FalleN, Stewie2K leaving Team Liquid after PGL Major flop

Professional Counter-Strike scene veterans Jake “Stewie2K” Yip and Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo have officially confirmed their exit from Team Liquid’s competitive roster.

This development follows a significant performance downturn for what was previously considered North America’s dominant CS:GO lineup. The team’s struggles culminated at the PGL Stockholm Major, where they achieved only a single victory against three defeats, resulting in a disappointing 12th-place finish that fell far below expectations.

While roster adjustments were anticipated given the team’s recent form, the departure of two marquee players represents a substantial organizational shift. Team Liquid communicated this decision through their official social media channels, emphasizing that the separation was mutually agreed upon by both the athletes and management.

Stewie2K became part of Team Liquid’s lineup during 2018, shortly following his instrumental role in Cloud9’s historic ELEAGUE Boston Major championship victory. During his tenure with Liquid, he contributed significantly to securing the Intel Grand Slam season two championship, helping the organization claim the $1 million prize through consecutive tournament triumphs.

The squad’s competitive decline became apparent following the StarLadder Berlin Major event, which precipitated the subsequent releases of veteran in-game leader Nicholas “nitr0” Cannella and strategic coach Eric “adreN” Hoag. Unfortunately, these personnel changes failed to produce the intended competitive resurgence.

FalleN’s integration into Team Liquid occurred much more recently in January 2021. Assuming the vacancy created by Nitr0’s departure, he fulfilled dual responsibilities as primary AWPer and strategic caller for the North American organization.

While the Brazilian legend delivered respectable individual performances, his overall stint with the team failed to yield substantial competitive success or championship results.

With both players now confirmed for departure, Team Liquid faces the challenge of constructing a new competitive roster centered around Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, Keith “NAF” Markovic, and Michael “Grim” Wince. Additional roster modifications may be under consideration as the organization evaluates its long-term competitive strategy.

The encouraging development for Stewie2K, FalleN, and Team Liquid management is that numerous competitive opportunities appear available for all parties involved.

Stewie2K has previously stated his intention to remain within the Counter-Strike competitive ecosystem rather than transitioning to Valorant. However, there’s undeniable interest from multiple prominent organizations eager to incorporate his talents into their lineups.

He maintains substantial popularity within the global CS:GO community and would provide both marketing appeal and competitive firepower to any roster. His versatile skill set enables seamless integration into virtually any North American or European CS:GO organization.

FalleN appears less inclined toward Valorant migration, though the possibility cannot be entirely dismissed. A more probable scenario involves his return to South American Counter-Strike, potentially reforming partnerships with former championship teammates from his successful periods with SK Gaming and Luminosity Gaming.

Ultimately, Team Liquid will encounter abundant alternatives when seeking replacements for these experienced competitors. Numerous professional players currently await transfer opportunities, and despite North American CS:GO’s talent development infrastructure facing challenges from Valorant’s rise, the organization possesses sufficient resources to identify promising talent similar to Grim’s acquisition.

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