Who is Better?

- - — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 10:48:04 +0000

Counter-Strike is not just a team game, but also a competition of individuals. In recent years, the world has been watching a duel between two greatest talents: Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. After winning IEM Katowice 2025, the Frenchman equaled the Ukrainian in the number of MVP titles, thus renewing debates about who is stronger. Let’s figure out who is the greater player.

Career Overview

s1mple

Oleksandr Kostyliev began his journey in 2014 when he was just 16 years old. His first serious teams were HellRaisers and FlipSid3 Tactics. The real breakthrough came in 2016 when he joined Team Liquid, where he first showed his incredible potential on the international stage and reached his first Major final. In 2016, he became a player for Natus Vincere, where he acquired the greatness that makes people talk about him even after a couple of years without serious results on the pro scene.

ZywOo

Mathieu Herbaut started playing much later. His professional career began in 2017 in little-known French teams. In 2018, he joined Team Vitality, where he immediately became the main star and remains so to this day.

Team Achievements

Now let’s look at the team trophies that both players managed to lift during their careers. It’s worth noting that both players won one Major each and also won at the most prestigious tournaments in Katowice and Cologne. Here we considered victories at tier-1 or tier-S tournaments.

s1mple with Natus Vincere (17 trophies):

ESL One New York 2016
DreamHack Open Winter 2017
StarSeries i-League Season 5
CS:GO Asia Championships 2018
ESL One Cologne 2018 (S-tier)
BLAST Pro Series: Copenhagen 2018
StarSeries i-League Season 7
IEM Katowice 2020 (S-tier)
BLAST Premier: Global Final 2020 (Online)
DreamHack Masters Spring 2021 (Online)
StarLadder CIS RMR 2021 (Online)
IEM Cologne 2021 (S-tier)
ESL Pro League Season 14 (Online)
PGL Major Stockholm 2021 (S-tier)
BLAST Premier: Fall Finals 2021
BLAST Premier: World Final 2021
BLAST Premier: Spring Finals 2022

ZywOo with Team Vitality (14 trophies):

cs_summit 4
ECS Season 7 Finals
EPICENTER 2019
IEM Beijing-Haidian 2020 Europe (Online)
BLAST Premier Fall 2020 Finals (Online)
IEM Winter 2021
ESL Pro League Season 16 2022
IEM Rio 2023
BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 (S-tier)
Gamers8 2023
BLAST Premier Fall 2023 Finals
BLAST Premier: World Final 2023
IEM Cologne 2024 (S-tier)
IEM Katowice 2025 (S-tier)

Both players made significant contributions to their teams’ success, demonstrating not only individual skill but also the ability to work in a team at the highest level. However, from a team achievements perspective, s1mple seems to be the more successful player. He also holds the unique title of Intel Grand Slam Season 3 winner, which only a few players can boast of, and currently, ZywOo is not among them.

Regarding the Online era during the pandemic, both players were at their peak form and won many tournaments, but let’s look at individual successes in terms of MVP titles, where ZywOo recently caught up with s1mple.

Individual Achievements

Here we’ll look at HLTV rankings by year-end and the number of MVP awards. To avoid repeating the team achievements list, in MVP statistics, we’ll indicate the total number and separately highlight the medals for best player earned online and when the team couldn’t win the tournament, but the player still received an individual award.

s1mple:

MVP Awards: 21 awards Notable runner-up MVPs:

StarSeries i-League Season 4 (2nd place)
DreamHack Masters Marseille 2018 (2nd place)
ESL Pro League Season 12: Europe (Online) (2nd place)
BLAST Premier: Global Final 2020 (Online)
DreamHack Masters Spring 2021 (Online)
StarLadder CIS RMR 2021 (Online)
ESL Pro League Season 14 (Online)
IEM Cologne 2022 (2nd place)

HLTV Rankings: 3 first places, 2 second places

2016: 4th place
2017: 8th place
2018: 1st place
2019: 2nd place
2020: 2nd place
2021: 1st place
2022: 1st place
2023: 7th place

Total: 8 rankings appearances

ZywOo:

MVP Awards: 21 awards Notable runner-up MVPs:

DreamHack Masters Malmö 2019 (2nd place)
IEM Beijing-Haidian 2020 Europe (Online)
BLAST Premier Fall Series 2020 (Online) (2nd place)
cs_summit 6 Europe (Online) (2nd place)
BLAST Premier Spring 2020 Finals (Online) (2nd place)
DreamHack Open Fall 2020 (Online) (2nd place)
ESL One Cologne 2020 Europe (Online) (2nd place)
ESL Pro League Season 19 (2nd place)

HLTV Rankings: 3 first places, 2 second places

2019: 1st place
2020: 1st place
2021: 2nd place
2022: 2nd place
2023: 1st place
2024: 3rd place

Total: 6 rankings appearances

After ZywOo caught up with s1mple in MVP count, Oleksandr Kostyliev reminded that during the online era, he missed several awards because MVP titles weren’t given for RMR tournaments in the CIS region. By the way, in Europe, the Frenchman received only 2 such awards – DreamHack Open Fall 2020 and cs_summit 6 Europe.

“In other words, they thought the CIS scene was terrible, didn’t give MVPs. In the end, the CIS scene started winning, and then NAVI and Gambit were just fighting for first place. These MVPs that weren’t included for RMR… How many did ZywOo get? Three or four pieces. Yes, yes, that’s how it happens, guys” – Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev

This seems like a fair observation, but firstly, ZywOo only has 2 such RMR medals, and secondly, if we dive into history, NAVI struggled in RMR tournaments of those times and only won WePlay! Clutch Island and StarLadder CIS RMR 2021. By the way, for the second RMR win, Sasha received his award, so we can only confidently claim one missing MVP medal.

Head-to-Head Matches and Statistics

Let’s now look at head-to-head statistics to understand how players performed against each other.

Total matches NAVI vs Vitality (when both were in lineups): 23

NAVI wins: 14
Vitality wins: 9

After s1mple left NAVI, they only managed to beat Vitality once in 6 meetings.

There was also one show match in their rivalry history when the teams swapped snipers, and s1mple played for Vitality while ZywOo played for NAVI. Obviously, this isn’t indicative, but the Ukrainian sniper won that confrontation.

What CS Stars Say About Them

Richard “shox” Papillon: “ZywOo is a phenomenon. He plays so naturally, as if he was born with crosshair in his eyes.”

Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy: “When you have s1mple in your team, you feel like you can win any match.”

Janko “YNk” Paunović: “s1mple is pure aggression and confidence. ZywOo plays differently: smart, with cold calculation.”

Duncan “Thorin” Shields: “ZywOo is the purest talent I’ve seen in CS. s1mple is the most dominant player in history.”

ZywOo and s1mple - Present Day

The transition to CS2 affected both players negatively. The Frenchman took time to find his game but managed to win two major trophies, and after ropz joined, their team is now contending for their own era. Alexander went inactive and made two unsuccessful attempts to return to the pro scene, but reportedly still doesn’t plan to completely leave esports.

Whether s1mple will succeed is unknown, but his influence on the industry loses weight each year. If Sasha wants to cement his position as the best, he needs to act very quickly. ZywOo clearly isn’t planning to stop and will definitely earn extra MVPs and repeatedly take the highest places in HLTV rankings.

While their careers continue, the discussion will be eternal, but final conclusions will be made at the sunset of their professional path.

In our view, Sasha’s team achievements still give him a slight edge in this debate, but if he doesn’t return to top-level competition soon, by the end of 2025, he will undoubtedly let the Frenchman take the lead.

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Which CS2 Teams Improved the Most at the Start of 2025? Positive Transfers

- - — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 15:08:01 +0000

The second full season in CS2 has already begun, and many teams have made necessary or desired roster changes. It’s no secret that the winter transfer window was incredibly eventful, with some transfers that would have seemed impossible just a month ago. The focus here is on teams ranked in the HLTV top 15, where fewer than half have kept their rosters intact. This article highlights teams that truly strengthened their compared to their previous rosters.

Falcons

Out: dupreeh, Snappi, SunPayus, maden
In: NiKo, TeSeS, degster, kyxsan
Current roster: Magisk, NiKo, TeSeS, degster, kyxsan, zonic (coach)

This organization has been under the community’s spotlight, as the owners have been attempting to create a top-tier Counter-Strike roster for years. At the start of 2025, head coach zonic convinced investors to open their wallets again, with over $6,000,000 spent. For this sum, the team acquired one of the best players in the world, Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, a player who would undoubtedly strengthen any roster. The Bosnian has a unique playstyle, minimally reliant on team interactions and built solely on individual skill. No matter the team, NiKo has consistently earned a spot in the top 11 of the HLTV individual rankings for nine consecutive years.

Joining Magisk and NiKo is a trio from HEROIC. Sound familiar? A year ago, zonic pulled off a similar move by bringing in three players from ENCE (Snappi, SunPayus, and maden), who were firmly in the top 10 and regularly reached playoffs in major tournaments. While the new arrivals appear stronger, HEROIC’s core failed to achieve significant results. Even ENCE managed a victory at IEM Dallas 2023.

The experiment is undoubtedly intriguing, but it’s not exactly what the organization’s bosses were hoping for. On paper, the roster is certainly an improvement compared to the form of the previous players at the end of 2024, which is why it’s featured in this article. However, is it strong enough to immediately contend for top spots? Probably not. Much will depend on the synergy between two potential star players: degster as the AWPer and NiKo in his usual rifling role. For the past three years, NiKo’s ideal partner was m0NESY, who excelled at knowing when to take control of the game and when to focus on his role, allowing NiKo to perform his best.

This roster will be fascinating to watch, as it’s hard to predict what Falcons’ next moves will be in the event of failure—or who will benefit most from long-awaited success if they prevail.

Transfer Rating: On paper – 8/10; Feels like – 6/10 (the expectations were higher).

Vitality

Out: Spinx
In: ropz
Current roster: apEX, ZywOo, FlameZ, mezii, ropz

The most unexpected and, in our opinion, the most successful transfer took place within this roster. First, it came at no financial cost (imagine the reaction of Falcons’ investors). Second, the team acquired one of the best players in the world. The Estonian player ropz approaches the game on an entirely different level, even finding value in practicing movement on KZ servers from CS 1.6. His movement, aim, and game sense are exceptional, leading to accusations of cheating early in his career.

Now, ropz joins Vitality, where apEX promotes a disruptive style aimed at derailing opponents’ plans. Previously, this was achieved primarily through ZywOo, but now the Frenchman has another player who knows how to create chaos without any help. Vitality’s management executed this transfer thoughtfully, likely involving the input of team members. Additionally, the roster needed an emotional shake-up, as the team captain expressed dissatisfaction with the atmosphere. The positive and confident ropz seems like the perfect choice to address this issue, making Vitality a strong contender for victories in 2025.

Transfer Rating: 10/10

Team Liquid

Out YEKINDAR
In: NertZ
Current roster: Twistzz, NAF, jks, ultimate, NertZ

Team Liquid was active during the summer transfer window, but their efforts fell short of making them trophy contenders. However, the roster’s results improved significantly, leaving the impression that they were one piece away from completing the puzzle. With all due respect to YEKINDAR, the Latvian player struggled to find his form after the transition to CS2. His decline made his removal seem inevitable, and NertZ appears to be the missing link in this pre-assembled project.

The Israeli player was a standout leader in HEROIC, unafraid to challenge the world’s best riflers and often emerging victorious. The revamped roster inspires optimism: Twistzz continues to adapt to his role as captain, ultimate has grown more confident after six months in the tier-one scene, and NertZ adds firepower and confidence to his teammates.

Transfer Rating: 9/10

Eternal Fire

In: Calyx
Out: jottAAA
Current roster: MAJ3R, XANTARES, woxic, Wicadia, jottAAA

This is a classic story: a team releases an academy player to gain competitive experience, only to bring them back later. A similar scenario played out with siuhy in MOUZ, yielding immediate results. Moreover, the current Eternal Fire lineup resembles a national dream team. After playing in English-speaking lineups, jottAAA will likely find it refreshing to return to Turkish communication.

Returning to a familiar organization and reuniting with players he once looked up to must be a morale boost for jottAAA. This transfer undoubtedly strengthens the team, and any failures will likely be tied to the form of the remaining players. However, there’s little reason to expect this roster to falter—unless age catches up with MAJ3R. The players are yet to win a trophy and are undoubtedly motivated to bring victory to their Turkish fans. With jottAAA, their chances have significantly improved.

Transfer Rating: 9/10

BetBoom Team

Out: nafany, KaiR0N-
In: BoombI4, Ax1Le
Current roster: s1ren, zorte, Magmojez, BoombI4, Ax1Le

It seems Cloud9 has decided to exit the scene, and they managed to sell four of their five main roster players in the process. Compared to the other examples here, BetBoom Team might not have generated as much hype, but this is undeniably an upgrade.

The Cloud9 duo is stronger than any of the existing BetBoom players, and this addition should provide a significant boost. However, it’s too early to call this a solid tier-one lineup.

Transfer Rating: 9/10; Roster Potential: 6/10

Why Didn’t FaZe, G2, or Virtus.pro Make the List?

In the case of FaZe and G2, the answer is straightforward: both teams lost highly skilled and crucial players, even though they secured solid replacements. With all due respect, losing NiKo and ropz is a major blow, especially considering how long they had been integral to G2 and FaZe, respectively. The arrivals of ELiGE and HeavyGod are not steps backward but rather steps onto an entirely new path.

Virtus.pro made solid acquisitions, but the previous roster consisted of five Major winners who failed to achieve their goals. Betting on young talent like FL4MUS and ICY seems like the right move, but everything will depend on electroNic. Denis’s captaincy experience leaves much to be desired, and only time will tell if he can unlock the potential of the younger players.

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Imperial Fe – The Best Women’s Team in CS History. Who Are They and Why Are They Competing in Tier-1 Tournaments Like BLAST Bounty and IEM Katowice 2025?

- - — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 15:23:36 +0000

In 2025, the VALVE ranking system fully came into effect, bringing significant changes to tournament organizers. The developers banned individual deals with organizations, meaning no one can receive direct invitations anymore. This change was announced back in the summer of 2023, but if someone had suggested then that it would lead to the unification of men’s and women’s esports, few would have believed it. Yet, the reality is here, and we’ll see a women’s roster competing at least at BLAST Bounty and IEM Katowice 2025. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the legendary roster members and explain why they deserve a shot at tier-1 tournaments

Roster Formation: The Nigma Galaxy Era

Many have only recently heard about Imperial Fe due to current events, but this roster was formed back in 2021 and spent over three years playing under the Nigma Galaxy (formerly Galaxy Racer) organization. For a long time, the roster consisted of:

Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova
Ana “ANa” Dumbravă
Katarína “Kat” Vašková
Victoria “tory” Kazieva
Aleksandra “twenty3” Timinina

From day one, Nigma Galaxy dominated the women’s pro scene, winning 8 world and European championships and earning over $335,000 in prize money. Most tier-2 men’s teams can’t boast such earnings, let alone that half of this sum was won on LAN events across the globe. This success was largely thanks to ESL, which in 2022 launched a separate division, ESL Impact, giving a strong push to the development of women’s esports.

ESL Impact – The Engine of Women’s CS

ESL Impact League is a tournament series launched by ESL in 2022 as part of the #GGFORALL campaign to promote women’s Counter-Strike. The league features two seasons per year with divisions in Europe, North America, and South America. Open qualifiers in each region allow any team to register, followed by closed online qualifiers. The top eight teams then compete at LAN finals, held in cities like Dallas, Valencia, Jönköping, Stockholm, and the legendary Katowice.

After several successful seasons, many major organizations started forming women’s teams to compete in ESL Impact. By 2022, organizations like NAVI, G2, Astralis, NIP, BIG, Team Spirit, Virtus.pro, and FURIA had created women’s rosters, seeing great potential in this area. However, by the end of 2024, most of these organizations disbanded their women’s teams, citing financial losses and business impracticality.

While this reasoning holds some truth, another significant factor was the dominance of the main subjects of this article. No team managed to match their level of play or offer serious competition.

Who Are Imperial Fe?

It’s time to meet the “mafia” roster that overshadowed investments from top esports organizations, forcing them to leave the scene.

In early 2024, Nigma Galaxy announced its exit from CS, and the championship roster was signed by the Brazilian organization Imperial. Shortly after, captain Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova retired, bringing her storied career to an end. She had played professionally since the CS 1.6 era. Her replacement was the even more experienced Zainab “zAAz” Turkie.

Zainab "zAAz" Turkie (33 years old)

Role: Rifler
Rating 2.1: 1.26
Prize Earnings: $77,866

The Swedish esports athlete of Lebanese descent, born on June 7, 1991, started her career in 2007. She played for teams such as Fnatic, Team Secret, G2 Oya, Copenhagen Flames, Beşiktaş, and Sweden’s national team. In February 2024, she joined Imperial Female, seamlessly fitting into the championship roster.

Ana "ANa" Dumbravă (25 years old)

Role: AWPer
Rating 2.1: 1.34
Prize Earnings: $96,171

The Romanian AWPer began her career in 2017. Born on June 20, 1999, Nigma Galaxy Female was her breakthrough team. Starting in 2022, HLTV introduced the Best Female Esports Player award, and ANa won it for three consecutive years. She’s considered the “s1mple” of women’s CS, holding the title of the greatest female player in history.

Katarína "Kat" Vašková (27 years old)

Role: Rifler
Rating 2.1: 1.16
Prize Earnings: $94,991

Born on August 18, 1997, in Slovakia, Katarína started her career in 2021 and quickly joined Nigma Galaxy Female.

Victoria "tory" Kazieva (26 years old)

Role: Captain
Rating 2.1: 1.23
Prize Earnings: $96,157

The Russian esports athlete was born on June 5, 1998. Before joining Nigma Galaxy Female, she played in various mixes from 2017. Her biggest achievement was second place at the 2018 World Electronic Sports Games Female, earning $30,000. After vilga’s departure, tory took on the role of captain.

Aleksandra "twenty3" Timinina (23 years old)

Role: Rifler
Rating 2.1: 1.26
Prize Earnings: $96,022

The youngest roster member, born on May 31, 2001, in Russia. She began her career at 16 and joined Nigma Galaxy’s championship roster in 2019.

Imperial Fe’s Achievements: A Dynasty Longer Than NiP and Astralis

When we discuss eras in Counter-Strike, we often recall NiP’s 87-match winning streak or Astralis’ four Major victories. But neither lasted more than two years, while Imperial Fe has been dominating for over four. Comparisons between these results may spark debates about the level of competition, but it only reinforces the belief that these women deserve to compete at the next level—against men.

Imperial Fe’s LAN Victories (Over $100,000 Prize Pools):

ESL Impact League Season 1 Dallas 2022
ESL Impact Valencia 2022
ESL Impact League Season 2 Jönköping 2022
ESL Impact Katowice 2023
ESL Impact League Season 3 Dallas 2023
ESL Impact League Season 4 Valencia 2023
ESL Impact League Season 5 Dallas 2024
ESL Impact League Season 6 Stockholm 2024

Can Imperial Fe Compete With Men’s Teams?

This is the key question, and we’ll soon have an answer. One thing is clear: they’ve made a clever start. At BLAST Bounty, the women chose NAVI as their opponent, which will be a serious test for Imperial Fe. Some may view this as overconfidence, but it’s likely a calculated decision. This move minimizes their VALVE ranking point losses even in defeat. Moreover, losing to the best men’s team of 2024 won’t be seen as a failure. Regardless, their debut is generating massive interest, and all eyes will be on them.

The post Imperial Fe – The Best Women’s Team in CS History. Who Are They and Why Are They Competing in Tier-1 Tournaments Like BLAST Bounty and IEM Katowice 2025? appeared first on Sih.app blog.

The Evolution of Train in Counter-Strike: Interesting Facts, Easter Eggs, and Iconic Matches

- - — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:40:22 +0000

The map Train holds a special place in the history of the Counter-Strike series, being one of the most recognizable and popular among players. From its appearance in CS 1.6 to CS:GO and its subsequent return in CS2, it has undergone significant changes, and in 2025, we will experience a completely different Train. In this article, you will learn about how the map looked in different eras, revisit iconic moments, discover interesting Easter eggs from past and current versions, and recall several legendary matches.

Train in CS 1.6

Train first appeared in Counter-Strike as a map set in an old railway depot. Its main feature was the abundance of trains that divided the space and influenced gameplay. Narrow passages, long sightlines, and a high level of vertical gameplay made Train one of the most challenging maps to master.

Key Gameplay Features in CS 1.6:

The legendary “B” bombsite on the upper warehouse with a train, where snipers often defended.
The “A” bombsite with tightly packed trains, providing a tactical advantage to players who knew how to utilize smoke grenades.
The Heaven position, offering a great view of the entire A-site.
The staircases, which were dangerous for both sides, allowing for ambushes or retakes.

Train's Overhaul in CS:GO (2014)

In December 2014, Train was completely redesigned to meet the more modern standards and requirements of the competitive scene. Valve took player feedback into account regarding the excessive complexity of the old design, making the map cleaner and more balanced.

Key Changes:

Object movement: Trains were lowered, improving visibility and reducing the influence of snipers on the round’s outcome.
Changes to A and B sites: Train cars were repositioned to create more cover and reduce attackers’ advantages.
Optimization: Unnecessary passages were removed, crawling under trains was forbidden, and the Heaven position was moved, making it less effective.
Graphical changes: The map adopted a more modern industrial style while retaining the Soviet atmosphere.

Train's Return in CS2 (2024)

Train returned in Counter-Strike 2 with a major update featuring improved lighting, textures, and new design elements. One of the key features was the addition of weather effects, such as rain, which enhanced the map’s atmosphere and improved the appearance of player models due to water droplets on weapons and hands.

Key Changes:

Graphical improvements: The use of the Source 2 engine made the map more realistic. Reflections and light effects were added, altering visibility and gameplay experience.
Weather effects: During rain, smoke grenades disperse differently, and footsteps become less audible.
Tactical changes: The size of the map was significantly reduced, and some positions were reworked (Heaven was completely removed, and the A-site was made more open. The upper/lower staircase was replaced with a long corridor, and the upper B-site entrance was blocked).

Iconic Matches on Train

SK Gaming vs Liquid – ESL One Cologne 2016 One of the most memorable matches on Train occurred in the grand final of ESL One Cologne 2016. SK Gaming defeated Liquid, and the Brazilian team won the Major title for the second consecutive time.
Virtus.pro vs Astralis – ELEAGUE Major 2017 This Major grand final marked the rise of Astralis as the best team in CS:GO history. The experienced Polish team Virtus.pro led 13-7 on Train, but gla1ve’s legendary round with a Tec-9 helped the Danes complete the comeback.
Gambit vs Immortals – PGL Major Krakow 2017 Gambit chose Train as their map pick after losing the first map in the grand final. Having previously defeated the legendary Astralis, the CIS team was expected to easily beat the Brazilians, but the match ended up being incredibly close.
Quantum Bellator Fire vs MOUZ – ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 The underdog team QBF made a stunning comeback from a 13-2 deficit, winning the second half 14-1 and advancing to the Major playoffs. The star of the team was the young BoombI4, who captivated the arena’s fans.

Interesting Facts about Train in CS2

Train in CS2 is filled with various Easter eggs and references, here are a few:

Reference to Viktor Tsoi and the band “Kino”: On a train near the B site, there is a graffiti with a crossed-out “Kino” logo and the phrase “Wish me luck,” referencing the song “Blood Type.”
List of map developers: On one of the walls, there are the names of all the developers involved in creating the new version of Train as a tribute to their work.
Picture of the old Train version: In one of the rooms, there is a picture depicting the Train from the CS:GO era as a nostalgic reference for long-time fans of the game.
Real phone number: A phone number on one of the walls leads to a delivery service in the Voronezh region, and it turns out the number is real.
“Respect the pigeons” graffiti: On a trash bin, there is a graffiti that reads “Respect the pigeons,” referencing a bug in CS:GO where players could fly on birds for an unfair advantage.
Music in the counter-terrorist spawn vehicle: Now, music plays from a vehicle at the counter-terrorist spawn, adding atmosphere to the start of the round.
Old Train slideshow: Near the B site, there is a computer playing a slideshow of images from the old de_train from CS 1.6.
Missing chicken ads: On the terrorist side’s bulletin board, there are posters in Russian about missing chickens. While chickens aren’t on Train, they appear on other maps like Inferno and Anubis.
Station names as map references: Opposite the bulletin board is an information panel with names of railway stations, which reference existing and possibly future maps in the game.
QR code to CS2 Steam page: Next to the station list, there is a QR code that leads to the Counter-Strike 2 Steam page when scanned.

Easter Eggs from Previous Versions of Train

“Popdog” area: The area near the ladder connecting the A bombsite to the depot building (upper/lower) is called “Popdog.” This is a reference to the original creators of the map, who named the area the same.
“Do not step on the birds” sign: Near the terrorist spawn, there is a sign referring to a temporary bug when players could fly on birds.
Vladimir Lenin mosaic: In the updated version of the map, a mosaic featuring Vladimir Lenin has been added to a building near the terrorist spawn.
Geiger counter: A Geiger counter is located at the A bombsite, adding to the atmosphere.
Radio playing TF2 music: In a café near the terrorist base, music from Team Fortress 2 plays.
Depot name: The depot building on the map is named “LESGORAD-1 STATION.”

Statistics and Popularity

Train has remained one of the most popular maps in professional play for many years.

Win Rate on Train (CS:GO):

Terrorists: 45%
Counter-Terrorists: 55%

Last Tournament

The last major tournament where Train was featured before its removal from the competitive pool was ESL Pro League Season 13, which concluded on May 3, 2021. After that, Train was replaced by Ancient and was absent from the competitive pool until 2025.

Conclusion

The return of this map to the competitive pool is a true celebration for the community, eagerly awaiting new legendary matches and highlights on their beloved map. The only question left is: Is Train ready for its return to the pro scene?

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