TL;DR
- Astralis benches Bubzkji despite his crucial role in qualifying for the Stockholm Major
- gla1ve returns as in-game leader after paternity leave during IEM Season 16
- Xyp9x remains in active lineup despite previous departure announcement
- Team faces major restructuring with multiple players planning exits after 2021
- Historic roster’s future depends heavily on Stockholm Major performance
As Counter-Strike: Global Offensive prepares for its most lucrative tournament ever, elite teams face critical roster decisions that could define their competitive futures. Astralis appears to have made one of the most controversial lineup choices heading into the championship event.
The Danish organization’s management team has finalized their competitive squad for the upcoming Stockholm Major, opting to bench Lucas “Bubzkji” Andersen while reinstating veteran in-game leader Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander to the active roster. This strategic move comes despite gla1ve missing the team’s successful IEM Season 16 campaign that secured their major qualification. Bubzkji played an instrumental role during that tournament run, delivering the fourth-place finish necessary to earn Challenger status for the premier competition.
Throughout the 2021 competitive season, Bubzkji participated in eight of Astralis’ twelve premier tournament appearances, including two critical Regional Major Ranking events that determined major qualification. The Danish rifler publicly expressed his disappointment regarding the roster decision through social media channels, highlighting the emotional toll of professional esports transitions.
I am devastated to be left out, after being there to qualify. Losing out on my first major and not being able to play in front of a "home" crowd hurts. But sadly there's only 5 spots. I felt things individually was moving in the right direction towards the end. https://t.co/oMuNz0iC4F
— Bubzkji (@Bubzkji) October 13, 2021
Despite his evident frustration, Bubzkji emphasized his continued support for the organization and clarified that he doesn’t hold individual teammates responsible for his benching. This professional response demonstrates the complex interpersonal dynamics within top-tier competitive teams facing roster instability.
Astralis roster for PGL Stockholm Major
- Philip “Lucky” Ewald
- Emil “Magisk” Reif
- Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander
- Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth
- Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (coach)
Primary shotcaller gla1ve previously took temporary leave to welcome his newborn child, creating an opportunity for veteran clutch specialist Xyp9x to temporarily assume leadership duties. This substitution occurred despite Xyp9x’s earlier declaration of intent to depart Astralis before year’s end. While most analysts anticipated gla1ve’s return for the Stockholm Major, many predicted Xyp9x would revert to substitute status rather than maintaining his starting position.
Astralis management continues navigating substantial organizational restructuring beyond just player movements. Alongside Xyp9x’s planned departure, head coach zonic has also indicated his intention to exit the legendary Danish squad. Recent acquisition Philip “Lucky” Ewald joined earlier this season as a flexible sixth player option, mirroring Bubzkji’s original recruitment strategy. A championship victory in Stockholm could potentially delay the dissolution of this historic roster configuration that dominated CS:GO for years.
Action Checklist
- Analyze player performance metrics across multiple tournaments before making roster decisions
- Evaluate team chemistry impact when reintegrating returning players after absences
- Develop communication protocols for announcing roster changes to minimize player frustration
- Create contingency plans for managing announced player departures while maintaining competitive performance
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Bubzkji out, gla1ve in for Astralis at PGL Stockholm Major Astralis makes strategic roster changes for PGL Stockholm Major with gla1ve return and Bubzkji benching