TSM finalize roster with poizon and KWERTZZ

The international team is once again complete after the benching of MoDo on Thursday.

poizon is TSM's new AWPer

TSM have announced that they have completed the double signing of Valentin "⁠poizon⁠" Vasilev and Simon "⁠KWERTZZ⁠" Horák. The Bulgarian AWPer will fill the void created by the recent benching of Mădălin-Andrei "⁠MoDo⁠" Mirea, while the Czech rifler has been recruited on a permanent basis after a stand-in spell.

poizon’s signing will be viewed by many as a big gamble by TSM. Once one of Europe’s most promising AWPers, the Bulgarian’s production has fallen off in recent years. He spent over a year away from action after a forgetful three-month spell with fnatic, during which he averaged a 0.99 rating.

The former Windigo player returned to activity in January with Bravado in time for the Copenhagen Major qualifiers. The South African team could not make it to the Asia RMR after finishing 5th-6th in the Middle East closed qualifier.

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TSM bench MoDo

KWERTZZ was offered a permanent position on the team after acquitting himself well as a stand-in, averaging a 1.02 rating while replacing Audric "⁠JACKZ⁠" Jug.

TSM will be hoping to finally find some stability after making a series of changes since re-entering Counter-Strike, six months ago. Valdemar "⁠valde⁠" Bjørn Vangså is the only one who remains from the original lineup, with three players currently on the bench and a new coach, Allan "⁠Rejin⁠" Petersen, at the helm of the squad.

"Right now we are in a transition period, where we try to find the right dynamic on the team and the balance needed going forward,” Rejin told HLTV, adding that the organization will keep an eye out for talent that might become available after the Major.

Quizzed on poizon’s signing, the Danish coach explained that some AWPers on his shortlist did not want to commit until after the Major. "We then tried out poizon and it worked out really well," he said. "He is helping a lot with communications, and as well on the fragging department."

TSM are slated to compete in ESL Challenger League Season 47 Europe, which will kick off on February 26. They have been placed in Group D, alongside 9 Pandas, KOI, 9INE, Sangal and EYEBALLERS.

With these moves, TSM are now:

Valdemar "⁠valde⁠" Bjørn Vangså
Rasmus "⁠Zyphon⁠" Nordfoss
Joel "⁠joel⁠" Holmlund (trial)
Simon "⁠KWERTZZ⁠" Horák
Valentin "⁠poizon⁠" Vasilev

Allan "⁠Rejin⁠" Petersen (coach)

Audric "⁠JACKZ⁠" Jug (benched)
Timofey "⁠interz⁠" Yakushin (benched)
Mădălin-Andrei "⁠MoDo⁠" Mirea (benched)