smooya to fill in for Denial in IEM Sydney qualifier

Owen "⁠smooya⁠" Butterfield will step in for Denial in the second North American open qualifier for IEM Sydney, the former BIG player has revealed.

The 19-year-old Brit will fill the spot left vacant by Dimitri "⁠Detrony⁠" Hadjipaschali, who opted to stay with Bravado, leaving behind the team he had helped to reach the top 30 in the world ranking.

The news comes just hours after BIG confirmed that smooya had stepped down from the active roster to make way for Johannes "⁠nex⁠" Maget, who returns to activity after a period on the sidelines due to a wrist problem.

smooya will play for Denial in this weekend's qualifier

In a follow-up Twitlonger post, smooya revealed that he hopes to further his career in North America to "work on my craft and have zero distractions outside of the game."

He will become the second AWPer to stand in for the South African side after Peter "⁠ptr⁠" Gurney, who helped the team to reach the Round of 16 in the first qualifier, in which they were eliminated by TeamOne.

Denial will compete in the second qualifier, which will be held over the weekend, with:

South Africa Aran "⁠Sonic⁠" Groesbeek
South Africa Rhys "⁠Fadey⁠" Armstrong
South Africa Ruan "⁠ELUSIVE⁠" van Wyk
South Africa Johnny "⁠JT⁠" Theodosiou
United Kingdom Owen "⁠smooya⁠" Butterfield (stand-in)

South Africa Rhys 'Fadey' Armstrong
Rhys 'Fadey' Armstrong
Age:
20
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.98
Maps played:
304
KPR:
0.70
DPR:
0.74
United States Peter 'ptr' Gurney
Peter 'ptr' Gurney
Age:
28
Rating 1.0:
1.07
Maps played:
712
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.62
South Africa Aran 'Sonic' Groesbeek
Aran 'Sonic' Groesbeek
Age:
20
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.19
Maps played:
349
KPR:
0.80
DPR:
0.63
United Kingdom Owen 'smooya' Butterfield
Owen 'smooya' Butterfield
Age:
19
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
1.16
Maps played:
323
KPR:
0.79
DPR:
0.66
Germany Johannes 'nex' Maget
Johannes 'nex' Maget
Age:
26
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.10
Maps played:
929
KPR:
0.75
DPR:
0.66
South Africa Dimitri 'Detrony' Hadjipaschali
Dimitri 'Detrony' Hadjipaschali
Age:
28
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
1.07
Maps played:
363
KPR:
0.72
DPR:
0.65
South Africa Johnny 'JT' Theodosiou
Johnny 'JT' Theodosiou
Age:
19
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.03
Maps played:
298
KPR:
0.70
DPR:
0.67
South Africa Ruan 'ELUSIVE' van Wyk
Ruan 'ELUSIVE' van Wyk
Age:
25
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.97
Maps played:
366
KPR:
0.63
DPR:
0.63
From Germany to South africa :D Good luck men!
2019-02-02 01:43
0
40 replies
#4
Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
PR | 
Spain Miki2K
150 ping warrior
2019-02-02 01:43
0
34 replies
#16
 | 
Austria shaak!
LOL
2019-02-02 01:44
0
32 replies
C9 smooya C9 tarik C9 RUSH C9 autimatic C9 stanislaw C9 Rambo EZ major legendary status
2019-02-02 02:48
0
31 replies
#52
 | 
North America J_Nasty
No thank you
2019-02-02 02:51
0
1 reply
+2
2019-02-02 14:19
0
#53
Faceit level 5  | 
Trash | 
Europe chillhase
Rambo who?
2019-02-02 02:54
0
16 replies
their coach
2019-02-02 03:00
0
They made 4 movies about him. The only man I’d trust solo more is xyp
2019-02-02 03:04
0
2 replies
#183
 | 
Sweden Zaser5
Rambo would fricking kill Danish noob
2019-02-02 10:48
0
1 reply
I never doubt xyp in a 1v1
2019-02-02 17:04
0
#64
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
India spiderCAKE
New coach
2019-02-02 03:22
0
#72
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
United States postwarscars
Dude was a legend before you were born.
2019-02-02 03:46
0
#87
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
BrandoM | 
Bulgaria tentoesdown
pathetic newfag
2019-02-02 06:27
0
7 replies
#103
 | 
Lithuania arres
Even more pathetic old fag
2019-02-02 08:18
0
6 replies
#104
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
BrandoM | 
Bulgaria tentoesdown
im 25
2019-02-02 08:37
0
5 replies
well hes prolly 12 so yeah u r old to him ^^
2019-02-02 08:58
0
4 replies
#112
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
BrandoM | 
Bulgaria tentoesdown
im following the scene since the CPL days thats like more than half of my life for real FeelsOldMan :(
2019-02-02 09:28
0
3 replies
#116
Faceit level 5 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Turkey rusty james
cant do it. i call bullshit.
2019-02-02 09:53
0
1 reply
+1
2019-02-02 13:26
0
meh, age is just a number. see yourself as more experienced rather than old ! ;)
2019-02-03 17:46
0
sad
2019-02-02 09:04
0
#198
 | 
Australia tenroh
3D|Rambo legendary NA cs 1.6 player
2019-02-02 12:50
0
kio > stan and rush and smoo
2019-02-02 03:38
0
5 replies
#75
 | 
United States rednaksi
+1
2019-02-02 04:00
0
1 reply
-1Billion I represent my seprm also.
2019-02-02 08:46
0
C9 needs to be more NA
2019-02-02 08:47
0
2 replies
#212
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
India spiderCAKE
Why?
2019-02-02 15:55
0
1 reply
+1
2019-02-03 06:22
0
No please thank you
2019-02-02 10:10
0
#170
 | 
Denmark Dy_Arceus
Good lineup actually or seangares
2019-02-02 10:23
0
#199
 | 
Russia GramDEL
-stanislaw +elige then would work
2019-02-02 12:57
0
#205
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
markeloff | 
Latvia TeMMkA
Well... Playing 6v5 they would probably stand a chance to get into top 10.
2019-02-02 13:56
0
1 reply
Rambo is coach
2019-02-03 00:49
0
#215
 | 
Turkey Acein
smooya rush autimatic kio flusha
2019-02-02 16:28
0
+1
2019-02-02 04:59
0
LOL
2019-02-02 01:44
0
well better than ptr
2019-02-02 02:59
0
Denial are NA, not Africa. It's why they joined Denial, to play in NA. Where have you been?
2019-02-02 04:09
0
#194
NiKo | 
Belgium KLou
didn't he bench himself lol
2019-02-02 12:22
0
#216
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Poland wims
Everything is correct, Just apartheid connection lul :D
2019-02-02 16:37
0
bot
2019-02-02 01:43
0
1 reply
#41
bew | 
India Women
Smooya in denial
2019-02-02 02:19
0
#3
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
kNgV- | 
Japan kayenji
wut?
2019-02-02 01:43
0
brooklyn
2019-02-02 01:43
0
Wtf?
2019-02-02 01:44
0
#7
 | 
Guam b7ack0ut
OMEGALUL
2019-02-02 01:44
0
??? Lol
2019-02-02 01:44
0
expected
2019-02-02 01:44
0
#10
Faceit level 9  | 
 | 
Finland lasarus
Interesting, Should've stayed in BIG tbh
2019-02-02 01:44
0
4 replies
Come on, BIG wanted Nex back anyway, read between the lines .. Smooya was probably just a temp solution all the time.
2019-02-02 01:50
0
3 replies
They took smoya because they couldnt buy tizian and another german player from ATX at the same time(not enought money), if i remember corectly, since they could get xantares now, they dont rly need smoya now.
2019-02-02 04:55
0
2 replies
I'm not sure if money was the problem, in an interview gob b said that they had a special contract w alternate that if they buy Tizian they can't buy syrson and vice versa
2019-02-02 08:10
0
1 reply
Yup.
2019-02-02 10:11
0
#11
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
United States YANGGANG2024
smooya will recolonize south africa for england
2019-02-02 01:44
0
8 replies
#90
 | 
United States xiquo
OMEGALUL
2019-02-02 07:02
0
#96
 | 
Palestine MrZoldiK
Lol XD
2019-02-02 07:51
0
#100
 | 
Russia SkillTO1
ahahaha
2019-02-02 08:11
0
LUL xd
2019-02-02 10:10
0
#155
 | 
Poland bakusiell
HAHA
2019-02-02 10:19
0
Huahahaha
2019-02-02 11:08
0
#197
 | 
United Kingdom C4Golden
That's the plan :)
2019-02-02 12:47
0
#236
Faceit plus user Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
United Kingdom munt_
fuck, our plans have been exposed through a shitpost
2019-02-11 18:31
0
wtf lol
2019-02-02 01:44
0
cool
2019-02-02 01:44
0
#14
 | 
Finland lassereino
Nice
2019-02-02 01:44
0
sorry but what the absolute fuck sorry but what the absolute fuck sorry but what the absolute fuck
2019-02-02 01:44
0
#18
 | 
Iceland caverat
wow
2019-02-02 01:45
0
wtf lul
2019-02-02 01:45
0
Hmm
2019-02-02 01:46
0
people that talked shit about dekay on suicide watch
2019-02-02 01:46
0
Hahahah
2019-02-02 01:47
0
sorry but what the absolute fuck sorry but what the absolute fuck sorry but what the absolute fuck
2019-02-02 01:47
0
What a downgrade. Fak
2019-02-02 01:49
0
GIGALUL from BIG to a tier 5 nonamers
2019-02-02 01:51
0
3 replies
denial > big
2019-02-02 12:47
0
1 reply
Brazilians still butthurt.
2019-02-02 13:19
0
Go chow tine
2019-02-02 23:03
0
what timeline is this?
2019-02-02 01:53
0
#29
NiKo | 
Armenia cGev
Excuse me, wtf?
2019-02-02 01:54
0
started at the bottom now we here oh wait
2019-02-02 01:56
0
2 replies
#185
 | 
United Kingdom H3nryG
Didn't think it could get worser than German team tbh.
2019-02-02 10:58
0
1 reply
Meme Played top 10 in your first serious team
2019-02-02 11:13
0
#31
kei | 
North America oKei
What the fuck is happening with denial
2019-02-02 01:57
0
From big to this lul
2019-02-02 01:59
0
Britain messing around with their colonies again lul
2019-02-02 02:01
0
#34
 | 
Argentina Fa7e07
150ping FeelsBadMan
2019-02-02 02:02
0
Why would they pick up a shitkid who's gonna have to play with high ping instead of finding someone from North America?
2019-02-02 02:03
0
#36
 | 
United States Gagey
Smooya to na?
2019-02-02 02:03
0
Best UK player with best RSA team PochGamp
2019-02-02 02:07
0
unexpected
2019-02-02 02:15
0
#39
 | 
Macau Armades
Wow smooya fell pretty fast
2019-02-02 02:17
0
2 replies
#43
 | 
Russia v0x1k
talk about it men.
2019-02-02 02:20
0
He's only 19 so he can rise again. I just don't think he fit in BIG well.
2019-02-02 15:05
0
#40
 | 
Panama Cyain10
From top 15 to top 100 in a day
2019-02-02 02:19
0
#42
 | 
France 9550
they prefer to play with a guy with 150 of ping rather than ptr with ~30 xD
2019-02-02 02:19
0
1 reply
low key smooyas probably on par with ptr when he has 150 ping. Hes a good aimer
2019-02-02 03:49
0
k
2019-02-02 02:23
0
i dunno why he leaves big, unless there's more we didnt know which is fine. such weird timing too.
2019-02-02 02:36
0
1 reply
He just said in his Statement that he wants to wait out the major for good offers
2019-02-02 02:42
0
Dafuq?
2019-02-02 02:42
0
NOW THIS IS EPIC
2019-02-02 02:55
0
africa needs smoooooooya
2019-02-02 02:59
0
Does smuya speak southafrican?
2019-02-02 02:59
0
1 reply
English is south africa second language
2019-02-02 15:54
0
#60
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
freddieb | 
Sweden carvin
How is this guy still relevant? i mean now hes playing for south africa so i guess hes on his way down but still, they deserve better.
2019-02-02 03:06
0
#61
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
World kalleztaR~
LOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL
2019-02-02 03:08
0
Hope they get better results! :D Goodluck smoooooooya
2019-02-02 03:12
0
He "left" by his own, just like felps did last time Only silly people believes it
2019-02-02 03:17
0
2 replies
Like taco did .........................................
2019-02-02 03:34
0
#89
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Austria I_love_Hltv
-1 ntc > sk
2019-02-02 06:56
0
#66
 | 
Poland KasPro
VP GONNA QUALIFY
2019-02-02 03:30
0
#67
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland Smoonah
smoooooooonah
2019-02-02 03:32
0
#71
 | 
Germany BIG2020
gl smoo
2019-02-02 03:43
0
Wtff
2019-02-02 03:58
0
It's very playable to grind with 150ping. I have to crush enemy in NA faceit so ez
2019-02-02 04:12
0
Tbh i think they feel like proper 21th germans now, but they need to get one more from turkey to get the numbers right aswell i mean whats the harm with one more HOHOHOHOHHOHOHO
2019-02-02 04:26
0
1 reply
swedistan talking
2019-02-02 09:25
0
#79
 | 
Brazil Seleskva
why don't they get someone without lag?
2019-02-02 04:36
0
1 reply
Cuz hes better with 150 then local na shit?
2019-02-02 08:15
0
#80
 | 
Pakistan ostraka
I guess he could move to NA and have an ez career like the other European pros.
2019-02-02 04:45
0
What a step down for schmuja. I truly hope he can help make this SA roster rise.
2019-02-02 05:20
0
1 reply
Well. Its just for IEM Sydney qual / IEM Sydney. Dont think he will sign with them.
2019-02-02 06:47
0
expected
2019-02-02 05:40
0
#86
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Sweden EYESTA
h@h@h@ goodluck silverplay
2019-02-02 05:43
0
Smoooooooo
2019-02-02 07:08
0
Everyone hates on every move. When ur trying to get picked up you just want to play and show what u can do. It’s all he’s doing. Helping them out and still playing and staying sharp. Calm down
2019-02-02 07:09
0
#93
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Brazil cadik
smooo kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk ooya
2019-02-02 07:20
0
#94
 | 
India Tritium
Colony colionizes colonizer
2019-02-02 07:31
0
xD
2019-02-02 07:32
0
deserved hhaahaha
2019-02-02 08:04
0
#99
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Turkey dcmaster
Whyyyyy
2019-02-02 08:11
0
#108
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Armenia gr1nch
smoooooooooooooooooooooooooyaaaaaaaaaaaa
2019-02-02 09:01
0
#110
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
France StickyRice
EZ Smooyafrica
2019-02-02 09:15
0
from major legend team to tier 50 shitters OMEGALUL
2019-02-02 09:27
0
#114
 | 
Kyrgyzstan 21Almaz
From pogchamp to lul
2019-02-02 09:45
0
-smooya -tarik -flusha -kioshima -autimatic amazing team.
2019-02-02 09:45
0
#117
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Puls3 | 
World bigb1rd
Good pick up by Denial even if it's just for the fact that smooya is very known and high-profile at the moment. This'll bring a lot more attention to Denial who really aren't a very well known team. And he can be decent too at times, though with that ping who knows.
2019-02-02 09:57
0
#118
 | 
Poland GodLk
Butterfield will be bottom fragger as always.
2019-02-02 10:05
0
#133
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Poland viejra
This is bigger Toxic than Simple tho
2019-02-02 10:14
0
haha lul
2019-02-02 10:15
0
#182
 | 
France remyos
Great oppertunity for smooya, happy for him!
2019-02-02 10:31
0
Denial. that is still a thing?
2019-02-02 10:49
0
This guy is so funny haha i love him
2019-02-02 11:23
0
#190
Faceit level 9  | 
Jame | 
Turkey Pompacii31
Go to Disabled
2019-02-02 11:24
0
Smooo smorfing
2019-02-02 11:31
0
#192
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Norway Noreg
Who
2019-02-02 11:33
0
Smooya back to McDonalds m8
2019-02-02 11:59
0
1 reply
#222
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Europe Heavon
LOL
2019-02-02 20:19
0
#195
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Morocco urachicho
South Africa + UK, only needs an Australian to complete the trilogy
2019-02-02 12:42
0
2 replies
and New Zealand's player
2019-02-02 13:19
0
1 reply
#206
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Morocco urachicho
+1 cricket/rugby top teams
2019-02-02 14:00
0
All that just to keep some turkish hardcore onliner. BIG really fucked that one up big time.
2019-02-02 13:21
0
1 reply
#204
Faceit level 5 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Turkey rusty james
xantares has the same stats on lan. also he left on his own accord.
2019-02-02 13:28
0
#213
 | 
Indonesia v1ctin
What abour ptr?
2019-02-02 16:14
0
#214
 | 
Poland BAN_ANIME
SMOOOOOOOOOYA
2019-02-02 16:23
0
#217
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
REAL | 
Norway duffz00r
hahhehahehae
2019-02-02 16:38
0
#219
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Belgium tecoN
I guess those are his only options. That and NA shit teams.
2019-02-02 17:29
0
wtf :DDD tier 20
2019-02-02 17:42
0
nice
2019-02-02 18:58
0
#223
 | 
North Macedonia ydjoon
work on his "craft" hahahaha you got benched cause youre so bad.
2019-02-02 20:53
0
#226
 | 
Chile strong221
detrony > smooya
2019-02-03 01:37
0
#229
 | 
Liberia LilWayne
Hope they will sign him
2019-02-03 14:29
0
xaxaxaxaxaxa
2019-02-03 20:07
0
wow cool move
2019-02-03 23:15
0
#234
 | 
Brazil nektroys
but didn't he want to be the main AWPer?
2019-02-04 12:10
0
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