HooXi took a break from social media amid threats directed at Astralis players following their elimination from the IEM Cologne Major 2026
Alexey Mikhailov
Astralis captain Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen announced he is temporarily stepping away from social media following his team’s elimination from the IEM Cologne Major 2026.
The Danish player’s decision was prompted by a barrage of abusive messages—haters criticized the team for their disappointing performance at the Major and threatened violence against HooXi and his teammates.
In light of this, Astralis management released a statement condemning the fans’ actions and calling for support for the team:
The online harassment our players are currently facing is unacceptable.
There is no excuse for such messages. We win and lose together.
No player or club staff member deserves hatred or personal attacks for giving their all for the team.
Astralis lost to paiN Gaming on the third day of the second stage of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 with a 0-2 map score. HooXi’s team finished the tournament in 20th–22nd place and received $10,000 in prize money.
Alexey Mikhailov
