Virtus.pro have named Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy as their new in-game leader in Counter-Strike 2, taking over captain duties after Denis “electroNic” Sharipov was benched last week. The move was announced on 1 September, with the organisation saying the decision was unanimous following discussions within the team.
.@perfectocsgo — the new IGL of Virtus.рro CS2 team ✊
After thorough discussions within the team, we unanimously agreed that Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy the best candidate for the role of captain and will take on IGL duties in the upcoming tournaments.
We are confident that his… pic.twitter.com/HSLZBEved2
— Virtus.pro (@virtuspro) September 1, 2025
Perfecto only joined Virtus.pro in June 2025, but the Russian squad believe his experience and game knowledge can help stabilise results after what has been a rocky season. Virtus.pro have managed just one LAN win out of seven attempts this year, including last place finishes at BLAST Open London and FISSURE Playground.
A surprising choice for IGL
Despite his decorated career as a support and anchor player, Perfecto has never been known as a shotcaller. Virtus.pro stressed that his “professional experience, deep understanding of the game, and leadership qualities” were the driving factors behind the appointment.
The community’s reaction, however, has been mixed. Many fans and analysts have questioned why VP did not bring back Jame, or sign a proven IGL like Boombl4 or 1eeR. Some pointed to former NAVI coach B1ad3, who once suggested Perfecto could be moulded into an IGL, as a reason to give the experiment a chance.
Didn’t Blade say that he initially wanted perfecto to be NaVis IGL before elec asked for it? If i remember that correctly i’m excited to see how this goes. He needs a good coach to make the transition smoother. (And +Flamus, please.)
— Phil (@N0tjace) September 1, 2025
Others were far less forgiving. On social media, fans called the decision “one step forward, five steps back,” with some suggesting VP are “allergic to real IGLs after Jame.”
Just sign an actual IGL. You have three decent options: Jame, Boombl4, and 1eeR. If you can bring back Jame you solve both issues of awp and IGL and can bring back FL4MUS. Best of luck to Perfecto nonetheless.
— Devotion1 (@DevotionCS) September 1, 2025
Criticism ranged from calls to promote academy players to demands that the roster be completely rebuilt. One blunt comment summed up the mood: “Just disband already.”
What’s next for VP?
Perfecto now leads a lineup of:
- Evgenii “FL1T” Lebedev
- Petr “fame” Bolyshev
- Kaisar “ICY” Faiznurov
- Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy (IGL)
- Ivan “F_1N” Kochugov (coach)
Inactive: Timur “FL4MUS” Marev, Denis “electroNic” Sharipov, David “n0rb3r7” Danielyan (loaned to HOTU)
Virtus.pro will debut under Perfecto’s leadership at FISSURE Playground 2 in Belgrade beginning on 12 September. The $1.25 million event features heavy hitters including The MongolZ, Falcons, FURIA, Aurora, and FaZe.
Whether Perfecto’s leadership can turn Virtus.pro’s fortunes around, or if the critics are right about the need for a proper IGL, will soon be put to the test.