Astralis completed its Counter-Strike 2 rebuild on October 13, 2026, signing Polish in-game leader Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek and Ukrainian player Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov. Their arrivals replace benched Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen and Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard and leave Victor “Staehr” Staehr as the only Dane in Astralis’ starting lineup.
What Astralis changed
The two signings finish Astralis’ move away from a Danish-majority roster. Siuhy takes over the in-game leader role, while cmtry is expected to become a rifler after previously playing primarily as an AWPer for NAVI Junior and FUT.
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The new starting group consists of Staehr, siuhy, cmtry, Love “phzy” Smidebrant and Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas. Staehr is the sole Danish starter; siuhy is Polish, cmtry is Ukrainian, phzy is Swedish and ryu is Lithuanian. That makes this Astralis’ first starting lineup without a Danish majority.
The announcement on October 13 followed Astralis’ decision four days earlier to bench HooXi and jabbi. The changes therefore combine a leadership switch, a role adjustment and a fundamental change in the team’s national identity.
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Why HooXi and jabbi were benched
HooXi and jabbi were benched on October 9, 2026, as both players approached the ends of their contracts. HLTV reported that renewal discussions had stalled. Jonas Gundersen, founder and CEO of Astralis’ parent company Fusion Esports, presented the move as a deliberate reset rather than a single-player performance reaction.
“Sometimes you need to fully close a chapter in order to create space for something new to grow,” Gundersen said. The timing closed the previous core before the contracts expired and gave Astralis room to build around a new international structure.
Who are siuhy and cmtry?
siuhy: the new in-game leader
Siuhy arrives as Astralis’ in-game leader. His job is to establish the team’s tactical system, coordinate mid-round decisions and integrate players who have not previously formed a long-term unit. Replacing HooXi means Astralis will have to transfer strategic authority, preparation routines and in-game communication to a new caller immediately before a major tournament cycle.
cmtry: an AWPer moving to rifle
Cmtry joins from a background in which he primarily used the AWP for NAVI Junior and FUT. Astralis is expected to use him as a rifler instead. That is a meaningful adjustment: the team is not simply replacing jabbi with another player in an identical position, but asking cmtry to adapt his weapon pool, spacing, utility responsibilities and trading patterns to fit the lineup.
What happened to Astralis’ Danish core?
Astralis’ Danish identity is one of Counter-Strike’s defining competitive stories. Its celebrated all-Danish lineup won four Majors between 2017 and 2019, a record-setting period that established the organization as a benchmark for preparation and team play.
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The 2026 transition had already begun before these signings. Earlier additions phzy and ryu pushed Astralis toward English communication while HooXi, Staehr and jabbi still supplied a Danish core. Benching HooXi and jabbi removes the final two Danish members of that core, leaving Staehr as the only Dane among the starters.
This does not erase Astralis’ history, but it changes what the name represents competitively. The team’s operating language and shared cultural reference points are now international rather than Danish-rooted.
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Old and new lineups: the practical differences
| Area | Previous setup | New setup |
|---|---|---|
| National composition | Danish core with international additions | International lineup with Staehr as the only Dane |
| In-game leadership | Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen | Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek |
| Role change | Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard occupied the outgoing rifling position | Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov is expected to rifle after mainly playing AWPer |
| Communication | Danish-rooted structure moving toward English | English/international setup |
| Contract situation | HooXi and jabbi were nearing contract expiry; renewal talks had stalled | New signings provide a fresh roster framework |
| Near-term objective | Complete the transition while retaining the Danish core | Stabilize the new group ahead of the PGL Singapore Major |
What the signings mean before the PGL Singapore Major
The immediate priority is readiness. Astralis has to teach siuhy’s system, convert cmtry into a dependable rifle option and align its English communication quickly enough to compete at the PGL Singapore Major. The lineup may gain flexibility from a broader international talent pool, but it also loses the familiarity that came from years of shared Danish structure.
Insider Gaming reported that the moves could be an interim solution while Astralis evaluates the roster, with further changes possible in the off-season. That means the October 13 lineup should be treated as Astralis’ active starting group, not necessarily a guarantee that every position is permanent. The organization’s short-term goal is to stabilize competition results while it determines whether this combination can support a longer rebuild.
The report’s competitive context is covered by Insider Gaming’s account of Astralis losing its Danish core. Until Astralis makes a longer-term declaration, performance at upcoming events will help decide whether the international direction becomes the organization’s new foundation.
Quick Recap
What to watch next
- Siuhy’s system: how quickly the new IGL can impose clear calls and consistent mid-round decisions.
- Cmtry’s rifle transition: whether his move from primary AWPer to rifler produces reliable damage, trading and site-holding value.
- English communication: whether the international lineup can maintain the precision associated with Astralis under pressure.
- Staehr’s role: how the only remaining Dane helps preserve continuity while the rest of the structure changes.
- Roster permanence: whether Astralis keeps this five through the off-season or makes additional changes after evaluating the Major cycle.
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