Ax1Le to miss IEM Cologne group stage

Cloud9's much-awaited debut will be missing their star rifler on the team.

Ax1le will miss out due to visa issues

Cloud9 have announced that Sergey "⁠Ax1Le⁠" Rykhtorov will miss out on the IEM Cologne group stage due to technical issues at the visa processing center. The organization expects his return for the playoff phase if his team are to qualify.

Timur "⁠buster⁠" Tulepov will step in for the 21-year-old in the initial phase of the tournament, where Cloud9 begin their road on Saturday against one of the teams advancing from the Play-In. They have been put in Group A alongside HEROIC, ENCE, and GamerLegion.

Date Matches
IEM Cologne 2023
29/07/2023
12:30
Match

Cloud9's offseason roster moves have made quite a stir in the community, with many touting it as the best decision of the transfer period. The North American organization added Denis "⁠electroNic⁠" Sharipov and Ilya "⁠Perfecto⁠" Zalutskiy from Natus Vincere, replacing Vladislav "⁠nafany⁠" Gorshkov and buster on the Russian-majority roster.

Fans will have to wait for the debut of the stacked and much-anticipated roster, though, as buster temporarily rejoins the team for the German tournament.

Cloud9 will play the IEM Cologne group stage with the following roster:

Russia Dmitry "⁠sh1ro⁠" Sokolov
Kazakhstan Abay "⁠HObbit⁠" Khassenov
Russia Denis "⁠electroNic⁠" Sharipov
Russia Ilya "⁠Perfecto⁠" Zalutskiy
Kazakhstan Timur "⁠buster⁠" Tulepov (substitute)

Russia Konstantin "⁠groove⁠" Pikiner (coach)

Kazakhstan Timur 'buster' Tulepov
Timur 'buster' Tulepov
Age:
23
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.03
Maps played:
1354
KPR:
0.67
DPR:
0.62
Russia Sergey 'Ax1Le' Rykhtorov
Sergey 'Ax1Le' Rykhtorov
Age:
21
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.10
Maps played:
1100
KPR:
0.73
DPR:
0.63
Kazakhstan Abay 'HObbit' Khassenov
Abay 'HObbit' Khassenov
Age:
29
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.06
Maps played:
1326
KPR:
0.72
DPR:
0.65
Russia Ilya 'Perfecto' Zalutskiy
Ilya 'Perfecto' Zalutskiy
Age:
23
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.98
Maps played:
832
KPR:
0.62
DPR:
0.60
Russia Denis 'electroNic' Sharipov
Denis 'electroNic' Sharipov
Age:
24
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.09
Maps played:
1428
KPR:
0.74
DPR:
0.66
Russia Dmitry 'sh1ro' Sokolov
Dmitry 'sh1ro' Sokolov
Age:
22
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.23
Maps played:
1027
KPR:
0.77
DPR:
0.53
Russia Vladislav 'nafany' Gorshkov
Vladislav 'nafany' Gorshkov
Age:
22
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.95
Maps played:
1028
KPR:
0.65
DPR:
0.70
BROOO
2023-07-27 21:31
0
4 replies
Nah he plays on Monte
2023-07-27 21:32
0
1 reply
#138
 | 
Switzerland Maerwan
Nice one
2023-07-27 23:10
0
unlucky.
2023-07-27 21:35
0
1 reply
sad times
2023-07-27 21:57
0
#2
 | 
World kryto203
wtf is thisss
2023-07-27 21:31
0
:( no
2023-07-27 21:31
0
lol
2023-07-27 21:32
0
#5
 | 
Russia Kirillqa89
Soooooqa
2023-07-27 21:32
0
c9 finished.
2023-07-27 21:32
0
2 replies
#20
Cooper | 
Europe kuu1
The era ended?
2023-07-27 21:35
0
1 reply
yes, let's have a minute of silence edit: thats probably about as long as the c9 era was on anyway.
2023-07-27 21:36
0
that's good
2023-07-27 21:32
0
so much for a proper debut. Now its uncertain if they'll even make it to the playoffs. And for a proper debut unless they somehow make it without Ax1Le, we have to wait for an entire month due to EPL season 18 starting at August 30.
2023-07-27 21:33
0
3 replies
Not really Gamers8 starts just 10 days after Cologne ends.
2023-07-27 21:33
0
2 replies
ffs, I actually forgot about Gamers8
2023-07-27 21:39
0
#141
 | 
Finland Lindeni
So proper debut in EPL
2023-07-27 23:12
0
Wtf how can buster get his visa sorted in one day compared to Ax1le in 2 weeks. Is it really only because he is russian? Would not rest of the team have some problem? I don’t get this visa bullshit all over again and again.
2023-07-27 21:34
0
5 replies
#28
 | 
Germany etRY
buster probably had a visa already
2023-07-27 21:38
0
1 reply
+1 prob the normal subsitute in case someone cant play(sick injury etc)
2023-07-28 07:39
0
"technical issues at the visa processing center" is truly the technical issues at the visa processing center here probably because as u said no one except him had any problems
2023-07-27 21:55
0
Well buster isnt from russia
2023-07-28 02:18
0
1 reply
Read my comment properly next time. I literally said “ Is it really only because he (Ax1le) is russian?” Pointing out that buster isn’t from Russia.
2023-07-28 12:11
0
anlaki, no W
2023-07-27 21:33
0
c9 fans clinging onto our sanity atm. I'm sure they can still make it to play offs but this rly kills the hype for me :(
2023-07-27 21:33
0
2 replies
I was so hyped for Saturday but now it’s just meh
2023-07-27 21:38
0
1 reply
#50
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Yugoslavia mrmojo
Same
2023-07-27 21:55
0
#14
 | 
United States Apocasy
Sad day
2023-07-27 21:33
0
#16
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Europe random_forest
It is extremely unprofessional on the part of C9 to have visa issues at such a big org. They should have thought about it long time ago
2023-07-27 21:34
0
8 replies
#26
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Yugoslavia mrmojo
due to technical issues at the visa processing center. This doesn’t sound like it’s their fault.
2023-07-27 21:37
0
3 replies
#53
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Europe random_forest
If they had done everything in advance, they would have had the time to resubmit if that was a visa center issue
2023-07-27 21:57
0
2 replies
#79
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Yugoslavia mrmojo
I agree but in these kind of cases it’s absurd to me they can’t speed up the process in this day and age. Tomorrow is a working day, I don’t understand this shit. Everyone losses, c9 fans and the whole tournament. Imagine if it was some star football player (or maybe if he wasn’t Russian) they would solve this instantly.
2023-07-27 22:11
0
1 reply
They see country of issue and put it further down the pile. If it were any other passport it probobly would have been sorted within a day or two.
2023-07-27 23:11
0
#36
 | 
Netherlands xrnavkha
germany is notoriously slow with visas because the immigration office is ridiculously understaffed
2023-07-27 21:45
0
3 replies
i think it's a different process and office? immigration and visa is not the same thing. for visa you apply at the local german embassy?
2023-07-27 21:49
0
2 replies
#56
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Europe random_forest
True
2023-07-27 21:57
0
It's not just the immigration office, nearly any important workspot lacks good employees, the bureaucracy in germany is just slow AF in general on any matter. *flag checks out*
2023-07-28 13:40
0
#17
 | 
China Jimmyzera
f hype
2023-07-27 21:34
0
better 4 players play instead of buster buster gives morale to the opponent
2023-07-27 21:35
0
Left it to last minute to file visa application? clown9 doing clown9 things.
2023-07-27 21:35
0
1 reply
I swear since covid era it feels that way, but we had this also with other teams in the past so every org is lazy!? I don't get the concept behind this.
2023-07-28 13:45
0
#21
 | 
Europe eazenX
Buster will step in 💀💀💀💀💀
2023-07-27 21:35
0
the birth of this super team is delayed damm still will be interesting to see but it´s a shame we don´t see this goliath of a team for a while longer...
2023-07-27 21:36
0
2 replies
while longer? ax1le to miss iem cologne GROUP STAGE so def will see him in 4th of august(if c9 will qual)
2023-07-28 01:40
0
1 reply
that is if C9 qualifies. While the rest of the squad is great, I doubt they´ll have the level to qualify. Not only will they most likely have little (or a much smaller) practice but also just player-for-player buster is a colossal downgrade over Ax1le. They could always make it but I think the odds would be low in such a stacked group stage.
2023-07-28 10:45
0
#24
 | 
Israel b0ttt
WTF EVEN IS THAT ????????? top2 rifler in the world missing on of the biggest events in the year + top 1 long awaited debut ...... Nice job Cloud9
2023-07-27 21:36
0
9 replies
#27
Cooper | 
Europe kuu1
He may not be top 2 in his team, stop overhyping him.
2023-07-27 21:37
0
5 replies
who is better?
2023-07-27 21:56
0
2 replies
#60
Cooper | 
Europe kuu1
electronic, hobbit 1 major > axile 0
2023-07-27 22:00
0
1 reply
2023-07-27 22:01
0
#88
 | 
Israel b0ttt
name one better, higher placed + skilled player than him on c9 other than MAYBE sh1ro (they're both kinda at the same level anyway)
2023-07-27 22:16
0
1 reply
#91
Cooper | 
Europe kuu1
2023-07-27 22:21
0
Ax1Le top? xD 😂
2023-07-27 21:43
0
2 replies
literally the best rifler of 2022 and 4th best in the world second best in 2021 mår du bra?
2023-07-27 22:00
0
#207
 | 
Russia czern0bog
whos better except niko?
2023-07-28 06:18
0
Clown9
2023-07-27 21:37
0
RIP the hype :(
2023-07-27 21:39
0
Just keep buster
2023-07-27 21:42
0
#37
Faceit level 7  | 
 | 
United States cr4zy_m3
Rip cloud9 no playoff stage 💀
2023-07-27 21:45
0
Rip debut
2023-07-27 21:47
0
#46
Faceit plus user Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Poland Astoner55
Unluko maluko((
2023-07-27 21:54
0
#47
 | 
Pakistan yuhflowyuh
rip but still insanely good
2023-07-27 21:55
0
unlucky bro whatt
2023-07-27 21:59
0
#59
 | 
Sweden Vrede
C9 75% beast now :( with Ax1Le 100%
2023-07-27 22:00
0
#64
 | 
Hungary BiT_92
They should pick nafany and play electronic as star rifle
2023-07-27 22:02
0
7 replies
#71
 | 
Albania mensik
nafany drinking to death get over with him
2023-07-27 22:07
0
electronic wanted to be igl..just stop
2023-07-27 22:21
0
4 replies
nah, according to leaks he is just friends with hobbit. and seeing him in his Kazakhstan club kinda proves it, sadly. why kick nafany, elec would've been better as a second caller like he always was in navi, he'd have better stats and the team would've been even better, no reason to cut nafany
2023-07-28 00:05
0
3 replies
nafany was garbage and had to be kicked
2023-07-28 00:07
0
2 replies
nafany was the core of c9/gambit's roster that lead them here. not his fault he had 2 washed kazakhs and Ax1le missing every second game, not much you can do here. that's some maui level of thinking interz kick was undeserved from c9's management, but even more dumb was replacing him with another washed kazakh (thanks Hobbit, I guess)
2023-07-28 00:12
0
1 reply
nafany couldnt keep up with the meta,he was the one which fumbled when lan started after online era . he reached his peak and he is done
2023-07-28 00:40
0
Nafany currently on duolingo learning Chinese
2023-07-27 22:24
0
Thank you, Germany!
2023-07-27 22:05
0
6 replies
#94
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Yugoslavia mrmojo
How can u be such a c*nt that news about a top5 player in the world missing makes you happy?
2023-07-27 22:23
0
5 replies
He's paying taxes to russian government, so he's sponsoring the war.
2023-07-27 22:56
0
4 replies
#135
 | 
Denmark ReSalty
so is 90% of the world buying russian oil
2023-07-27 23:08
0
3 replies
Ax1le is free to go to China, India or DPRK, why he want to go to Germany?
2023-07-27 23:15
0
2 replies
thats why putin eat ur ass, ez title for c9
2023-07-28 00:40
0
1 reply
But not ez to get viza
2023-07-28 08:18
0
#68
 | 
United Kingdom Jonty04l32
Huge news indeed... Hopefully C9 should still be able to dominant.
2023-07-27 22:06
0
2 replies
Rare writing error from Jonty.
2023-07-27 23:54
0
forgot “edit: general grammatical corrections” Thanks for your understanding, friend Regards
2023-07-28 00:11
0
unlucky
2023-07-27 22:08
0
#77
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Russia AR4ER
Ax1Le....Ax1Le.... :/
2023-07-27 22:09
0
#78
 | 
Romania wadd
are u serious... unlucko
2023-07-27 22:11
0
kewk
2023-07-27 22:11
0
Lmao now I’m much less excited about C9’s debut
2023-07-27 22:23
0
#99
 | 
Russia mshkoda
ez for visa
2023-07-27 22:29
0
cant have shit in cologne
2023-07-27 22:32
0
about damn time c9 also gets the visa issues that every other cis-based team has..
2023-07-27 22:33
0
1 reply
haha
2023-07-28 00:49
0
#107
 | 
Japan Nekketsu
expected
2023-07-27 22:35
0
#110
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
jackasmo | 
Russia *Tpo-_-JI.b*
thats not good
2023-07-27 22:38
0
Dude I was actually pretty excited to see this lineup :/
2023-07-27 22:38
0
#118
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Poland zhajaa
big W
2023-07-27 22:54
0
if they go out in group stage i know who to blame for this travesty.
2023-07-27 22:57
0
#125
Faceit level 6  | 
donk | 
United States larrypotato
wtffffff
2023-07-27 23:01
0
unlucky!
2023-07-27 23:02
0
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
2023-07-27 23:05
0
eliminated
2023-07-27 23:06
0
Bro i was so hyped and this shit happened...
2023-07-27 23:06
0
#133
 | 
Denmark ReSalty
they wanted to nerf c9 what a shame
2023-07-27 23:06
0
#139
 | 
Ukraine dmytrrooo
AHAHAHHAHAHAH
2023-07-27 23:11
0
1 reply
#280
 | 
Russia stupid2k
Honestly, they are doing quite well even without their star player.
2023-08-01 04:31
0
#149
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
World sekoidd
fucking buster XD
2023-07-27 23:37
0
NOOO the best rifler from california NOOO
2023-07-27 23:51
0
the germoids are at it again...they will never change, they will never learn i hope someone does something about it someday.
2023-07-27 23:51
0
5 replies
What do you think it should be done?
2023-07-27 23:55
0
4 replies
stop...replying....to me.
2023-07-28 00:09
0
3 replies
Why? You seem to be easily triggered and tend to overreact leading to funny interactions.
2023-07-28 00:12
0
2 replies
Because i dont even know who you are, but im seeing that these last few hours i make comments and your nickname keeps appearing in my notifications, i dont like having npc's in my spoiler, let go. I never follow you, stop following me.
2023-07-28 00:14
0
1 reply
#281
 | 
Russia stupid2k
I'll be following you from now on.
2023-08-01 04:32
0
put axile's jacket instead of the buster,the opponent will be more nervous because buster interz nafany give overconfidence to the opponent
2023-07-28 00:07
0
Gotta wait like another month for actual event from c9
2023-07-28 00:13
0
2 replies
2023-07-28 01:58
0
1 reply
2023-07-28 07:48
0
no problem he will destroy on the playoffs and lead us to the trophy , ez
2023-07-28 00:34
0
imagine if buster carries group stage then gets replaced with ax1le for play offs that would be hilarious
2023-07-28 00:49
0
Maybe nafany instead of buster? nafany igl, elec rifler
2023-07-28 02:05
0
1 reply
+1
2023-07-28 06:21
0
#189
 | 
Malaysia Rich1eG0h
buster is terrible. Not half of Ax1Le level.
2023-07-28 02:22
0
#194
Faceit level 6  | 
NiKo | 
Canada swagcrazy
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
2023-07-28 04:29
0
#211
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Turkmenistan Homo_Deus
West wants Russian men not to go war against Ukraine... Then just give them visa to flee the war.
2023-07-28 06:44
0
buster about to drop 10 bomb in 2 maps
2023-07-28 07:32
0
Huge L
2023-07-28 08:38
0
good
2023-07-28 09:11
0
boooooooooo brought the hype from a 100 down to a negative fucking infinity. Great job C9!!
2023-07-28 09:20
0
good good, ban the visa for all ruski
2023-07-28 10:00
0
2 replies
Cry poorlish
2023-07-28 10:25
0
1 reply
+1
2023-07-29 01:27
0
disaster
2023-07-28 10:38
0
buster > axile anyway
2023-07-28 10:46
0
why is buster not cheap on fantasy game
2023-07-28 11:40
0
Mind boggling how teams fuck that up still
2023-07-28 17:57
0
2 replies
#282
 | 
Russia stupid2k
I was applying for a German visa recently, it's fucked up. Because of Russian invasion of Ukraine visa processing time is now increased from 14 to 45 days for Russians. And they didn't even do it in 45 days. EU visas these days are a real pain.
2023-08-01 04:34
0
1 reply
I believe that. But a professional (e)sports team that is traveling regularly should know that by now. Especially since that war isn't going on for weeks only.. Btw, waited almost 2 months for my usa transit (only had to switch plane and didn't even leave the duty free area lol) visa a while back.
2023-08-01 11:38
0
#264
 | 
Brazil boobee
damn
2023-07-28 18:25
0
the birth of this super team is delayed still will be interesting to see but it´s a shame we don´t see this goliath of a team for a while longer...
2023-07-29 20:02
0
1 reply
we just might
2023-08-02 02:53
0
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