G2 Esports has officially benched veteran Polish in-game leader Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski, marking the latest chapter in the organization’s aggressive restructuring of its Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) roster during the 2025 season. The decision, confirmed via G2’s official social media channels, reflects ongoing strategic changes following a turbulent competitive campaign that began with the departure of two key superstars.
“We can’t thank Snax enough for his contributions and plays since joining us last year. We wouldn’t have been able to lift the BLAST Fall Final and BLAST World Final without you,” G2 posted.
“With this, Snax has been placed on the bench. We will say goodbye properly when he is no longer on our roster.”
Snax’s short yet impactful G2 tenure
Snax officially joined G2 in July 2024, bringing with him a decade’s worth of professional experience and a résumé that includes stints with Virtus.pro, MOUZ, and ENCE. Despite only being with the team for a brief period, Snax played a pivotal role in back-to-back title wins at the BLAST Fall Final and BLAST World Final, turning what started as a short-term signing into a valuable asset for G2’s evolving roster.
His success with G2 added further prestige to an already storied career, which includes major victories such as the EMS One Katowice title and career earnings exceeding $900,000 – the highest among Polish players. However, his tenure coincided with a major upheaval within the organization. Less than two months after Snax joined, G2 saw its core dismantled with the high-profile exits of Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, both of whom transferred to Team Falcons.
Continued turnover at the in-game leader position
With Snax now sidelined, G2 has moved through three in-game leaders in rapid succession, underlining the volatility surrounding the team’s strategic direction. Prior to Snax, both Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen and Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen had short stints leading the roster. Notably, HooXi remains the most successful IGL of the trio, having led G2 to titles at IEM Katowice 2023 and the BLAST World Final 2022.
There is growing speculation that Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač could take over as G2’s next in-game leader. While not officially confirmed, sources within the scene have pointed to huNter- as a likely candidate, supported by his leadership tendencies and familiarity with the team’s evolving core.
Roster shakeups expected to continue post-Major
As of now, G2 has not named a direct replacement for Snax nor detailed a timeline for finalizing its active lineup. However, insiders indicate that major moves are already in motion. With funds gained from the transfer of NiKo and m0NESY, G2 is reportedly targeting Álvaro “SunPayus” García and Eetu “sAw” Saha from Heroic to bolster their post-Major lineup with top-tier AWPing and coaching expertise.
Simultaneously, the current coaching and player configuration is expected to see changes. Olek “hades” Miskiewicz and legendary Polish figure Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas – who returned to the scene in a coaching role – are rumored to be making way for these potential arrivals.
Current G2 Roster (Pre-BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025)
- Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač
- Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa
- Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski (benched)
- Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko
- Olek “hades” Miskiewicz
- Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas (coach)
Expected Additions (Post-Major)
- Álvaro “SunPayus” García (AWPer)
- Eetu “sAw” Saha (coach)
Strategic reset amid high expectations
G2’s CEO, Alban Dechelotte, has recently alluded to the challenges of rebuilding after losing cornerstone talents while simultaneously laying the foundation for long-term success. Amid a slow start to the 2025 season, the changes reflect an organizational pivot toward a younger, more international lineup blended with fresh leadership both on and off the server.
With another in-game leadership transition and major roster updates looming, G2 Esports finds itself at a competitive crossroads. The pressure is mounting for the organization to strike the right balance between stability and peak performance as it navigates the second half of the 2025 CS2 calendar.
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