In the world of competitive Counter-Strike, the importance of a strong in-game leader cannot be overstated. G2 Esports, a team with immense firepower but recent struggles, finds itself in need of a more dynamic and structured approach to leadership. The solution? Signing Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek.
siuhy's benching in January came as a shock to many. The German organization cited "differing visions for the team's direction" as the reason for parting ways with the 22-year-old IGL. However, MOUZ’s subsequent success with Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin taking over the calling and Lotan "Spinx" Giladi’s addition - culminating in their recent PGL Cluj-Napoca victory - does not diminish siuhy's proven capabilities. If anything, it highlights that MOUZ had the luxury of a strong leader on the bench, someone more than just a "prospect."
siuhy's Resume: A Proven Leader at Just 22
At a young age, siuhy has already built an impressive resume. He has taken multiple rosters into Major playoffs, with the pinnacle being his 2023 BLAST.tv Paris Major grand final run with Gamer Legion. He then returned to MOUZ, where he led them to two ESL Pro League titles. Unlike many older IGLs, such as Finn "karrigan" Andersen or Leonid "chopper" Vishnyakov, who often struggle with individual stats, siuhy has consistently shown he can be a valuable fragger while leading his team.
Siuhy pistol ACE vs team vitality what a start Blast Premier pic.twitter.com/UpQ0y6DoXV
— CS2 Preview (@CS2_preview) November 1, 2024
The Best Destinations: Liquid or G2?
Looking at the current CS landscape, there are two realistic destinations for siuhy: Liquid and G2. Liquid could certainly use him, but this move would require displacing Russell "Twistzz" Van Dulken from the role he wanted to take on and possibly removing Justin "jks" Savage from the lineup. This feels like it would create more questions than answers.
G2, on the other hand, presents a much more seamless fit. siuhy could be a direct 1:1 replacement for their current IGL, Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski, and most importantly, an upgrade.
Why Replacing Snax Makes Sense
Snax, a legendary figure in Counter-Strike, has made a commendable transition from star rifler to IGL. At 31 years old, he found recent success as a leader, taking Gamer Legion to the Copenhagen Major in early 2024. When G2 benched Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen last summer, they turned to Snax, reuniting him with former Virtus.pro teammate and current G2 coach Viktor "TaZ" Wojtas.
While this move initially bore fruit - G2 won the BLAST Fall and World Finals in late 2024 - things have changed. Nikola "NiKo" Kovač's departure has left a significant void in both firepower and mid-round calling. As it stands, G2 is struggling, particularly on the CT side, where NiKo had been instrumental in calling rotations.
One of the biggest issues with G2’s current structure is in fact the calling. A mobile in-game leader, like Vitality’s Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, can comfortably play rotator spots on the CT side, while also being an active voice in calling on the T side. siuhy fits this mold perfectly. Snax, on the other hand, is a pure anchor on CT. This forces Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač to take on a larger share of calling duties, similar to how NiKo did previously. This creates unnecessary pressure on G2’s star riflers, distracting them from their primary job - winning duels and putting up big numbers.
Additionally, G2’s role adjustments haven’t fully clicked. New addition Nikita "HeavyGod" Martynenko has taken over Mario "MalbsMD" Samayoa’s old anchor duties, while MalbsMD has moved into NiKo’s roles. Despite these adjustments, G2 still lacks a strong, structured voice in-game and, ideally, an IGL capable of contributing solid fragging numbers.
The Verdict: G2 Needs siuhy
If G2 wants to return to being a legitimate title contender, signing siuhy is the move to make. While the existing chemistry between TaZ and Snax is undeniable, G2 must prioritize performance and potential over nostalgia.
siuhy would provide the structure, mobility, and fragging ability that G2 desperately needs. He would allow HeavyGod, huNter-, MalbsMD, and m0NESY to focus purely on their mechanics rather than splitting attention between calling and fragging. It is also important to point out, that this would further decrease G2's average age. With only huNter- then being older than 22 years of age! An incredible prospect to have, a young roster with sky-high potential.
In a game where the margins between winning and losing are razor-thin, G2 cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Signing siuhy isn’t just a good idea - it’s the move that could redefine G2’s future.