Thorin: “Replacing Aleksib on NAVI never made sense”

Pimp: It’s pretty hard to assess Natus Vincere’s current state, but the team has clearly halted its prolonged slump and is starting to look like its former self. The team hasn’t yet returned to the level where it can be called a surefire contender for the Major playoffs, but victories over G2 Esports and FURIA at PGL Masters Bucharest prove that the roster has stabilized. Beating the Brazilian club in a best-of-three series right after they won the championship is a respectable achievement. Just a month ago, there was intense discussion about the risk of NAVI failing to qualify for the season’s main tournament, which would have led to the inevitable dissolution of the entire project. Now that the worst-case scenario has been averted, the question is how long it will take for the team to make a full recovery. Amid their failures at the EWC and ESL Pro League, many have forgotten that just four months ago, before IEM Cologne, Natus Vincere—along with Team Vitality—was considered the top favorite. The five-man roster had already proven its ability to win titles and demonstrate perfect synergy; they simply couldn’t regain that form after the summer break. Their current results serve as a reminder that this is still a top-tier team.

Pimp: The main bright spot for Natus Vincere remains w0nderful’s performance, as he consistently maintained a high level of play both during the team’s rise and triumph at IEM Atlanta, as well as during the subsequent slump. While makazze, b1t, and Aleksib were going through an obvious slump, the sniper continued to play at a high level. w0nderful, along with b1t, is virtually guaranteed to retain his spot in the starting lineup for next year. He’s having a strong season, and if the organization decides not to renew his contract, he’ll instantly become the top transfer target for many top clubs. For example, his move to G2 Esports could completely solve that team’s sniper problem.

In Counter-Strike, it’s very easy to start reacting impulsively due to the packed schedule—tournaments take place every week, constantly changing how teams are assessed. Nevertheless, it’s still too early to talk about a full-fledged return of Natus Vincere to the ranks of the top favorites—their decline has been halted, but the recovery process has only just begun. Historically, under B1ad3’s leadership, this team has always been able to build momentum smoothly and peak just in time for the Major. Their recent group stage victories over G2 Esports and FURIA are an exceptionally positive sign. The current championship in Bucharest will reveal whether the roster is stagnating or ready to steadily raise its level ahead of the season’s main tournament.

Thorin: Replacing Aleksib on NAVI never made sense, since in most of the matches they lost, the team still took a lot of rounds on attack or consistently planted the bomb. The problem wasn’t the captain’s or coach’s decisions, but a simple lack of individual skill—the players simply couldn’t outgun their opponents. The criticism directed at Aleksib is unfounded, since the tactical structure worked properly, and the setbacks were caused by specific players underperforming at key moments.

B1ad3’s work commands immense respect; he completely restructured the team’s map pool without anyone noticing. Unlike Team Falcons, which has hesitated for months to test Cache and is keeping its trump cards up its sleeve, Natus Vincere took a bold step and changed its ban system. The team began performing successfully on Cache and chose Dust2 as its permanent ban—which makes sense, given the exceptionally high level of play by top clubs on that map. Statistics from the last seven LAN series show that NAVI now prefers to use a varied ban list. The roster did not make Cache their primary map, following the example of FaZe Clan or MOUZ, but instead learned to flexibly adapt their picks to a specific opponent: Nuke, Ancient, Cache, or Anubis. This versatility has brought Natus Vincere back into the world’s elite.