Official: NiKo departs G2

3-1-2025 15:18

NiKo has departed G2 after four years of service and six Big Event titles.

Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač has left G2 ahead of his long-awaited move to Falcons, the German organization has announced.

The Bosnian spent four trophy-ladden years in G2, winning the IEM Cologne MVP and placing 2nd, 5th, 4th, and 3rd on the top 20 players of the year ranking.

His final event in G2 colors came in Shanghai as he fell to FaZe in the semi-finals, keeping him as the most decorated individual player to have never won a Major.

Sources: G2 in talks with Cloud9 over HeavyGod

In search of that Major title, NiKo is reportedly set for a new journey with Falcons alongside Emil "⁠Magisk⁠" Reif, Danny "⁠zonic⁠" Sørensen, and the HEROIC core.

G2's management had publicly come to terms with NiKo's departure in October, when CEO Alban Dechelotte said that they could have kept him "if they wanted to."

G2 CEO: "If we wanted to keep NiKo, we could have done so"

NiKo is expected to be replaced by Nikita "⁠HeavyGod⁠" Martynenko on paper, although it is Mario "⁠malbsMd⁠" Samayoa who will step into most of the Bosnian's in-game positions.

"I only got to spend 6 months next to you, but it really felt like it was years," malbsMd wrote on X. "I wish it was more time next to you but thanks for being a leader and a teacher, now it’s the time for me to fill those 60-sized shoes."

He also confirmed his pending role change, adding, "see you at Conn in Mirage."

Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov, a long-time friend and pupil of NiKo's, is expected to stay in G2 despite interest from Falcons.

G2 are now:

Janusz "⁠Snax⁠" Pogorzelski
Nemanja "⁠huNter-⁠" Kovač
Mario "⁠malbsMd⁠" Samayoa
Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov

Wiktor "⁠TaZ⁠" Wojtas (coach)

Nightmare is real 🥲

2025-01-03 15:19

132

5 replies

chill bruv 6 months and niko/m0nesy will reunite ain't that deep cuh

2025-01-03 15:21

3 replies

by your logic Niko left m0nesy to play with m0nesy

2025-01-03 15:32

1 reply

I mean he left for the money, but also was probably expecting m0NESY would be sold to falcons

2025-01-03 16:44

if niko couldnt win with monesy and malbs he sure aint winning with degster and teses

2025-01-03 23:00

Fly

2025-01-04 19:27

rip, thank you niko

yall still coping?

2 replies

The difference is that G2 will be fine without Niko, COL will be nothing without Elige. Can we not be sad for a minute that Niko is leaving?

2025-01-03 15:38

My point is just about the absolute delusion some people had that niko was actually going to stay. I don't see the point of even mentioning Elige

2025-01-03 16:03

it's over

welcome to furia

Straight to SINNERS

rest in peace g2 :(

Bye bye ChoKo

6 replies

jame where

2025-01-03 15:27

Major MVP

2025-01-03 15:28

4 replies

Fluke

2025-01-03 15:34

Major achievements for NiKo 0 Majors won 14 Majors played

fluke > choke

2025-01-03 15:35

looks like you made him quiet

Xantares would never

makes sense, no one wants him like that

2025-01-03 15:26

Nah, he rejected couple tier1 and 1.5 team’s offers after joining EF. He also rejected Falcons which invited him as well. Same goes for wicadia. IIRC, he got invited by faze but rejected the offer. Those Turks are trying real hard for their national team. Big respect for them tbh

2025-01-03 15:40

The turks are trying hard for a team that peaked at the CPH major. I respect them for being committed to their vision, but if we're being realistic, they should disband if they wanna win trophies and go somewhere in their individual careers.

Although you may be shown right in the end, the very reason they are not leaving is they don't have this mentality. No one has a crystal ball to read the future and they never know until they try. They are not giving up which displays a tenacious and hardworking mentality.

2025-01-03 17:48

Theyre either super nationalistic or just dumb/scared to get out of their comfort zone 😂 I’ll leave this in the middle 👀

2025-01-03 21:17

#196

2025-01-03 21:18

back to tier 2

Bag secured

left monesy and malbs for degster and teses good job rotja

I was here

NIKO TO NIP LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

the good ending

End of an era

No more majors for niko

2025-01-03 15:20

i was unfortunately here

History in the making. :)

Fuck man

2025-01-03 15:30

CHOKO KEKW

end of an era!

NOLADIGA

Mioneeese wont survive

if he actually joins falcons its safe to say he wants to retire

WOW ITS REAL

rip niko carrer

Gg.

Rip career, welcome Paycheck

Faze Niko Let's go

<3 gl

end of a beautiful era...

Watch his legend die just like simples

Its sad, never #1, never won a major... but he accepted that and go for money now..

Can't believe one of the best riflers with ambitions and with yet no major title consciously agreed for this Falcons move. GG rip Niko career

sad day

expected

gg go next

2025-01-03 15:23

>4year 6win >best rifler

2025-01-03 15:22

What a ride, ggs

Peca and hunter ruined the roster thanks to nepotism

end of a fucking era. o7 to this amazing duo

I want death I've been dreading this. WHY NIKO WHY DO YOU HAVE TO CURSE G2 FOR SHIT CAN FALCONS

NORBERTO 1 MAJOR NIKO 0 MAJ3R

Sad day indeed. Fingers crossed for future success, NiKo. <3

unexpected omg

Niko will forever regret the decision to leave to Falcons (out of all teams) when being the current #1 team in the world. G2 will regret letting him go. He will never even see a final again. He will never see another Trophy again. He will definitely never win a Major.

Have fun with your new T2 team :) Hope your Saudi money tastes good.

gg wp

Good Luck NiKo.Thx for that 4 Years.Well see

2025-01-03 15:24

u will never win a majro

Thank you for your service king

SAD TO SEE :(

gg, third goat of csgo the best rifler in cs history

2025-01-03 15:25

now imagine m0nesy win major hhahaha

m0NESY to NAVI, HERE WE GO

Look like retire announcement

End of an era but I will support NiKo no matter where he goes

😭 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

"The best rifler to ever touch the game" 🤡 It's the same of saying Ibrahimovic is the greatest striker of all time even though he has never won the UCL (or any other national cup of same or greater relevance) despite participating several times with stellar teams

yea coldzera >>

The list considerably longer, but yes coldzera is in it

cold had two good years them sucucmbed while niko is strong since forever. niko>>>> cold its not even a debate.

#76 cold got everything Niko ever dreamed of in those two years, and he did it twice.

2025-01-03 15:42

He didn’t win a major but Niko is still the best rifler of all time( not 1 or 2 years.). not the best player nor the most accomplished but the best rifler.

2025-01-03 18:51

yeah, like for one year maybe

Now its official

NiKo making sure he never gets his major, 2nd best player in history to end his career without a major after guardian

might as well be your retirement, ggs

as expected im curious if his form will be the same as before

RIP G2. Sad for m0nesy. Bye NiKo

the g2 ship is sinking

0 major

G2 now selling for most likely a very high price and rebuy him in half a year when Falcons bench him.

thanks for everything, enjoy retirement

I was unfortunately here:(

choko I wish you the best

Damn this sucks. Rip Niko's career... bros never winning a major

Nah Nah Nah i've must be dreaming hell nah

17 trophies, kato+cologne. 10 years in a row a top 20 player in the world, no doubt the greatest rifle to ever touch the game. fuck the major trophie if he never wins it (he not gonna win with falcons

x.com/FalconsEsport/status/1875187006919.. OFFICIAL NOW!

2025-01-03 15:29

devilwalk 1 major niko 0 major

*2 majors

2025-01-03 15:31

1 as player

only 6 events? That's crazy considering 3 of them didn't come until after Malbs joined the team in the past 6 months.

Why leave the Best te-am?

Joever for Choko

RIP career

Goodbye my goat. I hope this is not a final destination but rather another step on the way.

FAZE UP

worst decision in your life NiKo, to leave your family huNter, your best friend m0NESY and this goated team good luck though

fuck rostermania

sad

Goog luck brother from Brcko,i belive in you. Prove the haters wrong!

Niko left coz overdrive won a major before G2.

2025-01-03 15:33

Goodbye. Hope he wins a major with the oil bag

A sad day for everyone, even tho some people hate him, they should still respect him and be sad for him, his carrier is basically over since I don't see Falcons being a competitive team.

rip

no more majors ig

Its so over

Farwell NiKo, i'll never forget NiKo moment major final 2021

2025-01-03 15:36

"The best rifler to ever touch the game" no bro, donk clears him - and already has a Major and broke any possible record in one year

Rip major dream

well shit....thank you for all the moments goat

2025-01-03 15:37

Welp, he also confirmed that he will never graduate from Nik0 to N1ko.

IT SO FCKING OVER

2025-01-03 15:48

he will make falcons relevant Goodluck

2025-01-03 15:39

We're Cooked!

I would grant NiKo to win a major but now that he will be playing in flacons, I hope he won't. It's the same in football: if you decide to join a saudi arabic team, you choose the money and pay your career as a price. Same scenario in this case. So hopefully no major for him with falcons!

2025-01-03 15:41

You only choose money when joining Arabs? :D In football plenty of players have moved only for money reasons, plenty of players still move for money reason in EU. Everybody want the bag. You think any played joined ManCity because of their insane history or fanbase? Same with PSG, hell a lot of players join Real Madrid first for money then for the club they are. Money talks. Also Niko has been failing with superstar Faze and G2, why would he not join a team with lots of money? HE earns a lot and might have a chance his team signs all the good players anyways, 2 birds with 1 stone.

2025-01-04 05:11

give me saudi money now please me buy porshe brr brr

Respects to the GOAT... Go prove the haters wrong...

2025-01-03 15:43

Never going to win a major but always in our hearts :€

G2 is a german org?

2025-01-03 15:51

yes g2esports.com/pages/contact liquipedia.net/counterstrike/G2_Esports

2025-01-15 17:09

Really curious how this is gonna turn out tbh.

2025-01-03 15:52

Kovac duo is no more, end of an era. Thank you gentlemen.

2025-01-03 15:59

how ironic, what he most desires is winning the major and he leaves g2 to join falcons.....

2025-01-03 16:06

:( Reply needs to have actual content

2025-01-03 16:07

Thanks for everything NiKo o7

2025-01-03 16:10

2025-01-03 16:16

I hope we will still be good in Falcons

2025-01-03 16:20

Never seeing a trophy again

2025-01-03 16:21

Happy birthday hunter!

2025-01-03 16:30

You guys know the drill. Whatever team niko left with, will win a major. So let's look forward G2 will win a major, hopefully this 2025 🙏😄

2025-01-03 16:37

Looks like he accepted that his major title dreams are over. Now it's just about making as much money as possible for retirement.

Best rifler ever aka perm major choker x_X

2025-01-03 16:50

Good luck

2025-01-03 16:55

Best riffler ever!

2025-01-03 17:04

He has been in g2 longer then he was with faze shocking stuff

2025-01-03 17:05

Thnx Nicola

2025-01-03 17:06

I am happy for brother. Brother knows his major winning days getting behind him. Better to make a bag, invest it, make them dollars big, settle in life and eventually lose it in a divorce. Life living like a true pro.

2025-01-03 17:54

2025-01-03 17:59

Its over

2025-01-03 18:35

See you in CCT Niko, im hyped

2025-01-03 19:46

fake news

2025-01-03 19:47

Bye bye. Gl winning at falcons

2025-01-03 20:26

GL Niko

2025-01-04 04:16

I hope falcons don't waste this chance and niko's remaining skills, they need to build young guns and another star aside from n1ko. Prove the doubters wrong and win a major with n1kola. I've been following Niko since 2016, and I started to play CSGO for the first time because of him but still hoping for the best.

2025-01-04 05:31