Falcons bench degster ahead of m0NESY arrival

The 23-year-old AWPer is officially on the lookout for a new home.

degster played his final match for Falcons on Sunday

Falcons have moved AWPer Abdul "⁠degster⁠" Gasanov to the bench, the Saudi organization confirmed on Monday. The move comes in anticipation of the arrival of Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov in a blockbuster transfer from G2.

"The decision was not made lightly," Falcons wrote in a statement. "degster has been an integral part of our journey - a player whose passion and commitment have made a great impact on our team."

degster joined Falcons in January alongside Damjan "⁠kyxsan⁠" Stoilkovski and René "⁠TeSeS⁠" Madsen, completing the lineup after the signing of Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač from G2. By recreating the HEROIC core, Falcons managed to secure invites to all the big events as the trio came with an invaluable eighth spot in Valve's Global standings.

m0NESY's shadow loomed large over degster throughout his time on the team - the Saudi organization had failed in its attempt to sign the G2 superstar in December -, but he acquitted himself well despite these challenging circumstances.

degster averaged a 1.05 rating during his time on Falcons, second only to NiKo's 1.18 rating, and played a crucial role in the team's title-winning run at PGL Bucharest, which earned him his first MVP medal.

Speaking to HLTV after the event, the Russian AWPer said he didn't know what the future would hold. "I hope I'll be able to play in tier one, honestly," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen."

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degster: "I hope I'll be able to play in tier one. I don't know what's going to happen"

Minutes after the PGL Bucharest final between Falcons and G2 came to an end, G2 CEO CEO Alban Dechelotte confirmed that m0NESY had been sold. He explained that the organization was unable to convince m0NESY to sign a new contract, which would have allowed him to leave for free at the end of the year.

Falcons' next event will be IEM Melbourne, scheduled for April 21-27. They will take on SAW in their first match in Group B, which also includes the likes of Vitality, Natus Vincere and Liquid.

With degster's benching, Falcons are now:

Denmark Emil "⁠Magisk⁠" Reif
Bosnia and Herzegovina Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač
North Macedonia Damjan "⁠kyxsan⁠" Stoilkovski
Denmark René "⁠TeSeS⁠" Madsen

Denmark Danny "⁠zonic⁠" Sørensen (coach)

Russia Abdul "⁠degster⁠" Gasanov (benched)

Denmark Emil 'Magisk' Reif
Emil 'Magisk' Reif
Age:
27
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.06
Maps played:
1822
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.63
Denmark René 'TeSeS' Madsen
René 'TeSeS' Madsen
Age:
24
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.03
Maps played:
1336
KPR:
0.70
DPR:
0.67
Russia Abdul 'degster' Gasanov
Abdul 'degster' Gasanov
Age:
23
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.16
Maps played:
1016
KPR:
0.76
DPR:
0.60
Bosnia and Herzegovina Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač
Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač
Age:
28
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.15
Maps played:
2081
KPR:
0.79
DPR:
0.66
North Macedonia Damjan 'kyxsan' Stoilkovski
Damjan 'kyxsan' Stoilkovski
Age:
24
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.95
Maps played:
1018
KPR:
0.64
DPR:
0.67
Russia Ilya 'm0NESY' Osipov
Ilya 'm0NESY' Osipov
Age:
19
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.20
Maps played:
697
KPR:
0.79
DPR:
0.59
-rep
2025-04-14 15:13
183
9 replies
#55
Faceit premium user Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
United Arab Emirates Morhaf09
Flag
2025-04-14 15:23
13
1 reply
got me 🙌
2025-04-14 15:24
9
really good move by falcons but you have to feel bad for degster :(( winning his first mvp and kicked the day after RIP
2025-04-14 15:24
26
3 replies
good way to go atleast. no pressure cuz he knew he was gone anyway and shows that he can play so hopefully some other good team will pick him up instead.
2025-04-14 17:51
8
2 replies
true better to end like this to find a new home. imagine dropping 0.8 rating on your last t1 event as an awper...
2025-04-15 23:40
3
1 reply
yep. that wouldnt look good for him in the future. would end up in some tier 23 team x)
2025-04-16 15:56
0
Has there been a faster time between MVP announcement and benching announcement?
2025-04-14 18:48
2
2 replies
next fastest is probably james with 2 years, because benched mvps happen very rarely EDIT: @mongolz_tier1 found it faster, it's probably jabbi after spring finals (4 months)
2025-04-14 18:56
0
1 reply
jabbi benched himself though
2025-04-15 23:33
0
#2
lux | 
Russia de_mark
L
2025-04-14 15:13
54
2 replies
Wipe the tears off your face, in no world is benching degster for m0nesy an L.
2025-04-14 15:15
38
1 reply
Lets wait...but i Hope the whole rooster sucks
2025-04-14 17:46
2
LLLLLLLLLL WE LOVE YOU DEGSTER
2025-04-14 15:13
45
10 replies
#68
Faceit premium user Faceit level 10  | 
Magisk | 
Denmark MathiasDanKronborg
So you prefer degster over the best awper? Sorry ur stupid as hell Degster is good i like him on Falcons but im taking m0nesy every second
2025-04-14 15:36
3
9 replies
Monesy is a clear upgrade over Degster, no one will deny that. The disgusting part is Falcons benching Degster after the roster lock for the major just so that he doesn't get to play it. The disgusting part is Falcons treating Degster as a placeholder until they could get their shiny new toy. Fuck the Falcons.
2025-04-14 15:41
38
8 replies
#81
Faceit premium user Faceit level 10  | 
Magisk | 
Denmark MathiasDanKronborg
And if you think about it he was prolly also told that when he signed he wanted to go there to make a name for him self and he did
2025-04-14 15:46
3
6 replies
Defending the Saudis on this is wild, you won't get a cut of their blood money kiddo.
2025-04-14 15:47
25
4 replies
#94
Faceit premium user Faceit level 10  | 
Magisk | 
Denmark MathiasDanKronborg
Stfu about that blood money shit it dosnt matter either way look at the us aswell work life over there is not good either neither is it in Germany so i dont care about that at all
2025-04-14 17:10
3
3 replies
#100
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
United States diysthymia
shameless dane, expected from someone who comes from same country as heroic and astralis, two of the most shameless orgs
2025-04-14 17:50
9
2 replies
#102
Faceit premium user Faceit level 10  | 
Magisk | 
Denmark MathiasDanKronborg
Heroic is Norwegian bro and i had asstralis
2025-04-14 18:04
1
#108
Faceit  | 
rain | 
Indonesia bohyamada90
lol american not knowing geography.
2025-04-14 18:36
4
#106
Faceit  | 
rain | 
Indonesia bohyamada90
its Initial Roster lock final roster lock is at 5th May.
2025-04-14 18:20
0
True i Hope the whole rooster sucks hard
2025-04-14 17:47
0
#4
 | 
Honduras tIdr
Sad
2025-04-14 15:13
11
welcome to the team ilya!
2025-04-14 15:13
1
5 replies
American supporting Falcons? LOL
2025-04-14 15:23
4
4 replies
#74
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
sh1ro | 
Russia bswoosah
They put enough players i like on a team, i will support them.
2025-04-14 15:41
2
it's not that I'm supporting the falcons but now they're worth watching
2025-04-14 15:54
3
#109
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
COCAINE | 
Uruguay RamzeYC9
you gonna understand when you learn about " support the rooster not the org's "
2025-04-14 18:45
0
they need oil. what u expect?
2025-04-14 18:55
0
#6
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Georgia sexasuke
hope degster finds a team soon
2025-04-14 15:13
37
3 replies
Liquid
2025-04-14 15:46
1
he is definitely an upgrade over ultimate
2025-04-14 16:05
3
1 reply
sure but ultimate can find his form under siuhy + hes been good recently
2025-04-15 04:56
0
#7
 | 
Croatia Esketite
m0nesy benched
2025-04-14 15:14
0
should have been magisk
2025-04-14 15:14
9
1 reply
hltv analyst telling how "should have been" when their roles differ entirely
2025-04-15 15:25
0
Hopefully he gets into a team asap
2025-04-14 15:14
2
L
2025-04-14 15:14
1
Absolute banger way of a way to go out.
2025-04-14 15:14
22
2 replies
#96
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Murdy | 
Sweden Murdy
Do you mean absolute banger of a way to go out?
2025-04-14 17:33
3
1 reply
No, but it is less redundant.
2025-04-14 17:34
0
wow monesy benched
2025-04-14 15:14
3
#14
Faceit level 9  | 
Jee | 
Czech Republic LoGaS01
L should have been -magisk and move degster to rifler/second awp role ez as that
2025-04-14 15:14
4
2 replies
Degster is shit at rifling, and make him play anchor? Lmao great idea genius
2025-04-14 15:31
2
1 reply
#71
Faceit level 9  | 
Jee | 
Czech Republic LoGaS01
haters gonna hate
2025-04-14 15:38
1
good luck
2025-04-14 15:15
1
imagine benching PGL MVP
2025-04-14 15:15
6
#17
Faceit level 8  | 
vivi | 
Germany marc7708
m0NESY already benched in Falcons, washed
2025-04-14 15:15
10
m0NESY benched!?!?!?!? peak HLTV
2025-04-14 15:16
6
#20
 | 
Belarus hitomiUwU
hope he will find a home in tier-1, faze will be a great option
2025-04-14 15:17
3
#21
 | 
New Zealand WildFir3
Expected :c
2025-04-14 15:15
2
#22
 | 
Latvia Bouncy2370
like 12 hours after MVP lol
2025-04-14 15:15
1
Luckily enough, project Falcons will fail beautifully. And I'm here for it
2025-04-14 15:15
2
#24
 | 
Scotland LinInABin
Go superstar mode in Playoffs to win the event for your team and your prize is getting kicked by the guy you just destroyed :(
2025-04-14 15:15
1
#25
 | 
Spain R3XTR1CK
Its kinda cruel to post a picture from yesterday's win to say goodbye to degster, I know its his first MVP and all that but its kinda fcked up
2025-04-14 15:16
5
m0nesy already benched? lmao
2025-04-14 15:16
2
1 reply
beyond washed, what being dependant on majorless NiKo does to a young player
2025-04-14 15:17
2
#27
Faceit level 9  | 
kl1m | 
Germany ProjectPat
imagine they get s1mple
2025-04-14 15:16
0
2 replies
monesy > s0mple
2025-04-14 15:16
1
1 reply
xD
2025-04-14 15:19
0
#28
 | 
Czech Republic kubinhoho
Why people acting like m0nesy isn´t better than degster? Okay degster had good event, but from a long-term perspective m0nesy is better, that´s a fact. And surely degster will find new team soon.
2025-04-14 15:16
3
2 replies
degster has some issues in the past, like VISA problems etc. Think that really hindered his progress because he was one of the big CIS AWPers I remember who always put up huge numbers. Of course m0nesy is better long-term since there 4 years age difference. But then again, how much better can it get than your AWPers almost carrying a playoff and receiving MVP after 3-0 opponent in final? I don't see the results necessarily being that much better, market wise, sure, he is much more marketable and will probably consistently reach top3 HLTV top20. but then again they probably paid quite alot for him
2025-04-14 18:09
0
1 reply
#118
 | 
Czech Republic kubinhoho
I mean degster played this event really well, but he is inconsistent. He has 1.05 past 3 months. M0nesy has already good synergy with NiKo. He is just better for them and I don´t understand people who say Falcons are making a mistake.
2025-04-14 19:19
0
#29
 | 
Finland EetuuZz
@MIRAA it says that m0nesy would be benched in Falcons instead of Degster!
2025-04-14 15:16
1
1 reply
still drunk after NiKo's first major trophy!
2025-04-14 15:17
1
Haha idiots
2025-04-14 15:17
1
#34
 | 
Chile eseeme
Bro I read m0nesy benched ☠️
2025-04-14 15:17
0
degster is 23yo? wtf
2025-04-14 15:17
0
#37
 | 
Netherlands Wimmie
- m0nesy + stewie2k
2025-04-14 15:18
0
1 reply
#78
apEX | 
United States k0py
-magisk +stewie2k
2025-04-14 15:45
0
#38
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Bangladesh jalalar
reading comments in this post once again reassures me that society is doomed
2025-04-14 15:18
3
#41
 | 
United Kingdom SamAPC
Fifflaren 2.0
2025-04-14 15:19
0
1 reply
how so?
2025-04-15 23:35
0
#42
 | 
Cuba Dyabolic
Well, nobody will most likely pay whatever they might ask for him. So bro better start streaming cause if I had to guess, he’s going to be stuck on the bench.
2025-04-14 15:19
0
#44
 | 
Finland E5KH
hopefully degster will find a team that respects him
2025-04-14 15:20
0
1 reply
OG respects him hehe but jokes aside, he's very good without a pressure so
2025-04-14 15:21
0
#46
Faceit level 9  | 
nut nut | 
United States Reevengy
Falcons feels like such a hollow team yeah its cool they can buy any super team they want but its essentially just big names we're watching for not the "team" idk how they over come that hurdle.
2025-04-14 15:21
0
1 reply
start winning tournaments, hold a roster together for more than 6 months
2025-04-15 23:36
0
unlucky, but when a team has a chance to sign m0nesy in 2025, they 100% take that chance and hope for the best
2025-04-14 15:22
1
#49
Faceit  | 
 | 
Malaysia roxxasrox
bye Abdul, you do a great job in Bucharest, I am proud of you son.
2025-04-14 15:22
0
SHOCKER!
2025-04-14 15:22
1
common falcons L
2025-04-14 15:22
0
Benching your latest mvp is crazy.
2025-04-14 15:22
0
#53
b1t | 
China oottfe
-degster save Magisk, what a magic!
2025-04-14 15:23
0
actual downgrade
2025-04-14 15:24
0
watch him upgrade from falcons lol
2025-04-14 15:26
1
Don't let Degster life event distract you from the fact that he is the most mid awper ever
2025-04-14 15:27
0
#61
 | 
Brazil choquo
who would've thought degster would give us such an insane conclusion to his arch before moving out of Falcons. mad respect. almost making people feel contradicted about Falcons getting m0NESY, of all people, over him
2025-04-14 15:29
1
#63
 | 
United Kingdom Leftie
Guy gets his first MVP, Falcons boots him. Hope he finds somewhere else.
2025-04-14 15:31
1
guys i take mvp! guys? guys....
2025-04-14 15:32
1
#65
Faceit level 10  | 
m0NESY | 
Denmark L1ghtn1ng1337
let's take 1 minute of silence for a young-gun that likely already destroyed his career
2025-04-14 15:33
0
#66
 | 
Brazil bacuri_fps
Lmao gets T1 MVP —> get benched 24 hours later
2025-04-14 15:34
5
#67
 | 
Lebanon Z3XT0N
sadge :(
2025-04-14 15:35
0
#69
Faceit level 8  | 
 | 
Switzerland Husey13
sad
2025-04-14 15:37
0
+liquid or faze, g2, vp whoever
2025-04-14 15:38
0
#72
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Greece her-1g
As i said whatever degster is doing m0nesy can do it better. Is it unfair for degster?? Sure but that's life. Also in gamerlegion where he is going instead of sl3nd he will have the chance to prove himself
2025-04-14 15:39
0
#73
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
kinkybdsm | 
Other MissingN0
unlucko. and don't let the door hit you on the way out
2025-04-14 15:40
0
#76
 | 
Nepal ekadeshma
goodluck
2025-04-14 15:41
0
#77
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
KiMaRR | 
Lithuania disesion
betboom degster
2025-04-14 15:42
0
G2 should have just gotten him in a trade, i think falcons would’ve agree for pretty cheap when he wasn’t playing as good
2025-04-14 15:46
2
1 reply
#115
Faceit level 10  | 
Denmark zerm999
Agree, he's a much better choice than Hades. I actually hope Hades will do well in G2 but I doubt it. G2 is kinda in a big mess right now.
2025-04-14 19:08
2
#82
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Spain sanako
I can only wish the worst for this petrodollar team.
2025-04-14 15:46
0
Sadge
2025-04-14 15:49
0
#85
JK | 
Australia S_FAN
"The decision was not made lightly," Falcons wrote in a statement. I don't think there has ever been a decision made more lightly in history of professional cs. degster was already on his way to the bench even before he signed a contract
2025-04-14 15:50
1
#86
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Denmark Triizz
Shocker!
2025-04-14 15:52
0
#88
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
sh1ro | 
Russia bswoosah
Degster to Faze. :)
2025-04-14 15:54
1
Hope you find good Tier 1 team, GL <3
2025-04-14 15:56
1
#90
 | 
Portugal ReyZ555
Justice 4 degster
2025-04-14 15:56
0
gg at least he perform well on the last dance
2025-04-14 15:59
1
#93
Faceit premium user Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
United States r0l4nd_
fuck falcons scumbag org and management
2025-04-14 17:08
0
#95
Faceit level 8  | 
DZ | 
Algeria SilverQuick
Now that's a big L for Falcons ^^,
2025-04-14 17:26
0
G2 Degster?
2025-04-14 18:09
2
sad for degster :(
2025-04-14 18:14
0
you will find a great team, degster, gl
2025-04-14 18:28
0
MINUS MIDKY
2025-04-14 18:53
0
#114
Faceit level 10  | 
Denmark zerm999
I love degster, but come on guys. He has been inconsistent and m0nesy is a clear update. It sucks he had to go through this, and he can't get a chance at the major but I'm sure he knew it was a possibility he would be replaced by m0nesy when he took the chance of joining Falcons. He seems happy about his last few months with the guys, and I'm sure he will get some good offers after the major and we will see his happy face once again.
2025-04-14 19:05
1
#116
 | 
Asia b2csgo
L for OIL MONEY sad for dagster but i think he know it 1-2 week before tournament. waiting for degsters new home
2025-04-14 19:08
0
#117
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
w1cked | 
United Kingdom w1cked
No they just need to replace Magisk
2025-04-14 19:14
0
#119
ness | 
Canada ssau
VP or g2 degster
2025-04-14 19:53
0
Ah he is just 23 man, I was sad thinking he must be 27/28 and won his first trophy now and Falcons benched him right after
2025-04-15 00:14
0
#122
 | 
Estonia Azdador
Will G2 take degster?
2025-04-15 10:19
0
1 reply
g2 cant solve visa issues
2025-04-17 13:12
0
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