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Team Spirit have officially announced significant changes to their Counter-Strike 2 roster following the StarLadder Budapest Major and a full review of their 2025 season. The Russian organisation confirmed that long-time captain Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov and rifler Ivan “zweih” Gogin have both been removed from the starting lineup with immediate effect.

The decision marks a major turning point for Spirit as they look to reset heading into the 2026 competitive calendar.

chopper and zweih Move to the Bench

According to the organisation, the roster changes were made after analysing the team’s results across the season, particularly after their semi-final exit at the Budapest Major. Spirit were eliminated 0–2 by eventual champions Vitality, despite throwing away a commanding 12–6 lead on Mirage in the opening map.

While zweih and chopper both remain under contract, they will no longer feature in the active lineup. Head coach Sergey “hally” Shavaev described the decision as difficult, especially in zweih’s case, praising the young player’s talent while admitting he does not currently fit the team’s role structure at the highest level.

magixx Takes Over as In-Game Leader

One of the most notable changes sees Boris “magixx” Vorobiev stepping into the in-game leader role. Spirit have publicly backed magixx to handle the responsibility, saying they have full confidence in his ability to adapt quickly.

The move is not a complete surprise. magixx previously stated on HLTV Confirmed that he was open to becoming an IGL, and the organisation believes his experience makes him a strong fit to lead the refreshed roster into the new season.

zont1x Returns After Time Away

Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia also returns to the active roster, resuming his original positions after spending time on the bench due to personal reasons. Spirit confirmed that zont1x has taken the time he needed to rest, address personal matters, and is now fully refreshed and eager to compete again.

Coach hally explained that this planned rotation allowed the team to both reset mentally and evaluate newer players at tier-one level, giving Spirit clearer direction heading into 2026.

A Mixed but Successful 2025 Season

Despite a disappointing end to the year, Spirit’s 2025 campaign included several major highlights. The team lifted trophies at IEM Cologne 2025 and PGL Astana 2025, while also winning both the BLAST Bounty Spring and Fall events.

However, consistency proved elusive. Spirit struggled in the final quarter of the year and recorded early exits at events such as ESL Pro League Seasons 21 and 22, IEM Chengdu 2025, and the Esports World Cup. Those results ultimately pushed management to make bold changes.

It is also the second time chopper has been benched since joining Spirit in 2019. The veteran IGL famously returned stronger after a previous benching in 2021, later guiding the team to a Major victory in 2024 and finishing runner-up for IGL of the Year at the HLTV Awards.

Team Spirit’s New CS2 Lineup

Following the announcement, Spirit’s updated roster now looks like this:

  • Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
  • Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov
  • Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
  • Boris “magixx” Vorobiev (IGL)
  • Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia

Coach: Sergey “hally” Shavaev
Benched: Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov, Ivan “zweih” Gogin

Eyes on BLAST Bounty 2026

The new-look Spirit squad is expected to make its debut in early 2026, starting with BLAST Bounty Season 1, which kicks off on January 12 with an online stage featuring 32 teams.

With magixx leading and zont1x back in form, Spirit are betting that stability and renewed motivation will help them regain consistency and remain a top contender in CS2 next year.