Unexpected Kicks of Pro Players in Esports: When Everything You Knew Turns Out to Be a Lie

Esports isn’t just about virtuoso clicks, strategic genius, and epic matches—it’s also about backstage dramas that sometimes overshadow even the loudest victories. One of the most painful aspects of this industry is unexpected “kicks”—player dismissals or benchings that come like a bolt from the blue. These decisions trigger a storm of emotions: from shock and fan outrage to memes and conspiracy theories. Why do teams part ways with heroes who brought them glory and trophies? Sometimes it’s reputational risks, sometimes sponsor pressure, and sometimes just cold calculation for the sake of new stars.
In this article, we’ll examine several high-profile cases that shook the entire esports community. These stories show how fragile the balance between team spirit and business can be.
CYPHER and Fnatic

In the Counter-Strike 2 world, the story of Kai “CYPHER” Watson and Fnatic became one of the most discussed in 2025. Fnatic, a legendary organization, was at risk of missing yet another Major, and in August 2025 they signed CYPHER as a temporary replacement. After he joined, the team accomplished the incredible: they qualified for Starladder Budapest Major 2025, playing an incredible number of tournaments to accumulate the necessary VRS points. CYPHER, a 22-year-old Brit, became a key element of success thanks to his aggressive style and wild desire to prove himself again at the main tournament.
But the joy didn’t last long. A few days after the triumph, Fnatic announced they were bringing in Ukrainian rifler jackasmo for the rest of the season, and CYPHER was headed to the bench. The official reason—”a strategic decision to strengthen the roster.” The community erupted with indignation. Team captain fear noted that the decision about the Major roster wasn’t final yet, but this didn’t calm the fans. CYPHER’s girlfriend wrote a viral post on social media: “Fnatic: ‘Come on, CYPHER, get us to the Major!’ And then: ‘Thanks, bye!'” CYPHER’s story became a symbol of how loyalty and merit in esports can be crossed out for the sake of “strategy.”
Pure and Virtus.pro

In April 2022, Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko from Virtus.pro (competing as Outsiders) provoked one of the loudest scandals in Dota 2. During a match against Mind Games in the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) qualifiers, Pure drew the letter “Z” on the minimap—a symbol associated with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. This happened during a pause, and although the drawing quickly disappeared and wasn’t noticed, screenshots spread across the internet.
The reaction was immediate: VALVE disqualified the team from the tournament, and Virtus.pro terminated Pure’s contract the next day, stating that his actions damaged the club’s reputation. Pure claimed it was “accidental” and “unintentional,” but in the context of the match, his explanations convinced few. The community was divided: some condemned him for bringing politics into the game, others considered the reaction too harsh. On forums, the player was called either a “victim of cancel culture” or a “provocateur.” This kick became an example of how one thoughtless action can destroy a team career and leave a stain on one’s reputation. Although, as we know, after some time Pure resumed his career and his performances turned out to be much more successful than Virtus.pro’s.
Zeus and NAVI

Danylo “Zeus” Teslenko is a CS:GO legend and one of the most recognizable IGLs in history. In 2016, NAVI fired him after a series of failures, despite his achievements in CS 1.6 and indescribable contribution to the team. The decision shocked fans: Zeus was the face of NAVI, a symbol of their perseverance and practically the originator of the tag. Instead of ending his career, he joined Gambit Esports, an underdog team, and accomplished the incredible.
In 2017, under his leadership, Gambit won the PGL Krakow Major, defeating Immortals in the final. It was the triumph of underdogs, and Zeus became a hero, proving NAVI’s mistake. Later he returned to NAVI and helped stabilize the team, winning several major trophies for them and nurturing several successors who became the organization’s backbone for many years to come. Fans called this kick “the worst in NAVI history”—it not only deprived the team of potential but simply erased several glorious years from its history. The situation with Zeus is an example of how exiling a legend can backfire on a team, while a player’s perseverance can lead to greatness. But most importantly—don’t be afraid to admit a mistake and draw the right conclusions.
Boombl4 and NAVI

Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov was NAVI’s IGL during their triumph at PGL Major Stockholm 2021—the organization’s first Major. But already in May 2022, he was removed, citing “high reputational risks.” Behind the scenes was a personal drama: his wife, Lika “LiQueen” Mikhailova, led an overly active public life, accusing Boombl4 of drug use and infidelity.
The scandal flared up on social media: LiQueen posted compromising material, and Boombl4 accused her of blackmail. They divorced 11 days after the kick. Fans were divided: some blamed LiQueen for destroying her husband’s career, others blamed NAVI for succumbing to pressure and removing a leader for the sake of reputation. Since then, Boombl4 hasn’t been able to fully return to tier-1, though he still continues trying.
KaiR0N and Virtus.pro

Alexander “KaiR0N” Anashkin joined Virtus.pro in January 2023 as a young aggressive rifler whom the team badly needed even after their triumph at ESL Rio Major 2022. However, just six months later, during the RMR for BLAST Paris Major, the team failed, and KaiR0N was replaced by David “n0rb3r7″ Danielyan right in the middle of the tournament. The official reason—”inability to adapt to LAN pressure.”
Virtus.pro, being the defending champions, failed to pass qualifications, which amplified the shock of the organization’s decision. KaiR0N later stated that the decision was a team one with no hard feelings, but fans saw panic in management. This kick simultaneously highlighted the brutality and consequences of rash decisions: one failure and you’re benched, one decision and you’re no longer the defending champion but a failure.
Rain and FaZe Clan

Another fresh story involves Håvard “rain” Nygaard, who was with FaZe Clan for almost 10 years, helping win numerous tournaments and surviving an incredible number of roster shuffles. But in September 2025, a month before Starladder Budapest Major 2025, FaZe benched him, bringing back Twistzz. While fans didn’t have many questions about Twistzz’s return, no one understood why the organization chose newcomer jcobbb over a living legend. Håvard not only lost the chance to celebrate his 10-year anniversary with the club but also lost a beautiful Last Dance with his beloved teammates.
Fans are still furious about this decision, and after rain’s unexpected participation at ESL Pro League S22, where the team reached the third-place match, they became convinced that Håvard is definitely not the weak link. Rain stated that he’s not retiring and is looking for a new team as a rifler or IGL. This kick marked the end of an era for one of CS’s most loyal players, showing that even a decade of loyalty doesn’t guarantee protection from sudden departure.
cadiaN and HEROIC

Casper “cadiaN” Møller was HEROIC’s IGL for four years and wasn’t just a leader on the server but literally the face and charisma of the organization. Casper nurtured many young players, all the media was built around him, and most importantly—he kept the team at the top of world CS, climbing to the first spot in the HLTV rankings. But in October 2023, he was unexpectedly removed. Behind this were stavn and jabbi, who initiated his departure, citing leadership problems and low morale. The pair issued an ultimatum: either cadiaN leaves, or they’ll go to competitors. HEROIC chose to keep the core, but stavn and jabbi soon ran off to Astralis anyway, for which fans instantly dubbed them “traitors.” Nicknames like “rats” haunt them to this day, and even the trio’s reunion in Astralis jerseys didn’t make the community forget this situation. After these events, neither cadiaN, nor Heroic, nor stavn and jabbi restored their former glory.

Author: Alex
Alex is an author and esports observer with more than seven years of experience. He specializes in analyzing new releases in the world of computer games, gaming services, and in-game economies. Alex shares practical experience and an expert perspective on the development of gaming, helping readers understand complex mechanics and stay up to date with the latest news.