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One of the most talked-about roster rumours in the Counter-Strike 2 scene has now been confirmed. G2 Esports and Team Liquid have officially completed a player swap that sends Guy “NertZ” Iluz to G2 while Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa joins Liquid.

Both organisations confirmed the move on social media, ending several days of speculation across the community. The transfer reshapes both line-ups heading into a busy run of tournaments and could also play a major role in Team Liquid’s qualification path for the upcoming Counter-Strike 2 Major.

The Confirmed G2 And Liquid Player Swap

The deal sees Israeli rifler NertZ move to G2 while Guatemalan entry-fragger malbsMd joins Team Liquid.

For G2, the signing reunites NertZ with familiar faces. He will once again play under coach Eetu “sAw” Saha and alongside Spanish AWPer Álvaro “SunPayus” García, both of whom previously worked with him during his time with ENCE.


Meanwhile, Liquid gains an aggressive rifler in malbsMd, a player known for his high-impact entry style at top-tier events. The organisation also confirmed the roster change at the same time as G2, signalling a coordinated transfer between the two teams.

The move had been heavily discussed by fans and analysts in recent days, but the simultaneous announcements from both organisations now make it official.

Why The Move Matters For Liquid’s Major Qualification

While the swap strengthens both teams competitively, it has particularly important implications for Team Liquid’s Major hopes.

Liquid currently sits outside the top 17 in the European Valve Regional Standings, which had placed their qualification path in danger ahead of the April 6 cut-off date.

By bringing in malbsMd, Liquid returns to an American core roster. That shift moves the team back into the Americas qualification region, significantly improving their chances of securing a Major spot through the regional system.

However, there is still a requirement both teams must meet. Each roster must play at least five official matches with the new players before the April 6 invite deadline in order for the line-ups to be recognised.

If Liquid fails to complete those matches in time, the team could still miss the Major despite having sufficient ranking points.

NertZ Looks To Rebound With G2

NertZ arrives at G2 following a relatively quiet stint with Team Liquid.

During his time on the roster, his rating dropped to 1.05, which is noticeably lower than the form he showed earlier in his career. In 2023 he was named Rookie of the Year and ranked the 13th best player in the world, while maintaining ratings above 1.12 during his time with ENCE and HEROIC.

The reunion with sAw and SunPayus could help the Israeli rifler rediscover that level. Their previous collaboration at ENCE produced some of the strongest results of his career.

For G2, the addition also comes at a time when the team is rebuilding following the departures of Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov earlier in the season.

malbsMd Leaves G2 After Difficult Period

Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa joined G2 with high expectations but struggled to consistently reach his best form after the roster changes that followed the departures of NiKo and m0NESY.

Despite those challenges, he remains known as one of the more explosive entry players in the professional scene. Liquid appears to be betting on that aggressive playstyle to strengthen their front line.

The move also helps reshape Liquid’s regional identity as the organisation returns to a roster structure more closely aligned with the Americas scene.

Upcoming Tournaments Will Debut The New Rosters

Both teams now face a tight schedule as they rush to complete the required number of matches before the Major cut-off.

G2 is expected to debut NertZ at upcoming events including BC.Game Masters and Stake Ranked Episode 1. These tournaments will help the roster reach the five-match requirement for Major eligibility.

Team Liquid has an even busier path. Alongside BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026, the squad is scheduled to attend events such as DraculaN and the WINAMAX Counter-Strike 2 Trophy.

Liquid is also currently competing at the Roman Imperium Cup VI with Justinas “jL” Lekavicius standing in temporarily before the roster fully stabilises.

Updated Counter-Strike 2 Rosters

G2 Esports

Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač
Matúš “MATYS” Šimko
Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko
Álvaro “SunPayus” García
Guy “NertZ” Iluz

Coach: Eetu “sAw” Saha

Team Liquid

Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
Keith “NAF” Markovic
Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek
Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak
Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa

Coach: Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea

With the Major qualification deadline approaching fast, both organisations now face the same immediate challenge, getting enough official matches played with their new players before April 6.

If the rosters settle quickly, this swap could end up shaping not only the future of G2 and Liquid, but also the final lineup of teams competing at the next Counter-Strike 2 Major.