Passion UA bring in new captain Topa

The Ukrainian squad has found its replacement for fear, but is still one man short ahead of the new season.

Passion UA have announced the addition of Oleksii "⁠Topa⁠" Topchiienko to their roster.

The new member will assume in-game leadership of the squad, replacing Rodion "⁠fear⁠" Smyk in the role after it was announced that the zealous former captain was leaving the team in anticipation of making a move up the ranks.

Read more
Passion UA bid farewell to fear

Topa has been plying his trade on the lower tiers since 2018. He started out as a member of two academy squads, Windigo Academy and NAVI Junior, before jumping from team to team in 2021-2022, most notably taking part in the IEM Rio 2022 RMR with FANTASY.

The 25-year-old last represented IKLA alongside the likes of Michał "⁠MICHU⁠" Müller and Jonas "⁠Lekr0⁠" Olofsson. His year-long tenure there ended at the beginning of 2024 after the organization ceased operations, and he has since struggled to find a new home.

He now joins Passion UA as part of an overhaul of the squad. They are still missing the final piece after Vsevolod "⁠s-chilla⁠" Shchurov decided to take a break from competing, citing the demanding routine the team maintained throughout the year.

Read more
s-chilla leaves Passion UA

"Being able to represent Ukraine is deeply meaningful to me, and I'll give my all to live up to this opportunity. I'm grateful for this chance and excited to show what we can achieve together," Topa said on X.

Passion UA's roster is:

Ukraine Dmytro "⁠jambo⁠" Semera
Ukraine Nikita "⁠jackasmo⁠" Skyba
Ukraine Eduard "⁠zeRRoFIX⁠" Petrovskyi
Ukraine Oleksii "⁠Topa⁠" Topchiienko

Ukraine Mikhaylo "⁠Kane⁠" Blagin (coach)

Ukraine Dmytro 'jambo' Semera
Dmytro 'jambo' Semera
Age:
20
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.10
Maps played:
405
KPR:
0.74
DPR:
0.63
Ukraine Rodion 'fear' Smyk
Rodion 'fear' Smyk
Age:
24
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
0.96
Maps played:
633
KPR:
0.64
DPR:
0.65
Sweden Jonas 'Lekr0' Olofsson
Jonas 'Lekr0' Olofsson
Age:
31
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.01
Maps played:
1564
KPR:
0.69
DPR:
0.67
Ukraine Oleksii 'Topa' Topchiienko
Oleksii 'Topa' Topchiienko
Age:
25
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.93
Maps played:
437
KPR:
0.61
DPR:
0.65
Ukraine Vsevolod 's-chilla' Shchurov
Vsevolod 's-chilla' Shchurov
Age:
19
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
0.92
Maps played:
399
KPR:
0.62
DPR:
0.67
Ukraine Nikita 'jackasmo' Skyba
Nikita 'jackasmo' Skyba
Age:
17
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.05
Maps played:
399
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.67
Ukraine Eduard 'zeRRoFIX' Petrovskyi
Eduard 'zeRRoFIX' Petrovskyi
Age:
17
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.93
Maps played:
398
KPR:
0.63
DPR:
0.67
Poland Michał 'MICHU' Müller
Michał 'MICHU' Müller
Age:
28
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
1.07
Maps played:
1885
KPR:
0.74
DPR:
0.68
#1
Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
jambo | 
Sweden Lollieh
gl!
2025-01-04 19:49
9
#2
 | 
Finland Zikii
+Kvem
2025-01-04 19:49
10
#3
 | 
Poland ziemoO
mid
2025-01-04 19:49
2
Sort of insane stats for an IGL?
2025-01-04 19:50
1
2 replies
#8
 | 
Sweden ChiperoG
It is based off of just two games. Not hating on the guy or anything, just saying.
2025-01-04 19:52
6
1 reply
Indeed. He´s pretty unimpressive as a fragger and has always been a role/support element in his teams so it´s only natural he became an IGL to extend his career (no shame in being smart/objective). He will more likely frag decently for an IGL but don´t expect to see carry performances/tactics from him. Overall, unless he develops a lot or Kane´s system is so good that it can survive without fear (I doubt either) he will be a downgrade over fear meaning even more weight on Jackasmo/Jambo. Unless the last player is a substantial firepower upgrade I only see them dropping in the rankings.
2025-01-04 20:18
2
chopped chin (cc) so tuff
2025-01-04 19:50
2
1 reply
I studied bro.
2025-01-04 20:35
1
#7
 | 
Angola miracl4
The fact that out of all the players on passion UA jambo is still there is crazy to me. The kid has so much potential. Fnatic where are you ?
2025-01-04 19:51
5
3 replies
jambo is going to fnatic probably as they have nawk on loan only and as fnatic getting fear already supposedly
2025-01-04 20:04
2
2 replies
#17
 | 
Angola miracl4
i dont think passion gonna alow jambo to leave now since they already lost 2 players and they might lose all their ranking points. So I think maybe only in 6 months
2025-01-04 20:10
1
Jambo stays in Passion for a half a year, I guess. Wish he’ll join some t1-t2 team in the nearest future
2025-01-04 20:16
1
#9
 | 
India skyl4rk
Indians come here: Lund ka Topa
2025-01-04 19:55
2
Topa Chico goat drink
2025-01-04 19:57
0
Deserves his chance
2025-01-04 20:03
2
gl PUA
2025-01-04 20:04
2
#15
 | 
Sweden Vrede
fear >
2025-01-04 20:06
1
Known 322 player
2025-01-04 20:32
1
#23
 | 
India stiwa5k
fnatic not getting jambo then? :(
2025-01-04 20:45
0
1 reply
#26
 | 
Ukraine zhvchnskiy
they still could. It is not known whether those are the only changes
2025-01-04 21:13
1
#24
 | 
Russia zernace
the worst captain they could pick lol, even cptkurtka is better
2025-01-04 20:47
0
2 replies
#27
 | 
Ukraine zhvchnskiy
cptkurtka is not an igl -_- and he already has a team
2025-01-04 21:14
7
cptkurtka's not an IGL
2025-01-04 21:33
1
Not even arrival of Kvem will save them now, RIP Passion
2025-01-04 20:52
0
Ok
2025-01-04 21:20
0
#29
Faceit level 8  | 
deko | 
Andorra CapDeSuro01
topo topa
2025-01-04 21:24
0
#30
 | 
Finland Misttaa
I would have rather them get a younger player tbh but I trust kanes judgement.
2025-01-04 21:24
2
#32
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Greece her-1g
Well they could grab someone from B8 like headtr1ck
2025-01-04 21:37
0
3 replies
#37
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
blameF | 
Denmark hEnzeee
Why would headtr1ck downgrade? + He's AWP. Jambo is AWP? And head has been awfully lately.
2025-01-05 09:47
0
2 replies
b8 0-3 at rmr passion 2-3 at major DOWNGRADE?!??!?!
2025-01-05 10:19
0
#39
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Greece her-1g
Headtr1ck is not a dedicated awper. He can awp and rifle as well. When you have jambo that is an insane awper you can go with the rifle. Headtr1ck will bring some experience to the table plus he is only 20 yo. Also they can sign kvem who is 100% rifler
2025-01-05 12:01
0
#33
 | 
Ukraine Kelsso
worst pick ever
2025-01-04 22:26
0
#34
Faceit premium user Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Ukraine yaroslav_koval
Super weak guy. Also he is like Tourette syndrome changing righthand 1/0 every second. Funny how people even want to play with him
2025-01-05 00:41
0
Kvem maybe?
2025-01-05 01:11
1
#36
 | 
Belgium TheHomer
+Simple
2025-01-05 03:20
1
#40
 | 
Portugal l1ghtoff
Gl hf Topa is good!
2025-01-06 04:32
0
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