Team Spirit Signs 17-Year-Old Ukrainian CS:GO Player to Replace Degster
The Russian team gets a 'wonderful' young AWPer.
Team Spirit has completed its CS:GO roster ahead of the IEM Cologne 2022, signing a young talent to handle the big green. The 17-year-old Ukrainian AWPer, Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov, has been picked by Spirit as a replacement for the recently benched Abdulkhalik "degster" Gasanov.
With this move, the Russian esports organization that has decided to make Belgrade in Serbia its base of operation for time being. It is all set for the upcoming IEM Cologne 2022 with a revamped roster, putting all its confidence behind a rookie who seems to have received his big break into the top tier of competitive CS:GO.
It will be a tall task to fill in for degster, who has been a star player for the side during his tenure especially when competing at the recently concluded PGL Antwerp Major 2022.
Team Spirit signs 17-year-old to complete CS:GO roster ahead of IEM Cologne 2022
When Spirit had decided to bench and transfer list degster due to 'non-game factors' including not being able to meet the organization's demand of staying in Serbia long-term due to personal reasons, it had also announced an ongoing search for a replacement player having already shortlisted multiple candidates for the role.
Now, roughly two weeks later the organization has announced the signing of an unproven Ukrainian talent, w0nderful, who has previously competed in the tier-two circuit and lower alongside teams like MAJESTY, Project X, Trasko Esports, and HellRaisers.
This will be his first break into the top-tier circuit, as he takes on some of the best CS:GO teams from across the world at 'The Cathedral of Counter-Strike' - IEM Cologne 2022. The high profile tournament scheduled to take place from 5th to 17th July will be the first time we witness this new Spirit lineup in action.
As per a statement by Spirit, the organization went through a "lengthy screenings and tests" before selecting w0nderful, as he not only proved himself during the shooting tests but also demonstrated good professional and social communication skills.
"We are very happy to welcome Igor (w0nderful) to Team Spirit. He proved himself perfectly during the tests and showed uncharacteristic for his age determination and confidence in his actions," said Sergey "hally" Shavaev - CS:GO Coach of Team Spirit, "We can already claim that he has high chances to become a top level player with the right amount of diligence and effort."
The revamped Team Spirit roster is as follows,
Leonid "chopper" Vishnyakov [IGL]
Boris "magixx" Vorobiev
Robert "Patsi" Isyanov
Pavel "s1ren" Ogloblin
Igor "w0nderful" Zhdanov
Sergey "hally" Shavaev [Coach]
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