TL;DR
- Swole Patrol officially transfers to Lazarus Esports, marking the organization’s return to men’s CS:GO
- The rebuilt roster features experienced players including former Cloud9 trialist Zellsis
- Lazarus has complex history in CS:GO with multiple roster changes since 2015
- Team faces immediate test in ESL Pro League against top North American squads
- Organization’s multi-game strategy includes Fortnite and PUBG alongside CS:GO
A prominent North American Counter-Strike: Global Offensive organization has secured new backing after operating independently.
The complete Swole Patrol lineup now competes under Lazarus Esports branding, representing the Canadian organization’s comeback to men’s professional CS:GO competition following a multi-year absence.
Established originally in 2011, Swole Patrol underwent numerous transformations before solidifying as a dedicated competitive unit in 2018. During this period, the team participated in significant tournaments including World Electronic Sports Games, Fragadelphia 12, and multiple major tournament qualification stages. While achieving respectable results throughout the competitive season, the organization consistently faced roster instability as talent was regularly recruited by established teams, with eUnited being particularly active in acquiring their players.
Common Roster Management Mistake: Many emerging teams underestimate contract security, leading to frequent player poaching. Establishing solid agreements early prevents disruptive mid-season departures.
Following the conclusion of the 2019 Katowice Major tournament, Braxton “swag” Pierce spearheaded Swole Patrol’s reconstruction with fresh talent. The most significant addition proved to be Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro, who joined after completing an evaluation period with Cloud9’s organization. The reformed squad also incorporated former Ghost Gaming competitor Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik, eUnited’s primary entry fragger Michael “dapr” Gulino, and versatile veteran Gage “Infinite” Green.
Team Building Strategy: Successful roster construction requires balancing experienced veterans with emerging talent, similar to effective Class Guide principles in squad composition.
This newest version of Swole Patrol had limited competitive exposure as a complete unit, with their sole documented performance occurring during DreamHack Masters Dallas 2019 open qualifiers where they fell to Luminosity Gaming. Despite minimal match history, the assembled roster demonstrated sufficient promise to attract Lazarus Esports’ attention and investment.
Scouting Insight: Organizations often identify potential through individual player performances rather than team results, particularly during rebuilding phases.
Previously operating as SetToDestroyX, the company first entered CS:GO’s competitive landscape in 2015 but quickly released their initial roster when CEVO issued competitive bans against two members. They secured another competitive lineup several months later and have subsequently cycled in and out of Counter-Strike multiple times, completely exiting the title in December 2017. The following year, SetToDestroyX rebranded as Lazarus Esports and initiated talent acquisition in Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Their CS:GO reentry began with signing Russian women’s squad Donut Galaxy before acquiring Swole Patrol.
Organization Strategy: Successful esports organizations often diversify across multiple titles while maintaining core competitive values, much like mastering different Weapons Unlock systems requires understanding multiple gameplay elements.
The competitive potential of this new lineup remains unproven. Although Zellsis was subsequently released from the team, his demonstrated capability during the Cloud9 trial period established him as elite talent who could potentially elevate the squad to contender status within North America’s regional competitive scene.
The team currently prepares for intensive training camp sessions ahead of ESL Pro League Season 9 Americas division competition. Their inaugural appearance places them in a challenging group stage facing established organizations including CompLexity Gaming, Team Liquid, and Ghost Gaming.
Tournament Preparation: Effective boot camps typically require 2-3 weeks of focused training, similar to the comprehensive approach outlined in our Complete Guide to competitive readiness.
Action Checklist
- Monitor Lazarus Esports performance in ESL Pro League Group Stage
- Track individual player statistics, particularly Zellsis’s impact
- Analyze team coordination improvements post-boot camp
- Compare performance against pre-organization acquisition results
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » New Swole Patrol roster finds a sponsor in Lazarus Esports Swole Patrol's organizational transition to Lazarus Esports and competitive prospects analyzed