Astralis Trades Cajunb for Kjaerbye: How Does the New Astralis Look?
Astralis made a surprising move on May 19, 2016, by trading their founding member, Rene “cajunb” Borg, for Dignitas’s young talent, Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjaerbye. This trade not only makes the team younger but also adds more firepower. But what does this mean for Astralis? Let’s take a closer look.
Role Changes
Astralis has always had some awkwardness when it comes to in-game roles. Players like Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz and Karrigan would swap roles and use different weapons depending on the map. However, with Kjaerbye joining the team, dev1ce can focus on AWPing full-time and Karrigan can be the secondary AWPer. The team’s depth and versatility give them an edge in matches.
Added Firepower
Kjaerbye brings a more aggressive playstyle to Astralis. While cajunb was a skilled player, Kjaerbye has the ability to take over games by himself. This gives Astralis an advantage against elite-level teams and adds to the team’s margin for error. When the team is performing well, they have the firepower to defeat any opponent.
The Big Three
Astralis now has a strong trio of players: an exceptional AWPer, a premier entry fragger, and a skilled rifler. This lineup puts them on par with fnatic and EnVyUs in terms of in-game capabilities. With this dream team, Astralis has the potential to be the best in the game and win major tournaments.
My Case for Astralis
I believe Astralis will remain an elite team and win a major within a year. They have a strong incentive to strive for greatness as a player-owned organization. Despite Kjaerbye’s temporary absence from ESL One Cologne, Astralis is prepared to battle for greatness for years to come.
Photo credits: Astralis