Cloud9 release groove, have "no immediate plans to re-enter CS"

Perfecto remains as the only member still tied to the American organization.

groove leaves Cloud9 after three years

Cloud9 have announced the departure of coach Konstantin "⁠groove⁠" Pikiner and manager Aleksandr "Sweetypotz" Shcherbakov from the organization.

In a statement on X, the American side commented on its future in Counter-Strike, saying it is "taking a step back" and that it has "no immediate plans to re-enter" the game.

It still left the door open to a potential return under the right circumstances. "We love CS and are always on the lookout for opportunities," the post says.

After Kirill "⁠Boombl4⁠" Mikhailov, Sergey "⁠Ax1Le⁠" Rykhtorov and Nikita "⁠HeavyGod⁠" Martynenko were acquired by BetBoom and G2 and Timofey "⁠interz⁠" Yakushin was let go, only Ilya "⁠Perfecto⁠" Zalutskiy still remains on the American organization's payroll.

The 25-year-old commented on his situation in a recent interview with HLTV, implying a high buyout is one of the reasons that have kept him from making a move. "I had many good invites, but sometimes it's about buyouts, sometimes it's about roles," the Russian anchor said.

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Perfecto: "I had many good invites, but sometimes it's about buyouts, sometimes it's about roles"