HUNDEN was deeply involved in recruiting for Astralis while at Heroic - Report

Richard Lewis' latest release of "The HUNDEN Files" reveals that the 31-year-old coach was actively helping to build a new roster for Astralis while still under contract with HEROIC.

Veteran journalist Richard Lewis has published the third edition of "The HUNDEN Files," an ongoing series of articles that brings to light "101 pages of private communications" between Nicolai "⁠HUNDEN⁠" Petersen and Astralis while the Dane was still employed at HEROIC.

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Richard Lewis reveals HUNDEN signed contract with Astralis while at Heroic

The latest release has exposed more messages between HUNDEN and Astralis' Director of Sports, Kasper Hvidt, this time revealing the deep extent to which the 31-year-old was involved in helping Astralis build and recruit for their new roster while he was still under contract with HEROIC.

The first release of the files detailed that HUNDEN signed a contract with Astralis as early as April 2, 2021, during which time he was still contracted with HEROIC until May 2022. This edition reveals communication between HUNDEN and Hvidt after that contract was signed, messages in which HUNDEN continually talks as if he is already a part of Astralis, often using "we" to describe decisions that the organization should make.

HUNDEN provides Hvidt with player phone numbers and contract details in these exchanges, with Lewis also adding that "[HUNDEN] at one point refers to being on sick leave from his duties at Heroic while simultaneously engaging in tasks on behalf of Hvidt and Astralis."

One such exchange was the sharing of Frederik "⁠acoR⁠" Gyldstrand's phone number on April 15, with the Dane being Astralis' prime candidate to fill the AWP role. Later in the conversation, HUNDEN revealed to Hvidt that MOUZ had paid 2 million Danish Krone (~$290,000 USD) for the player and that he was not happy with the team. HUNDEN also asked Hvidt to inquire about the price of Asger "⁠Farlig⁠" Jensen, with the two agreeing that the AWP role was the biggest issue to tackle.

Hvidt also sought HUNDEN's opinion on whether Benjamin "⁠blameF⁠" Bremer — who at the time was still with Complexity — could operate as an entry fragger for the team instead of as an in-game leader, with the 31-year-old then providing a prospective lineup that included Patrick "⁠es3tag⁠" Hansen.

On April 16 in response to the prospect of adding Philip "⁠Lucky⁠" Ewald, Hvidt asks HUNDEN to speak to Tricked, with HUNDEN asking if he can find out how much they want for him. Hvidt then states "without saying it is us." acoR is ruled out as a pickup by Hvidt mere days later, and he asks HUNDEN how he rates Lucky compared to other targets.

Hvidt then asks HUNDEN on April 22 to talk to es3tag, explaining that both he and Kristian "⁠k0nfig⁠" Wienecke were nervous about committing to joining Astralis. HUNDEN, who explains that he has been doing media training and content creation duties for Heroic all day, replies that he is concerned that es3tag might speak to Casper "⁠cadiaN⁠" Møller or Martin "⁠stavn⁠" Lund about their discussions.

Over a month later, the two Danes talk about adding blameF. Hvidt asks HUNDEN if he has spoken to the 25-year-old, to which the former HEROIC coach says it was a really good talk. Hvidt then asks if HUNDEN has a gut feeling about the "economy" and if blameF would sacrifice anything for Astralis, and then, when HUNDEN says that blameF wants to join, Hvidt says he will have a contract drafted.

Hvidt later asks if stavn will come to Astralis with HUNDEN from HEROIC, with HUNDEN stating that he believes stavn will not re-sign with HEROIC when his contract expires and that he would like to be part of a stable roster and coaching setup.

The two again exchange correspondence on June 20, with HUNDEN mentioning a meeting he had with Lukas "⁠gla1ve⁠" Rossander, and Hvidt revealing — confidentially — that Astralis had signed Lucky.

A week later, Hvidt asks HUNDEN if the HEROIC players "know" — Lewis says it is unclear exactly what this means, but that it is presumably regarding the work HUNDEN has been undertaking for Astralis — and HUNDEN replies that HEROIC knows that he is on sick leave, but that he has asked them not to say anything regarding Astralis.

On July 2, HUNDEN tells Hvidt that he returned from sick leave to prepare for IEM Cologne, but that he was blocked by HEROIC management from talking to players. Lewis notes that, if the suspension of duty took place on this date as it seems, then there are further questions raised about the motivations of HUNDEN sharing access to the documents with Astralis as it would have happened well in advance of IEM Cologne.

Discussion regarding recruitment continued to unfold in the following two weeks, with HUNDEN explaining to Hvidt that blameF was hesitant to join due to Lucky and Lucas "⁠Bubzkji⁠" Andersen being included on the roster, but that he was happy with gla1ve, k0nfig, and HUNDEN being a part of it.

The article as a whole shows evidence of HUNDEN repeatedly being engaged in recruitment efforts for Astralis while still a part of HEROIC, and Hvidt's clear involvement and knowledge of HUNDEN's involvement with both parties.