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Brazilian organisation Imperial Esports has officially unveiled its brand-new European Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) academy roster in partnership with long-time sponsor Gamdom. The move marks another major step in Imperial’s global expansion and a clear signal that the org wants to nurture the next generation of CS2 talent.

The new squad, named the Gamdom Imperial Academy, brings together some of Europe’s most promising young players:

  • Nikita “Aliot” Kovalev, 20 (Russia)
  • Maksym “ta9zqq” Hrytsai, 16 (Ukraine)
  • Artem “oNESTLY” Kobziev, 17 (Ukraine)
  • Tristan “sh1Fu” Jensen, 16 (Denmark)
  • Frederik “Kragh” Kragh, 18 (Denmark)

The academy will be led by Head Coach Hyskeee alongside Assistant Coach Bubble, two experienced figures tasked with building structure and discipline around the squad’s raw potential.

Imperial described the project as “more than just a team” in their announcement, calling it an investment in the future of esports. The vision is to blend Imperial’s established culture and winning mentality with Europe’s rising stars, creating an environment where young players can grow, learn, and eventually compete at the highest levels.

This is Imperial’s third active CS2 roster, joining their main team, which continues to compete in Tier 1 events, and their female squad, Imperial Fe, which made history earlier this year by becoming the first women’s team to qualify for IEM Katowice.

Gamdom Imperial CS2 Academy Roster

Image Credit: ESL FaceIt Group

Expanding into Europe

The launch of the Gamdom Imperial Academy is also a key move in strengthening the organisation’s international presence. Imperial has long been one of Brazil’s most recognisable names in CS, but 2025 has been all about branching out. Earlier this year, they replaced PaiN Gaming at BLAST Open London and also picked up silverware at Circuito FERJEE 2025 after defeating Legacy 2-0 in the finals.

Currently, Imperial sits 43rd in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), just outside the top 32 needed to qualify for the StarLadder Budapest Major in November. While the main roster is chasing Tier 1 success, the academy roster is designed to provide a pipeline of talent that can keep Imperial competitive for years to come.

Imperial now joins the likes of BIG and The MongolZ, who have also invested in academy rosters to give aspiring players a platform on the CS2 stage. For fans, this means even more eyes will be on the European tier-two scene as new names fight to break through.

With Gamdom backing the project and a lineup filled with hungry youngsters, the Gamdom Imperial Academy looks set to play an exciting role in shaping the future of Counter-Strike esports.