TL;DR
- Astralis may sign MAD Lions’ Bubzkji, expanding their roster to eight players
- The organization has added three players since March amid internal roster challenges
- Two key players took voluntary breaks citing workload pressure concerns
- FLASHPOINT talent acquisition raises questions about competitive strategy
- Roster expansion timing coincides with CS:GO’s annual player break period

Industry sources suggest MAD Lions competitor Lucas “Bubzkji” Andersen could be joining Astralis shortly, following revelations from team coach Luis “peacemaker” Tadeu about the emerging talent’s imminent move to a prominent organization.
An unverified HLTV publication indicates Astralis might finalize the acquisition in the coming days. Despite the Danish rifler’s removal from MAD Lions’ starting lineup after their disappointing CS Summit 6 qualifier results, Astralis continues accumulating skilled players. This pattern emerged after core members Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander and Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth voluntarily stepped back from competitive duties.
The Danish powerhouse first shocked Counter-Strike enthusiasts by securing Patrick “es3tag” Hansen as his Heroic contract concluded this spring. That transaction sparked significant debate because of Heroic’s anticipated acquisition by FunPlus Phoenix, ultimately causing FPX to exit the FLASHPOINT league entirely.

Should the Bubzkji transfer materialize, Astralis would reach an eight-player squad, incorporating both es3tag and newly added Jakob “JUGi” Hansen. While organizations have tested expanded lineups previously, no CS:GO team has ever assembled this many high-profile competitors so rapidly under one banner.
This accumulation of professional talent represents a fundamental shift in how elite teams approach roster management. The strategy raises questions about player development, internal competition, and long-term planning in professional esports.
Further complicating the narrative, emerging information suggests Astralis might not have intended this expanded roster structure for “multiple years” as initially claimed. Instead, the organization reportedly pursued es3tag and additional signings when it became evident that two starting members planned extended absences. These decisions stemmed from intense competitive demands imposed by the organization and sports director Kasper Hvidt. Both Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander and Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth withdrew from active competition during the past eight weeks.
Astralis may raid MAD Lions for Bubzkji
Although Astralis team members have publicly denied any friction with management, the potential Bubzkji addition might indicate another competitor considering competitive hiatus. This development surfaces mere days before CS:GO’s annual competitive pause concludes—a scheduled four-week period where tournament coordinators intentionally lighten professional schedules during an increasingly demanding competitive calendar.
This recruitment approach directly contradicts statements from Astralis sniper specialist Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz to HLTV regarding gla1ve’s post-break return, unless the organization intends further roster additions beyond current plans.
Discover additional insights about Astralis’ contrasting public declarations versus internal realities by selecting the image below.

Bubzkji’s original removal from MAD Lions surprised many observers, given the emerging talent’s status as one of the team’s highest-performing members during preceding months. His contributions were instrumental in securing the organization’s FLASHPOINT 1 championship victory.
Notably, two of Astralis’ three recent acquisitions originated from FLASHPOINT-participating squads. These personnel moves provoke fascinating inquiries about whether Astralis targets genuinely elite available talent or engages in strategic talent extraction from the competing league. FLASHPOINT operates as direct competition to the ESL Pro League, where Astralis maintains partial ownership stakes.
Action Checklist
- Monitor official roster announcements from Astralis and MAD Lions for confirmation
- Analyze player performance metrics before and after roster changes
- Track tournament results following major roster adjustments
- Compare expanded roster strategies across different esports organizations
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Astralis pursue more talent with rumored Bubzkji addition Analyzing Astralis' unprecedented roster expansion strategy and its impact on CS:GO esports landscape
