Well, who had this one on their 2024 bingo card?
In a sensational turn of events, cadiaN has signed for Astralis to be their new IGL, ahead of BLAST Premier Fall Final.
The move will see him reunite with stavn and jabbi, the duo that had a big hand in cutting him from HEROIC a year ago.
The out-of-nowhere move follows a difficult spell for both parties. cadiaN has been without a team since his unsuccessful stint with Liquid, whilst Astralis have also struggled in the new season.
It sees him replace br0 on the team, who unfortunately loses his spot after just six months on the team. As a result, cadiaN will now be a rifling IGL, meaning that device can return to focusing on hitting shots with the big green.
In a statement posted alongside the announcement, cadiaN had this to say:
"I'm thrilled to have signed with Astralis. I understand some might see this as a controversial move, given my history with the team and past rivalries. Some may even question whether stepping away from the AWP is the right decision. But the truth is, I share the same vision as Astralis: always striving to be the best, building a top Danish CS roster, and competing for the biggest titles.
I know some fans may feel I've had 'beef' with Astralis, but actually, I've faced similarly fierce rivalries with other teams and players too. My intense winning mentality has always driven me to push boundaries, and these rivalries have only made me stronger over the years. As a leader, the Counter-Strike community knows what I bring—both tactically, where I've helped revolutionize the game, and through the passion I show, from energizing huddles to celebrating my teammates' great plays. Astralis' fans can expect even more of that from me in the future."
This reunion with jabbi and stavn is, of course, exciting for all of us. We've addressed the challenges we faced in the past, and today we're fully aligned. After a year of reflection, we’re still hungry for trophies and continue to share the same tactical vision that drove our success before," - cadiaN
cadiaN's first tournament with his new team will be BLAST Premier Fall Final 2024, where he will now get the chance to compete for $425,000 in his nation's capital, the same event in which he was a worthy winner alongside stavn and jabbi in 2022.
BLAST ApS., Hauser Plads 1, 3., 1127 Copenhagen