zews also departs Liquid’s Counter-Strike roster

It’s been a tumultuous time for the Team Liquid Counter-Strike roster lately. Hot on the heels of benching their star player cadiaN, the organization has now lost another crucial piece – their head coach, zews. This double blow represents a major shakeup for Liquid as they try to chart a new course forward. Both zews and cadiaN were central to Liquid’s identity and strategic approach over the past few years. Their combined vision and leadership were instrumental in the team’s successes, including multiple championship runs. Their departure leaves a significant void that will be challenging to fill. Whoever steps up to replace these two pillars will have to essentially rebuild the team from the ground up, without the benefit of their proven expertise.

In the short term, this will likely result in a dip in Liquid’s performance. They’ll be lucky to even win a premier-tier tournament in 2025, as they work to find their footing with a revamped roster and coaching staff. Establishing a new system, developing chemistry, and fine-tuning strategies will all take time. It’s a tough situation, but Liquid’s management clearly feels drastic changes are necessary to improve the team’s fortunes in the upcoming CS2 era. The organization likely hopes that with a clean slate, they can uncover new talent and leadership to take the team to the next level. But there are no guarantees, and Liquid fans may be in for a bumpy ride as the squad navigates this transition. Only time will tell if the short-term pain leads to long-term gain for this storied North American esports franchise.

Zews’ influence

Zews joined the Liquid CS2 roster at the tail end of 2023, but his tenure with the team was short-lived – just six months. Prior to this, he had worked as a head coach for other prominent North American and South American organizations like MIBR, Evil Geniuses, and Fluxo. He was brought in to help turn Liquid’s fortunes around after a disappointing year. In his brief time with Liquid, Zews was able to make a noticeable impact, guiding the squad from around 25th in the world rankings all the way up to 11th. This was a solid improvement, but clearly not up to the lofty standards Liquid had set for themselves. The team had their sights set on winning championships again, but they kept falling short in the playoffs. Perhaps the most crushing disappointment was missing out on qualification for the major event in Copenhagen – a crucial goal they were unable to achieve. Liquid had been to the past six CS2 majors, so this failure to secure a spot at such a prestigious tournament was a huge blow to the organization and its dedicated fanbase.

Liquid’s results in the latter part of 2024 were similarly underwhelming. They could only manage 5th-6th place finishes at IEM Chengdu, 5th-8th at ESL Pro League S19, and 7th-8th at IEM Dallas. These mid-tier placements were simply not good enough for a team of Liquid’s stature and ambitions. In the past, Liquid had been one of the most consistent and successful North American CS2 teams. They had won multiple big events, including the Intel Grand Slam in 2018, and were always a threat to make deep runs at the majors. But over the past couple years, their form had significantly declined, and they found themselves struggling to maintain their elite status.

Zews came in with the goal of reigniting that championship pedigree, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to get the results needed to satisfy Liquid’s ownership. The organization clearly felt that more drastic changes were required to turn things around. Liquid’s management likely knew that Zews’ impact would be limited given the short timeframe, but they were hoping he could at least steady the ship and provide a foundation for future success. Unfortunately, the team’s continued underperformance, culminating in the painful missed major, ultimately proved to be his undoing. Whoever takes over as Liquid’s new head coach will face a daunting task. Not only will they need to build a cohesive and high-performing roster from the ground up, but they’ll also have to restore the team’s confidence and rekindle the winning spirit that had made Liquid such a force to be reckoned with in the past.

It’s unclear exactly what kind of overhaul Liquid has planned, but a complete rebuild seems inevitable at this point. The organization will need to make some bold decisions and investments if they hope to reclaim their spot among CS2 elite in the coming years. For now, Liquid fans will have to brace themselves for a potential downturn in results as the team finds its footing under new leadership. But if the right moves are made, there’s still hope that this iconic North American franchise can rise from the ashes and challenge for trophies once again. The road ahead may be long and arduous, but Liquid’s die-hard supporters will be eagerly awaiting a return to the team’s former glory.

What’s next?

At the moment, the future plans for Liquid, Zews, and cadiaN remain shrouded in uncertainty. However, we can make some educated guesses about the potential paths forward for these key figures in the CS2 scene. It seems almost certain that Zews will be returning to his native Brazil to take on a new coaching role with one of the larger organizations in the region. The veteran tactician has a proven track record of success in South America, having previously worked with powerhouse teams like MIBR and Fluxo. Heading back to familiar territory and a new project could be an enticing next step for Zews. During his brief tenure with Liquid, Zews was able to make a noticeable impact, guiding the squad from around 25th in the world rankings all the way up to 11th. While this was a solid improvement, it clearly wasn’t enough to satisfy Liquid’s lofty ambitions. The organization had its sights set on reclaiming its former glory and winning championships again, but they kept falling short in the playoffs. Perhaps the most crushing disappointment was Liquid’s failure to qualify for the major event in Copenhagen – a crucial goal they were unable to achieve. Liquid had been a fixture at the past six CS2 majors, so this inability to secure a spot at such a prestigious tournament was a huge blow to the organization and its dedicated fanbase.

As for cadiaN, the indications are that he will be heading back to Europe in the near future. But the big question is: which team will welcome him with open arms? Will he end up joining the likes of Astralis or G2 Esports, two of the region’s powerhouse organizations? Or perhaps a rising squad like HEROIC could offer him an opportunity to showcase his talents as an in-game leader. cadiaN’s options may be somewhat limited, especially if he is determined to be a part of a team capable of achieving great results. One potential landing spot could be Team Falcons. The Scandinavian-based roster has been underperforming lately, with captain Snappi failing to live up to expectations. For a talented IGL like cadiaN, joining Falcons and playing alongside fellow Danes could be an intriguing proposition.

The path forward for Liquid is also unclear, but one intriguing possibility is the potential return of nitr0. With the veteran player shifting his focus back to CS2 from Valorant, there’s a good chance he’ll assume the in-game leader role once again. At nearly 29 years old, this could be nitr0’s last chance to achieve something truly special and win a coveted Major championship. Liquid’s options may be limited, but bringing back a proven leader like nitr0 could provide a much-needed boost. His familiarity with the organization and his track record of success could be invaluable as Liquid tries to rebuild and reclaim their status as an elite CS2 team. In the past, Liquid had been one of the most consistent and successful North American CS2 teams. They had won multiple big events, including the Intel Grand Slam in 2018, and were always a threat to make deep runs at the majors. But over the past couple years, their form had significantly declined, and they found themselves struggling to maintain their elite status. Zews came in with the goal of reigniting that championship pedigree, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to get the results needed to satisfy Liquid’s ownership. The organization clearly felt that more drastic changes were required to turn things around.

Liquid’s management likely knew that Zews’ impact would be limited given the short timeframe, but they were hoping he could at least steady the ship and provide a foundation for future success. Unfortunately, the team’s continued underperformance, culminating in the painful missed major, ultimately proved to be his undoing. Whoever takes over as Liquid’s new head coach will face a daunting task. Not only will they need to build a cohesive and high-performing roster from the ground up, but they’ll also have to restore the team’s confidence and rekindle the winning spirit that had made Liquid such a force to be reckoned with in the past. It’s unclear exactly what kind of overhaul Liquid has planned, but a complete rebuild seems inevitable at this point. The organization will need to make some bold decisions and investments if they hope to reclaim their spot among CS2 elite in the coming years. For now, Liquid fans will have to brace themselves for a potential downturn in results as the team finds its footing under new leadership. But if the right moves are made, there’s still hope that this iconic North American franchise can rise from the ashes and challenge for trophies once again. The road ahead may be long and arduous, but Liquid’s die-hard supporters will be eagerly awaiting a return to the team’s former glory.

Of course, these are just speculations, and the actual outcomes may vary. The professional CS2 landscape is constantly evolving, and the decisions made by these key individuals and organizations will ultimately shape the future of the scene. One thing is certain, though – the CS2 community will be closely following these developments with great anticipation.