Sources: Talon looking to return to CS with team captained by AZR

The Hong Kong-based organization has set its sights on an Oceanic roster.

TALON have expressed an interest in returning to Counter-Strike with an Oceanic lineup led by former Renegades and 100 Thieves member Aaron "⁠AZR⁠" Ward, multiple sources have told HLTV.

Mainly known for their League of Legends, Dota 2 and Valorant teams, TALON have been away from the Counter-Strike scene since 2018. Their last squad, made up entirely of Taiwanese players, attended the eXTREMESLAND 2017 Asia Finals in Shanghai, placing 13th-15th.

For this potential return to the game, TALON are pinning their hopes on a veteran captain. AZR has been out of action since April 2023, when he was released by Sprout after less than two months on the team.

The 31-year-old will be hoping to reignite a career that has seen him compete at six Majors, the last of which was the StarLadder Berlin Major in 2019, where he led Renegades to the semi-finals.

AZR has been without a team since his short-lived Sprout spell

According to sources, Corey "⁠nettik⁠" Browne, Jared "⁠hazr⁠" O'Bree and Christian "⁠ADDICT⁠" Pendleton are all high on the team's shortlist. As for the AWP role, TALON are understood to be exploring their options in the European market, looking at players like ENCE benched sniper Olek "⁠hades⁠" Miskiewicz and Nemiga's Beksultan "⁠khaN⁠" Ospan.

The sources added that TALON have engaged in talks with Daniel "⁠djL⁠" Narancic for the head coach position. The Swede has been out of a job since February, when he was relieved of his duties by Ninjas in Pyjamas, who later installed Richard "⁠Xizt⁠" Landström as the new head coach.

Contacted by HLTV, TALON declined to comment.