TL;DR
- FunPlus Phoenix officially signs four GODSENT players plus coach after month-long negotiations
- Organization learned from FLASHPOINT disaster by securing individual player contracts
- Team still seeking fifth player with Chris ‘chrisj’ de John rumored as potential IGL
- Strategic approach avoids repeat of failed Heroic and Swole Patrol deals
- Competitive debut scheduled for DreamHack Open January with $70,000 prize pool
Following a month of intensive negotiations, FunPlus Phoenix has formally completed its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster rebuild by securing the core of GODSENT’s lineup. The organization confirmed the signings of Asger “Farlig” Jensen, Pavle “Maden” Bošković, Jesse “zehN” Linjala, and Martin “STYKO” Styk, establishing a solid foundation for their competitive return.
The acquisition process began on December 28 when FunPlus Phoenix reached an organizational agreement with GODSENT management. Beyond the player acquisitions, the team strategically brought aboard former GODSENT head coach Jonatan “Devilwalk” Lundberg to provide strategic direction and in-game leadership from the coaching position.
Assemble????
Proud to be Phoenix. Presenting our new CS:GO roster —???????? Jonatan “Devilwalk” Lundberg (Coach)
???????? Pavle “maden” Boskovic
???????? Asger “farlig” Jensen
???????? Jesse “zehN” Linjala
???????? Martin “STYKO” StykStay tuned for the last piece of the puzzle
LET’S ROCK IT#FPX #FPXCSGO pic.twitter.com/Bh3mlqKMF3
— FPX (@FPX_Esports) January 25, 2021
Strategic Roster Building: Learning from Past Mistakes
The organization currently faces the critical task of securing an in-game leader to complete their competitive lineup. Industry rumors strongly connect FunPlus Phoenix with recently benched AWPer Chris “chrisj” de John, who became available following his departure from mousesports. This strategic gap represents both a challenge and opportunity for the team’s competitive structure.General manager Petar “peca” Marjo disclosed that throughout the 2020 competitive season, the organization engaged in extensive discussions with multiple CSGO organizations before finalizing the GODSENT agreement in late December. This extensive vetting process reflects the organization’s commitment to building a sustainable competitive presence rather than making rushed roster decisions.
“Our organization conducted months of thorough negotiations with various esports organizations and individual players before reaching this strategic roster solution. We have complete confidence that this carefully constructed lineup will achieve our competitive objectives throughout the 2021 season,” Marjo emphasized in his official statement.
Initial reporting indicated that while FunPlus Phoenix secured organizational terms with GODSENT, they deliberately pursued individual contracts with all four players. This meticulous approach directly addresses the organization’s disastrous initial entry into competitive CSGO during FLASHPOINT Season 1, where a similar agreement with Heroic collapsed within weeks of the tournament beginning.
The FLASHPOINT catastrophe forced an emergency team search, resulting in unsuccessful negotiations with North American regional contender Swole Patrol and the temporary signing of Bad News Bears for a single tournament appearance. Learning from these failures, the current strategy prioritizes contract security and player commitment.
Officially part of @FPX_Esports from now on. Happy to make an announcement and be sure to keep an eye out for our 5th player! Currently try-out underway ????????
First official on wednesday ???? DreamHack time.
— STYKO ???? (@STYKOcsgo) January 25, 2021
FunPlus Phoenix prepares for their competitive reintroduction later this month at DreamHack Open January. Despite the tournament operating separate regional competitions for North America and Europe, the team’s second CSGO venture will compete against internationally relocated squads participating in the 2021 competitive season.
The European division features formidable competition including Evil Geniuses, BIG Clan, Gambit Esports, Team Spirit, forZe, HellRaisers, and Sprout. These teams will battle for their share of the $70,000 total prize pool, presenting both a significant challenge and opportunity for the rebuilt roster.
This tournament represents more than just competitive debut—it serves as the first real test of whether FunPlus Phoenix has successfully learned from their FLASHPOINT disaster. The strategic approach to player contracts, combined with experienced coaching leadership, suggests the organization has implemented substantial structural improvements since their initial failed entry into the competitive CSGO landscape.
Action Checklist
- Monitor official announcements for fifth player signing completion
- Watch DreamHack Open January matches to assess team chemistry
- Follow player social media for behind-the-scenes insights
- Analyze post-match statistics to evaluate individual player performance
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » FunPlus Phoenix confirms CSGO return with signing of GODSENT FunPlus Phoenix rebuilds CSGO roster with GODSENT core, learning from FLASHPOINT failure to create strategic comeback