The CIS scene might’ve found their new kings.

Team Spirit just signed sh1ro from C9, adding a star to go along with their re-donk-ulous talent.

This team looks like it has no weaknesses. zont1x and magixx have both proven to be talents and are incredibly adept at their roles. Chopper is the only mechanically iffy player, and he’s one of - if not the best - IGL in the CIS region.

Is it a little crazy to change a roster right after winning your first top event? Sure. But can you blame them?

sh1ro is an incredible AWPer, and he’s proved as much on Gambit and Cloud9. The 22-year-old has four HLTV MVPs, was previously the 4th and 3rd best player in the world, and was waisting away on the bench. For Spirit, this was a no brainer.

Although there’s one big loser in this deal.

You can’t deny it’s a little harsh to give ArtFr0st the boot since he hasn’t exactly underperformed. He’s been a hard-hitting AWPing machine even as recently as last week's BetBoom Dacha final. But his downfall is his stat drop-off when playing against the better teams, and for a team trying to contend, that won’t cut it.

sh1ro is a nearly perfect AWPer, which is exactly what Spirit needs to be tipped over the edge.

Team Spirit will start 2024 with:

🇷🇺 sh1ro
🇺🇦 zont1x
🇷🇺 donk
🇷🇺 magixx
🇷🇺 chopper