Roster changes at Liquid, r1nkle joins G2, and Astralis’s outlook—highlights from the latest episode of the Counter-Points podcast with Pimp
A new episode of the Counter-Points podcast featuring analyst Jakob “Pimp” Winneke is now available. Here’s a quick rundown of the highlights in our article.
On tournament formats, the BLAST Bounty series, and Team Spirit’s chances
Pimp spoke positively about the variety of tournament formats in Counter-Strike 2, noting that strong teams must perform equally well both online and at LAN events, as well as be prepared for best-of-1 matches. At the same time, the analyst admitted that he would like to see players make their debuts in the updated rosters right on stage, since the first online matches don’t fully capture the feeling of a new season beginning.
Pimp also spoke highly of the BLAST Bounty concept. According to him, the ability to choose opponents independently makes the tournament more interesting, fosters new matchups, and motivates underdogs to challenge the favorites, leading to unexpected results. The analyst cited the online format of the opening stage as the only drawback, though he noted that a full-scale LAN event for all 32 teams would be too costly. In addition, Pimp considers Team Spirit the top contender to win BLAST Bounty Summer 2026, citing the team’s strong form, successful performance at the Major, and donk’s return to his best form following roster changes.
On Team Liquid’s situation, the signing of JT, and Jorko’s departure
Pimp believes that Team Liquid is no longer as attractive an organization for players as it once was. According to the analyst, the current roster is unable to attract young stars because the team has an inexperienced coach, and some of the players are no longer at the peak of their form. He believes the club should focus on building a roster around EliGE and create conditions that will help him return to his best form.
Pimp also spoke highly of the signing of captain JT, noting that at Complexity Gaming, he consistently achieved results beyond his roster’s capabilities and was not the cause of the team’s failures. The analyst believes that the South African is capable of bringing Liquid back to the Tier 1 level. At the same time, he called Jorko’s move a risky but justified decision, emphasizing that the team needed a replacement for ultimate in any case. According to Pimp, the Bulgarian sniper has potential, and continuing with the previous player would have looked even less promising.
On SunPayus’s replacement, the signing of r1nkle, and the G2 Esports roster
Pimp believes that G2 Esports made the right decision in parting ways with SunPayus, as the team needed a marksman capable of having a greater impact on match outcomes. At the same time, the analyst noted that there is currently a shortage of snipers on the transfer market, which is likely why the club couldn’t make this decision sooner.
That said, Pimp criticized G2’s decision to sign r1nkle. In his opinion, the Ukrainian sniper isn’t a significant upgrade over SunPayus, and signing kl1m—who proved himself during his loan stint at MIBR—would have been a more logical move. Despite this, the analyst gave a positive assessment of G2’s revamped roster, highlighting huNter’s progress as captain, the high level of play from HeavyGod and MATYS, and expressing hope that NertZ will be able to return to his best form under sAw’s leadership.
On NEO’s appointment, Astralis’ prospects, and the role of coaches
Pimp gave a positive assessment of NEO’s appointment as Astralis’ head coach, though he admitted that he does not yet view the Polish coach as a fully established professional. According to the analyst, FaZe Clan rarely gave the impression of being a team with a clear gameplay system, so he is curious to see what kind of approach NEO will be able to establish at his new club. Pimp also believes that the coaching change was necessary, as ruggah failed to unlock the roster’s potential, and suggested that Astralis now needs not only a tactical coach but also an experienced leader. Furthermore, the analyst spoke highly of Astralis’ roster potential, singling out Staehr as the team’s top star and suggesting that the Dane is capable of playing for a higher-level club.
Speaking about modern coaches, Pimp noted that many of them get jobs thanks to their successful playing careers rather than their coaching experience. He cited gla1ve as an example, emphasizing that he is not ready to automatically consider him a strong coach solely because of his outstanding achievements as a captain.
Read also:
- Pimp on BLAST Bounty Summer 2026: “I have no doubt that Spirit will give it their all to win this event” (first part of the podcast).
- Pimp on Team Liquid’s CS2 roster: “To be honest, right now I don’t see any reason to join that team” (second part of the podcast).
- Pimp: “Why didn’t G2 sign kl1m from their academy? He performed exceptionally well on loan at MIBR” (third part of the podcast).
- Pimp on NEO joining Astralis: “Maybe they just need a father figure of sorts” (fourth part of the podcast).
Earlier, analyst Jakob “Pimp” Winneke named the top contenders for the title of best player of 2026. In his opinion, only donk, ZywOo, and m0NESY remain in the running, as they are significantly ahead of the other candidates.
Photo by Igor Bezborodov, StarLadder.
