Natus Vincere Completes Roster with Gambit Esports Deal
Natus Vincere has finalized its roster by striking a deal with Gambit Esports, the recently crowned PGL Major winners.
Danylo “Zeus” Teslenko is returning to Na`Vi after leading Gambit for almost a year. With Zeus back in black and yellow, seized will join the active lineup after stepping down as the team’s leader in late July. Gambit’s coach, Mykhailo “Kane” Blagin, will replace Andrey “Andi” Prokhorov as the active coach, while Andi takes on an analyst position within the organization.
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This major roster shuffle is due to internal issues within Gambit’s team structure, specifically regarding coaching responsibilities. Many players and management were unhappy with Kane’s “professional qualities” and proposed terminating him to Zeus. Zeus issued an ultimatum: either Kane stays or he leaves with Kane. Gambit agreed to a transfer buyout involving Zeus, allowing him to return to his former team.
“At this stage the guys decided to kick our coach, Kane, even with the condition that I will leave with him,” Zeus said on Twitter. “He is a man who I’ve worked and been friends with a long time, a man who taught me and helped me get through last year’s kick from Na`Vi, and a man who helped us win the major. But the team thinks otherwise, overlooking my experience in this situation and my attempts at saving the roster.”
Na`Vi now has Zeus, Ioann “Edward” Sukhariev, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, Egor “flamie” Vasilev, Denis “seized” Kostin, and Kane as coach. Gambit will announce their fifth player soon. With Gambit losing their in-game leader to Na`Vi, they may struggle to find a strategist of Zeus’ caliber.
“Life provides unexpected opportunities,” Na`Vi’s CEO Yevhen Zolotarov said. “I am proud that the legend is back to the club.”
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