TL;DR
- Astralis’ championship roster dissolved due to management pressure and player burnout following 2020 IPO
- Team Vitality acquiring dupreeh, Magisk, and zonic to create first international lineup
- Organizational conflicts stemmed from traditional sports vs esports training philosophy differences
- Remaining Astralis players rebuilding with new Danish talent while Vitality targets BLAST debut
- CS:GO’s competitive landscape shifting from national rosters to international superteams

The departure of Astralis’ legendary players doesn’t signal retirement but rather an immediate competitive reshuffle in top-tier Counter-Strike.
According to comprehensive reports from 1pv, Team Vitality is strategically positioned to integrate the newly available trio of Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, Emil “Magisk” Reif, and experienced coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen. This acquisition necessitates Vitality releasing Richard “shox” Papillon and Jayson “Kyojin” Nguyen Van, alongside coach Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam, marking one of the most significant roster overhauls in recent CS:GO history.
This transition creates a formidable pan-European lineup that fundamentally alters Vitality’s longstanding commitment to exclusively French roster construction. If these transfer rumors materialize, the revitalized Vitality roster structure will feature:
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (France) – Primary AWPer and franchise star
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (France) – In-game leader and entry fragger
- Emil “Magisk” Reif (Denmark) – Support rifler and clutch specialist
- Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen (Denmark) – Experienced entry fragger and veteran presence
- Kévin “misutaaa” Rabier (France) – Flexible role player
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (Denmark) – Strategic coach and tactical mastermind
This strategic move follows Astralis’ disappointing elimination from the Legends Stage of the PGL Stockholm Major, directly precipitating the departures of dupreeh and Magisk. The legendary duo that propelled Astralis to become CS:GO’s inaugural four-time major championship organization were systematically replaced with Complexity standouts Benjamin “blameF” Bremer and Kristian “k0nfig” Wienecke, signaling a complete organizational reset.
Neither Team Vitality management nor the involved professional players have officially confirmed these roster developments. Should these transfer speculations prove accurate, the newly assembled squad’s competitive debut is projected for the BLAST Premier Fall Finals commencing November 24.
What happened to Astralis?
Astralis’ championship-winning roster has experienced progressive deterioration since early 2020, culminating in public expressions of player dissatisfaction and eventual roster dissolution.
Initial reports of internal tensions within the Astralis organization emerged throughout 2020, with core issues originating from intense pressure by organizational management demanding excessive competitive participation from players. According to detailed Dexerto investigative reporting, these organizational conflicts stemmed from a complex combination of Astralis’ 2020 initial public offering, stringent corporate requirements from ESL and BLAST partnership obligations, and fundamental philosophical disagreements regarding training methodologies between esports professionals and management personnel with traditional sports backgrounds.
Re-election for the Clutch Minister.
Read: https://t.co/tXzle7gGJW pic.twitter.com/TPNDr0rlei
— Astralis Counter-Strike (@AstralisCS) October 18, 2021
These systemic pressures directly resulted in multiple Astralis core players pursuing extended competitive breaks supported by medical documentation throughout 2020, forcing the organization to maintain an unstable six-player rotational roster system. This organizational crisis reached its climax in April 2021 when superstar AWPer Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz was transferred to Ninjas in Pyjamas in a landmark deal. Veteran player Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth also publicly contemplated departure before ultimately signing a contract extension preceding the PGL Stockholm Major.
Xyp9x and in-game leader Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander both committed to extended contractual agreements with the organization and now face the challenging task of replicating their historic competitive success with an entirely new Danish lineup configuration.
The Astralis roster collapse represents a pivotal moment in competitive Counter-Strike, highlighting critical lessons about sustainable player management in professional esports. Organizations must balance competitive demands with player wellness, particularly following major financial events like public offerings that create additional performance pressures.
Common mistakes organizations make include over-scheduling tournaments without adequate recovery periods and imposing traditional sports methodologies that may not align with esports competitors’ needs. Advanced optimization for roster management involves implementing structured rotation systems and psychological support infrastructure.
The transition from national identity rosters to international superteams like Vitality’s new configuration typically requires 2-3 months for optimal team chemistry development. For teams looking to improve their strategic approach, our Class Guide provides valuable insights into role specialization that translate well to CS:GO team construction.
Understanding these complex game mechanics and organizational dynamics is crucial for competitive success. The philosophical divide between esports-native approaches and traditional sports management models continues to shape roster decisions across the professional landscape.
Action Checklist
- Analyze team role distribution using our comprehensive Complete Guide methodology
- Monitor BLAST Premier Fall Finals starting November 24 for Vitality’s debut
- Evaluate player specialization compatibility using weapon proficiency frameworks from our Weapons Unlock guide
- Assess organizational management practices against player wellness indicators
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » dupreeh and Magisk reportedly to Vitality as Astralis era ends Analyzing Astralis' roster collapse, Team Vitality's international rebuild, and CS:GO esports implications
