Interview stirs drama between ENCE and former captain Aleksib

The esports community witnessed a dramatic shift in ENCE’s public image following the StarLadder Berlin Major. While analysts praised the team’s professional handling of internal turmoil during the tournament, the aftermath revealed deepening fractures within the organization.

Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, now officially removed from the active roster, directed his frustration toward former teammates through social media. His criticism specifically targeted comments made by Jani “Aerial” Jussila during an HLTV interview at BLAST Pro Series Moscow.

“Wtf did I just read?” Aleksib tweeted, sparking immediate speculation within the Counter-Strike community.

Initially ambiguous, the tweet’s meaning became clear as professional players joined the conversation. Joshua “steel” Nissan responded with sarcasm: “Apparently you needed to use a grenade launcher, guys out here looking for that firepower y’know?”

This exchange directly referenced Aerial’s assertion that new addition Miikka “suNny” Kemppi provided superior firepower compared to Aleksib’s contributions.

Support for the former in-game leader came from notable figures including Jake “Stewie2K” Yip and Owen “smooya” Butterfield, who publicly backed Aleksib’s position in the unfolding drama.

Why isn’t Aleksib playing with ENCE anymore?

ENCE’s decision to bench Aleksib was announced just before the StarLadder Berlin Major, creating shockwaves throughout the CS:GO scene. The timing seemed particularly questionable for a team that had consistently ranked among global elite squads in preceding months.

Despite knowing his tenure with ENCE was ending, Aleksib delivered exceptional performance during the Major. The team achieved a flawless 3-0 run through the Legends Stage, securing top-eight placement and favorable positioning for the next major tournament.

Their dominant performance suggested potential championship contention, but quarterfinal elimination by Renegades ended their campaign prematurely.

Aerial later explained multiple factors behind the roster change, emphasizing the team’s perception that they had maximized their potential with the existing lineup. While ENCE had established themselves as top-five competitors, the players believed the number one global position remained unattainable without structural changes.

Leadership responsibilities transferred to Aleksi “allu” Jalli, while suNny’s recruitment aimed to enhance offensive capabilities that management felt Aleksib couldn’t provide.

The revamped ENCE lineup made its competitive debut at BLAST Pro Series Moscow with disappointing results. The team finished fifth among six participants in group stages, failing to qualify for both main event finals and the BLAST Pro Standoff secondary competition.

This underwhelming performance raised immediate questions about whether the roster change actually improved team dynamics or competitive output.

Aleksib’s evident frustration extends beyond his benching to include perceived disrespect from former colleagues regarding his gameplay abilities. The long-term success of ENCE’s decision remains uncertain and will require ongoing evaluation through future tournament performances.

Common Roster Change Mistake: Many teams overestimate individual firepower gains while underestimating the value of established team chemistry and strategic coordination.

Advanced Team Management Insight: Successful organizations balance short-term performance improvements with long-term roster development, avoiding drastic changes during peak tournament seasons.

The ENCE-Aleksib situation offers valuable insights into professional esports management practices that teams can apply to their own roster decisions.

Timing Evaluation Framework: Assess whether roster changes should occur during offseason periods rather than immediately before major tournaments to minimize disruption.

Communication Protocol: Establish clear internal communication channels before public announcements to prevent social media controversies and maintain professional relationships.

Performance Metric Analysis: Beyond raw statistics, evaluate players’ strategic value, team role fulfillment, and leadership contributions when considering roster adjustments.

For teams navigating similar decisions, our Complete Guide to team building provides comprehensive frameworks for evaluation.

Understanding weapon dynamics through our Weapons Unlock guide can help understand how individual player strengths contribute to overall team performance, similar to how Class Guide principles apply to player role specialization in competitive teams.

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