seized benched by 9 Pandas

3-6-2024 11:41

The storied 29-year-old is set to take a break before exploring his options.

seized led 9 Pandas through a shock Major qualification run, only to be unable to play in Copenhagen

Denis "⁠seized⁠" Kostin has announced that he has been benched by 9 Pandas, ending a near two-year stint on the starting lineup.

In an emotional statement, which was posted on X, seized said "it's very hard to pick some words and make some conclusions now," calling his time with 9 Pandas a "rollercoaster."

He went on to speak positively about the players and staff at the organization, saying he would "continue to follow the successes of the team, worry about them and miss every member of the squad and organization."

"Honestly, I feel as devastated as possible, tired both physically and mentally," he added .That's why I'm taking a break for a couple of months, to rest, come to my senses, be alone with myself, understand what I want to do next.

"Of course, I'm considering all the offers I may get for different roles: player, coach, media and so on. But inside, I feel that I can still have a huge impact on a team as a player, as an IGL."

seized's benching means 9 Pandas will need to revamp the leadership of their squad entirely, as they also just lost coach Andrey "⁠Xoma⁠" Mironenko to Virtus.pro.

Xoma named new Virtus.pro coach

Joining the organization mid-way through 2022, seized spent nearly two years as the IGL on 9 Pandas. The team achieved fairly modest results, their best finishes coming in regional competitions, until mid-way through 2023.

9 Pandas surprised at PARI Dunav Party in August by finishing in the top four, before shocking even further with a trophy-winning campaign at PARI Please in November, where they beat out the likes of Eternal Fire and FURIA on their way to the title.

Building upon that success, the Russian squad posted some good results online, such as a top four in CCT Online Finals 5, before successfully making their way through the PGL Major Copenhagen qualification circuit.

30-year-old glowiing shines to secure 9 Pandas Major berth

During that qualification run, they memorably ended the hopes of Astralis during the Europe Last Chance Qualifier before sealing their Major berth in dramatic fashion with a last-gasp win over GamerLegion. This success earned seized his first Major berth in six years.

Unfortunately for 9 Pandas, disaster struck, and travel issues resulted in the team having to give up their chance to play at the Major, leading to seized saying on X that he had "never felt that empty in my life."

Official: GamerLegion replace 9 Pandas at Copenhagen Major

Despite the crushing disappointment of missing the Major, 9 Pandas managed to recover their form quickly after a couple of flops in online qualifiers, and won CCT Season 2 Europe Series 3 mere weeks ago.

9 Pandas are now:

Timur "⁠clax⁠" Sabirov
Daniil "⁠d1Ledez⁠" Kustov
Aleksandr "⁠glowiing⁠" Matsievich
Artem "⁠iDISBALANCE⁠" Egorov

Denis "⁠seized⁠" Kostin (benched)

wow

2024-06-03 11:42

Hero. What a comeback to scene

2024-06-03 11:45

unlucky fam

Undeserved he was a decent enough tier 2 IGL.

2 replies

i think he's a very good tier 2 igl and they are making a mistake

2024-06-03 11:52

+1 shalfey wont change anything shalfey more selfish playstyle , and average igl at best.. seized better caller , but worst fragger but individual playstyle is more to help the team

2024-06-04 01:22

unfortunate aftermath of the major visa issues

So the guy made 4 bots look like they are actual tier2 team and now you bench him ? Interestink

2024-06-03 11:50

time to igl in Liquid

Rest of the players to C9 and 9 pandas disband after

2024-06-03 12:01

5 replies

Already confirmed they’re getting Shalfey

2024-06-03 12:57

4 replies

but as an IGL, not a regular fragger ._.

2024-06-03 14:10

3 replies

I’m open to the idea, I like Seized but how many more years would he realistically have? Can’t rely on these old IGLs forever. It’s very rare to see a younger player like Shalfey want that role. This will be his best team as an IGL so we can really see what he’s capable of. IGL’s are hard to get so if you have someone who wants the role I say give it a try

2024-06-03 15:16

I guess but m8, he's actually talented as a regular fragger. He's just going to waste it by insisting on IGLing. Do we really need to have another YEKINDAR or electroNic situation?

2024-06-03 15:20

1 reply