Wildcard bench phzy and stanislaw

1-7-2025 22:15

The Swedish sniper and Canadian captain are out of the active lineup.

Wildcard have announced the benching of Love "⁠phzy⁠" Smidebrant and captain Peter "⁠stanislaw⁠" Jarguz, marking the team's first change since it brought the Swede on alongside Tim "⁠susp⁠" Ångström in July 2024.

"Came as a bit of a surprise getting benched, obviously not what I wanted but I respect the organization’s decision," phzy said in a post on X.

The moves come amidst a period of turmoil for the team after a tumultuous start to the year. The lineup came into 2025 on a high after an underdog run to the Perfect World Shanghai Major Opening Stage in December, but failed to live up to that result with early exits at international LANs and losses to Complexity and M80 in qualifiers for PGL Bucharest and PGL Astana.

The team controversially played the Astana qualifier with Jake "⁠Stewie2K⁠" Yip in place of phzy so that it would count as an Americas team when invites went out for the BLAST.tv Austin Major Americas MRQ, and substituted the Swede back in for the MRQ proper before going on to qualify for the Major.

Valve removes multi-region representation in VRS model update

A lack of cohesion, teamplay, and seeming discontent within the ranks plagued Wildcard's Major run, which saw them go from 2-0 to 2-3 in Stage 1 to be eliminated by Legacy in embarrassing fashion.

Reports had linked the team with the addition of Jaxon "⁠Peeping⁠" Cornwell after the Austin Major, something which led to a lack of trust from Aran "⁠Sonic⁠" Groesbeek as he was one of the players supposedly on the chopping block.

Sonic on Peeping rumors: "You don't know if you can trust the people around you who say you can trust them"

phzy's benching comes as a surprise as the Swede was the team's highest-rated player, averaging a 1.14 rating over 167 maps, while stanislaw's move to the bench leaves the team in dire straits without a veteran captain at the helm.

The Canadian in-game leader was key in bringing Wildcard up the ranks in North America, moulding inexperienced talent like Josh "⁠JBa⁠" Barutt and providing the tactics that were key in several of the team's upset victories at international events and at the Shanghai Major.

On Friday, he made the surprise announcement that he was open to exploring options outside of Wildcard, including a move to Europe or a transition to coaching.

stanislaw open to coaching as he explores options

Wildcard are now:

Josh "⁠JBa⁠" Barutt
Aran "⁠Sonic⁠" Groesbeek
Tim "⁠susp⁠" Ångström

Vincent "⁠vinS⁠" Jozefiak (coach)

Love "⁠phzy⁠" Smidebrant (benched)
Peter "⁠stanislaw⁠" Jarguz (benched)

we're SO cooked

2025-07-01 22:16

293

14 replies

wildcard thinks there is an unlimited supply of awpers and igls

2025-07-01 22:17

210

10 replies

the things NA definetly does NOT have

2025-07-01 22:20

165

8 replies

What do they have?!?

2025-07-01 22:27

7 replies

Twistzz

2025-07-01 22:49

big egos, lack of work ethic, enormous contracts and probably a few more things

2025-07-01 23:06

We crank out 1 really good player like every 3-5 years. Having no good IGLs or Awpers prevents a solid NA team from ever being built. Every tier 1-1.5 roster we've produced had an asterisk next to them. Early C9 didn't have good teamwork OpTic was actually good for 2 months, they were just Train merchants besides that (but damn was their Train good) Boston C9 had a washed Ska that just happened to be having a last gasp at the perfect time Liquid never had a good awper, and were average strategically outside of Nuke (and even then, everyone was average compared to Astralis) NRG/EG had a European awper to carry them, and are arguably the worst team strategically to ever make #1

2025-07-02 00:45

3 replies

I don't understand what the obsession is with creating a full NA roster, there is no shame in your players leaving your region to be like elige, even the russians play with imports from kazakstan/uzbekistan/ukraine/belarus, last same nation team that won a major was Astralis in berlin. Grim, jeorge, lake & jba should move to european teams, they could achieve so much more which would mean that more from the future generation would idolize them leading to more talents popping up. edit also I think the actual reason why there hasn't been good strategical cs from NA is not due to lack of igls (obv this is part of the reason) but it's due to not having good coaches that can mold a player to become a good igl, coach would be the easiest to import from EU and the team would still be labelled as an NA team if you still want 5 players from there.

2025-07-02 08:44

2 replies

The full NA team was just as an example. As for why NA players dont go to EU teams more often, I'd wager its just a financial thing from the orgs. It'd be cheaper for EU teams to keep getting EU talent, where as in NA, our talent level is so low that the cost to import talent becomes easier to stomach. Unless a talent is a nuclear level aimer like Elige or Twistzz, i dont think we get another NA player moving to EU for awhile unless its a coaching role.

2025-07-02 17:01

Because national teams have something that international mixes don't. A soul. Something that an entire nation can get behind. It connects with the people more and of course it does.

2025-07-02 20:40

beer

2025-07-02 07:28

Polish coach so +fr3nd from academy and wildcard is cooked

2025-07-02 00:04

Wildcard is joever

2025-07-01 22:19

+adamb cuz he wants to play w brother. +snav/Jt after CoL disband

2025-07-01 23:34

At this point I hope they sell JBa so he can go to a better team and just close their doors. Wildcard just blew up their roster with no clear way to rebuild stronger while staying NA

2025-07-02 00:00

1 reply

Skadoodle in!!

2025-07-02 02:30

Kick your igl and best rated player, while not signing the player you were linked to for months (peeping) did they just wake up and decide to do this?

152

ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY REFUSE TO KICK THEIR TIER 4 POLISH COACH LIKE WTF

he is next on the chopping block xD

2025-07-01 22:22

perfect photo for this article tho

2025-07-01 22:21

they would be forced to play EU if they kept them so they're rebuilding for NA

hltv.org/news/42055/valve-introduces-men.. NO THEY DIDNT, CAUSE VALVE BAILED THEM OUT THEY WERE EU FOR A WEEK, THIS UPDATE BASICALLY REVERSED IT THEY DIDNT HAVE TO MAKE A SINGLE CHANGE

then why THE FUCK are they kicking stan?

2025-07-01 23:26

stanislaw is from Canada BRO

2025-07-03 10:34

Don't expect much from amouranth and co. They know nothing. They just wanna see results, which is tbh understandable considering how much they're invested in this

2025-07-04 13:29

Stanislaw liquid coach?

put some respect on DeMars DeRover

2025-07-02 02:31

DeHalls DePop

2025-07-02 09:58

phzy joining metizport 100%

They can't change any more players or they will loose the vrs points

9 replies

they could list him as substitute or sth like that iirc

2025-07-01 22:29

Yeah but l00m1 is straight cheeks. They need a good awper even if it means losing points.

2025-07-01 23:46

I was genuinely dumbfounded when I saw them sign loom1 in the first place... That guy is actually dogshit

2025-07-02 02:24

I used to think Loom1 stank but he is actually ass. HOW has my country not produced a single good awper since JW

2025-07-02 03:18

4 replies

Nawwk should get a mention

2025-07-02 06:42

Draken should get a shoutout aswell

2025-07-02 08:17

True I guess!

2025-07-02 08:27

Naaawk and Draken are both okay awpers. Should have phrased it like "How has Sweden only made 1 truly great awper"

2025-07-02 12:19

Loom1 makes Jackinho look like ZywOo.

2025-07-02 07:40

Hades I suppose

Phzy is miles better

2025-07-01 22:18

6 replies

Probably not miles but I agree that phzy is better.

5 replies

It literally has to be EU awper cuz I cant even name single one NA awper avaible

Well they have these options +hades +peeping, let sonic or someone IGL +cadian (lol) +peeping

Yeah hard to predict what this onlyfans team is going to do, idk cadian seems like he would be good fit for OF

2025-07-01 22:24

It won’t be a EU player because they’ll have to compete as a EU team then. I think they want to stay in NA region.

2025-07-02 04:19

junior is the only one i can think of

2025-07-02 06:36

i was thinking this too. would be a decent fit imo.

2025-07-01 22:23

they will promote fr3nd

2025-07-01 22:30

Not a bad shout tbh

2025-07-01 22:31

phzy my beloved

I'm certain phzy got a better offer. Benching him would be meds material otherwise.

Nope, he said it wasnt his decision they're probably just signing junior, so not better have you considered orgs are just stupid sometimes

13 replies

Maybe they just really need that last NA players. Are they signing a EU igl?

Maybe Cadian

thats could works if they find a NA rifler

2025-07-02 12:39

How's Floppy? He wasn't too bad in Complexity right?

2025-07-02 13:02

even role wise?

2025-07-02 15:54

Actually, I don't have a clue

2025-07-02 16:16

hltv.org/news/42055/valve-introduces-men.. they were ranked as na after this update, they didnt need to change anything and i dont know who they're signing

Yeah well if Stan wanted out and they had no NA options, then they would need to switch up another player

Getting peeping for susp would make more sense though. The report before said Wildcard were interested in both Peeping and Junior though...

2025-07-01 22:38

Surely they aren't getting junior, he just started playing for BLUEJAYS less than a month ago.

forgot about that im leaving cowards an awping igl, and still signing peeping... am i thinking cadian... yes... yes i am

Bros been chronically online for so long he can barely speak English anymore lol

2025-07-02 02:36

Leaning towards*

2025-07-02 10:18

Okay so +Peeping... who else?

cadiaN seems like the only possible option for an AWP-IGL if they get Peeping

This team is actually fucked lol

monte -hades today. He can be awp-igl, but it s stupid

2025-07-01 23:01

+Jame baby

2025-07-01 22:39

+broky +Snax

absolute cinema

wtf

WHAT NA AWPER THEY CAN EVEN GET``???? PHZY IS THE BEST CHOICE

CANT HIDEN FROM THE POSE1DONN

2025-07-01 22:42

there's no way, but the balls this would take, im here for it

2025-07-02 03:20

nawwk and phzy available, surely metizport makes a move for one

Will loose vrs-points though

What VRS points? They are already in the bin

They have already kicked two players

2025-07-01 22:55

Exactly, so loosing the core makes them loose all right?

2025-07-01 22:56

yes but vrs at that point are whatever. go to fragdelphia you already get more points from 1 event than they already have.

2025-07-01 23:38

i understand stanislaw but why phzy…..?????

I think the other way around Stan is a good igl and na have none phzy is their highest ranked player but he is a tier two farmer and a 1.05 awper in tier 1 at max

2025-07-01 22:59

Phzy metiz

Benching your AWPer and IGL, the two hardest roles to fill in NA. What's the plan?

nah i rather -sonic

welcome hades

Could be AWP IGL I guess

They benched both their IGL and awper. Cadian last dance incoming?

Faze phzy?

Degster incoming XD Respectfully

??????????????????????? what

Phzy to Gamerlegion?

faze phzy

Stewie2k come on down

shouldnt this be under shorts.

Team that made the last two majors + played a bunch of tier 1 events this year changes two players (one of which being Stanislaw, someone whose been at the top since early CSGO) isn't relevant enough for a full article?

2025-07-01 22:40

i don't understand this decision tbh. Stan made it work and phzy was actually good.

somehow stan's teams always go full circle, first with some success and then blowing up

2025-07-01 23:41

yeah, but this move is just bad for the roster

2025-07-02 11:50

+Hades/Nawwk/Broky/Degster(unless they find a better team),+Snax/Naf?

if g2 -snax and he do not get offer from top10/12 team he ll most likely end his carrer.

2025-07-01 23:02

he still might go to wildcard if they give him high wage

2025-07-01 23:17

for what, he is popular in PL, he can stream and earn as much from Home

2025-07-02 09:10

we are back

I totally expected them to bench either Sonic or susp given they can easily find an Americas rifler on their level, and not the IGL/AWP which NA is known for its zero talent pool for who do they even replace them with without going EU now? Do they go +Peeping and get an AWP/IGL from EU/Asia?

2025-07-01 22:25

Welcome Cadian

2025-07-02 03:23

Well there goes one of the only teams I liked

PHZY TO FAZE FINALLY

on canada day is crazy

welcome s0mple

2025-07-01 22:26

Oh wtf

I don’t wanna be from NA anymore

NA cs = dead cs

free jba from this cooked org

no Love in NA, sad

2025-07-01 22:32

I'm gonna go against the grain and say +Peeping +cadiaN actually won't be a bad move at all. Or +snav +EU AWP but there aren't really any remaining T2 EU AWPs that would be a big upgrade over phzy imo

My prediction is +Peeping +ogwizard and Sonic moves to calling

2025-07-02 03:22

Broky or Degster i guess depening on buyout. Hades is also free from Monte now

2025-07-02 03:24

Wait they didnt kick Sonic? so they must pick up 2 non EU Players if they want to play NA?

2025-07-01 22:33

With the most recent rule changes about African players, Sonic can count as NA

2025-07-02 07:14

phzy's rating vs top50 isn't good, ig they are upgrading

2025-07-01 22:36

hltv.org/stats/teams/players/12257/wildc.. complete rehaul barely any event where he isnt the highest rated on his team in the last months

Filter top 50 2025 1.03 (50 maps) Not good

2025-07-01 23:23

doesnt change the fact he did better than every single other player on the team

Never said the opposite, just pointing out the fact that his rating vs top 50 is not good

2025-07-02 01:02

#freegaza to kicked

Did they say that?

2025-07-01 22:57

stan said that

2025-07-01 23:30

Hate-watching wildcard now on

2025-07-01 23:31

only reason that makes sense to me obv bad either way but just mind boggling if its actually about anything happening ingame

2025-07-03 00:16

>rumors for months that sonic or susp are being kicked for Peeping, leading them to lose faith in the the team >actually kick your igl and awper (zero overlap with new player coming in) without ability to make any more changes due to VRS >one of those being benched is a sorely needed NA player 200 IQ tbh

And the awper is their best rated player xd

2025-07-02 23:19

+Dexter +Jks

Going to be interesting what the plan is for this group

2025-07-01 22:41

+snav +dare

2025-07-01 22:44

that doesnt make sens wtff

The only explanation for this can be s1mple.

Phzy to metizport or Ganerlegion would be nice. Time for susp to leave this dying team now as well

2025-07-01 22:52

I mean phzy did really bad recently, missing cruical and giving away entries left and right. Thr swrdish duo nomizz and dottie addition could save this line up

2025-07-01 22:58

phzy turn from 17 yo looking kid to 40 yo grandpa in a year, this is what NA CS does to these guys

2025-07-01 23:05

+hades

Want some crazy shit prediction??? +Peeping +Krabeni

2025-07-01 23:07

stan finally free, hopefully ends up somewhere good, if only liquid didnt just sign an igl

2025-07-01 23:09

Broky?

2025-07-01 23:11

Omegalul

2025-07-01 23:13

stanislaw deserves better, king.

2025-07-01 23:22

+broky +Dexter

2025-07-01 23:48

wtf this org doing??????

2025-07-02 00:12

Phzy to Gamerlegion maybe?

2025-07-02 00:15

The phzy move is probably confusing on the surface, but I'm not sure I hate it. phzy is uber talented and can solo win maps, but he also makes some pretty dumbass decisions at times that can lose you just as many maps. The first OT t-side round on anubis vs BetBoom at the Austin Major comes to the front of the mind, for example. phzy is a great talent and I hope he continues on an upwards trajectory on his career, but he definitely has some more developing to do before he takes the next step

2025-07-02 00:33

Expected, phzy is really stupid player

2025-07-02 00:47

Wilcard going tier 2 EU masterful business strategy

2025-07-02 01:19

Snakeislaw backstabbed? Is daps still active? He'll end up there taking his place 100%

2025-07-02 01:23

+melio +binox, and this team will be top 10

2025-07-02 01:25

wildcard stewie2k awp?

2025-07-02 01:52

Wildcard simple wow

2025-07-02 02:16

WHY?!?!?!??! JUST WHY??!?!??! ARE YOU OKAY WHAT ARE YOU DOIGN!??!?RSD

2025-07-02 02:34

seems like a cluserfuck inside Wildcard rn

2025-07-02 02:48

phzy deserves promotion in good team

2025-07-02 02:50

Time for +floopy now

2025-07-02 03:11

WILDCARD PWNALONE

2025-07-02 03:34

Put Tmk there!!!!!

2025-07-02 03:36

Benched their best duo? Good luck Wildcard.

2025-07-02 03:55

Wildcard management def smoking some heavy stuff cuz aint no way

2025-07-02 04:11

+ skadoodle + stewie

2025-07-02 05:34

Rip... tier3 wildcard

2025-07-02 06:18

L move

2025-07-02 06:22

Here's a thought: What if coL are tired of the lack of results and progress and are willing to completely rebuild? - Grim back to Liquid to replace NAF - JT and hallzerk to Wildcard hallzerk hopefully almost has his visa issues sorted and JT + Sonic would mean Wildcard would still fall under NA in VRS thanks to the new rules.

2025-07-02 06:46

Feels like there's always a team too many in NA with no IGLs or AWPs in sight. No matter what, I'd buy Malbs back and dominate NA for next 10 years with 2 NA scrubs and 2 EU journeymen.

2025-07-02 08:57