500 Confirms Exit From Counter-Strike
500 Esports has officially withdrawn from Counter-Strike, bringing its CS2 project to an end following a recent rule change introduced by Valve. The decision was confirmed through a series of posts on X from both the organisation and its players, marking a sudden and difficult start to 2026 for the team.
With the new rule from valve, @500esports organisation is closing its doors on cs as a whole 😅
that being said, me and the team are looking for an organisation but i am also open to offers individually!
interesting start to the new year. https://t.co/XuP0dWq3fZ
— Tsvetelin Dimitrov (@cerq) January 2, 2026
The organisation thanked supporters for the journey, while confirming it would no longer operate in the Counter-Strike ecosystem.
Valve Rule Change Forces Financial Reality
The exit follows Valve’s latest update to its Tournament Operation Requirements, which bans skin gambling and case opening platforms from appearing on team jerseys or being promoted at events. This move significantly tightened restrictions on partnerships tied to CS2 skins and betting platforms.
According to player statements and organisational sources, the change removed a key revenue stream, making continued operation financially unviable. As a result, management chose to disband the roster and fully exit the CS2 market.
Players Speak Out On Social Media
United Kingdom rifler Cai CYPHER Watson was among the first to confirm the news publicly, stating that 500 Esports was closing its Counter-Strike division due to the new Valve rules. He added that both he and the rest of the team are now actively searching for a new organisation, while remaining open to individual offers.
with the new rule from valve, @500esports organisation is closing its doors on cs as a whole 😅
that being said, me and the team are looking for an organisation but i am also open to offers individually!
interesting start to the new year but will always bounce back 🤠
— cai✨ (@cyphercsgo_) January 2, 2026
Bulgarian AWPer Tsvetelin CeRq Dimitrov echoed the same message, confirming the roster’s availability and calling the situation an unexpected start to the new year.
The End Of A Three Year Run
500 Esports entered Counter-Strike at the end of 2022 after signing the former SKADE core, beginning what became a three year stint in the scene. For much of that period, the organisation fielded majority Bulgarian lineups and established itself as a consistent presence in tier two competition.
At its peak, 500 reached an HLTV world ranking of 22nd in 2023 and later achieved a VRS ranking high of 25th in 2025. While the team never broke into tier one events, it was widely regarded as a strong challenger on the European circuit.
Shift To An International Roster
In mid 2025, 500 Esports pivoted away from its Bulgarian core and signed an international lineup, bringing in Hampus hampus Poser, Sebastian volt Maloș and Daniel djL Narancic as coach. CYPHER joined later in the year as the roster continued to evolve.
Results were mixed, with the team struggling to gain consistent traction, though it closed out 2025 with top four finishes at the NODWIN Clutch Series 2 and CCT Season 3 Europe Series 12.
Final 500 CS2 Roster
Before disbanding, the final 500 Esports Counter-Strike roster consisted of:
- Hampus “hampus “Poser
- Tsvetelin “CeRq” Dimitrov
- Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov
- Cai “CYPHER’ Watson
- Sebastian “volt’ Maloș
Coach
- Daniel “djL “Narancic
What Comes Next
With 500 Esports stepping away from Counter-Strike entirely, the players now enter the transfer market at a time when organisations across CS2 are adjusting to Valve’s stricter commercial rules. The situation highlights how impactful the new regulations are proving to be, especially for teams reliant on skin related sponsorships.
As the scene continues to adapt, more changes may follow across the competitive Counter-Strike landscape.