Just a few days before the start of one of Counter Strike 2's biggest esports events of the year, the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, there is an insane rumor about one of the best players in the scene.
As the Counter-Strike 2 competitive scene braces for significant roster shakeups heading into 2025, one of the most intriguing rumors is the potential transfer of Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov to Team Falcons, following in the footsteps of his G2 Esports teammate Nikola "NiKo" Kovač.
m0NESY might follow NiKo to Falcons!
The news comes amid confirmation that NiKo, widely regarded as one of the greatest riflers in Counter-Strike history, will leave G2 at the end of the year to join the Saudi-backed Falcons. G2’s manager, Petar "peca" Marković, hinted at the imminent departure via Twitter/X, referring to the upcoming Perfect World Shanghai Major as the "Last Dance" for G2's current roster.
This follows G2’s signing of Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa in the summer, a move aimed at preparing for further roster changes after benching Nemanja "nexa" Isaković. malbsMd's natural roles are very similar to NiKo's.
Russian insider Aleksey "OverDrive" Biryukov has added fuel to the fire, claiming via his Telegram channel that m0NESY may be the next star to join Falcons. The 18-year-old prodigy would fill a critical gap left by Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev, who is currently on loan from Natus Vincere but will return to his home team in 2025.
With s1mple’s departure, Falcons are left with only one confirmed player, Emil "Magisk" Reif, and the rumored addition of NiKo.
Falcons looking for a new core
The rumors of m0NESY’s potential move come as Falcons undergo a major rebuild. After failing to qualify for the Shanghai Major, the organization benched Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer, Pavle "Maden" Bošković, and Peter "dupreeh" Rasmussen. The squad is now in desperate need of a new core to compete at the highest level. With Valve Rankings becoming the determining factor for Major invites starting in 2025, Falcons may seek to sign multiple players from G2 to secure ranking points alongside star talent.
One further logical addition would then be NiKo’s cousin, Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač, who has been instrumental in G2’s success alongside NiKo and m0NESY. While this remains speculative, the possibility of a package deal involving all three players is tantalizing. The Saudi org has the money for any buyout asked. However, there are also whispers of Falcons exploring other options, including Vitality’s in-game leader Dan "apEX" Madesclaire.
The Perfect World Shanghai Major, which begins this Saturday, is shaping up to be a historic event for CS2. It will likely be the final tournament for NiKo in a G2 jersey, and could mark the end of an era for one of Counter-Strike’s most iconic rosters. NiKo, often hailed as the greatest player never to win a Major, will be looking to leave G2 on a high.
As for m0NESY, his potential transfer to Falcons would signal a bold new chapter for both the young AWPer and the Falcons organization. With roster changes expected across the board after the Major, fans won’t have to wait long to see how these moves unfold. For now, all eyes are on Shanghai and the farewell performances of NiKo and G2’s star-studded lineup.
What do you think? Will m0NESY and NiKo continue to play together in 2025? What moves should G2 do, if they lose their core?