New Roster for Dendi’s B8 Team: Why Virtus Pro is a Cause for Concern
Danil “Dendi” Ishutin has announced the lineup for his new B8 team, featuring some familiar names and a relatively unknown player, Alexandr “pio65” Zalivako. However, pio65 wasn’t B8’s first choice. The organization’s top candidate left the team to join Virtus Pro instead.
In a recently-released video, Dendi explained that B8 initially recruited Zaur “Cooman” Shakhmurzaev as their carry player.
Dendi emphasized that B8 is not just a typical stack of players; it is an organization with contracts and conditions that needed to be in place. However, time constraints meant that these procedures had to be finalized during the boot camp.
Although Cooman initially joined the team for the boot camp, he ultimately did not sign the contract.
The video showed Cooman participating in various activities with the team, including playing games and taking part in B8’s media day. This further reinforced the progress the roster had made.
Midway through the boot camp, Virtus Pro approached Cooman to be their stand-in for the upcoming ESL One Los Angeles Major qualifiers. This left B8 without a player just a few days before the qualifications. Dendi mentioned that VP didn’t directly contact him due to the absence of signed contracts.
In a difficult situation, Dendi’s teammate, Nikola “LeBron” Popović, managed to find a free agent in pio65, whom B8 promptly recruited.
VP’s recruitment strategies have now affected a third team. They previously poached Natus Vincere’s captain and attempted to take a player from Gambit Esports. And now, they have taken Cooman from Dendi’s new squad.
VP’s Recruitment Sparks Displeasure Among Affected Teams
VP’s recruitment tactics have raised eyebrows and garnered criticism from several affected teams in the CIS scene.
Amidst the chaos, B8 will have to battle through the open qualifiers to face VP in the closed qualifiers starting on Feb. 9.
Related: Skiter alleges that Virtus Pro has kicked epileptick1d and Save-, agreed to terms with Zayac and gpk
Dendi’s B8 team, Virtus Pro, roster, CIS scene, recruitment