Astralis Benches HooXi and jabbi Following Rare LAN Victory

In a sudden move that has stunned the Counter-Strike community, Astralis has benched Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen and Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard effective immediately. The decision comes just days after the squad secured a victory at Stake Ranked Episode 4 in Barcelona, marking the organization’s first LAN trophy since December 2019.

A Trophy Before the Shake-Up

The timing of this roster move is particularly jarring given the team’s recent performance trajectory. Under the leadership of HooXi, who joined the organization permanently in June 2025 to replace Casper “cadiaN” Møller, Astralis had reached several notable milestones, including grand-final appearances at PGL Astana 2025, FISSURE Playground 1, and PGL Bucharest 2026. Despite finally breaking their long-standing LAN trophy drought in Barcelona, management opted to move forward with significant changes to the active lineup.

The Future of the Roster

While the benching of HooXi and jabbi has been confirmed, the composition of the new starting five remains uncertain. Reports originating from Sport.ua suggest that former Liquid captain Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek and Ukrainian rifler Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov are being targeted as potential replacements, with both players’ contracts reportedly nearing completion. However, Astralis has not yet officially confirmed these signings.

Currently, the active roster consists of Love “phzy” Smidebrant, Victor “Staehr” Staehr, and Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas, with Filip “NEO” Kubski remaining at the helm as coach. The team faces a quick turnaround, with their next scheduled appearance at Stake Pulse Beat III slated to begin on October 12, 2026.

Why it matters

For fans of Astralis, this move represents a major gamble during an active competitive cycle. The team had finally regained winning form, making the decision to overhaul the roster mid-momentum a risky pivot. Players should watch the coming days closely for official announcements regarding the new signings, as the integration of a new in-game leader and rifler—potentially shifting roles if cmtry joins—could fundamentally change the team’s playstyle heading into the October 12 event.

This transition highlights the high-pressure environment of the current CS2 professional circuit, where organizations are increasingly aggressive in seeking roster upgrades even after successful tournament runs. With regional events and global circuits moving at a rapid pace, the chemistry built by the previous lineup will effectively be reset as the team looks to sustain its newfound success with a fresh core.