Nemanja ‘huNter-‘ Kovač will miss IEM Rio 2026, which is scheduled to start on April 13, dealing a significant blow to G2 Esports just days before the tournament.
huNter- is sidelined due to a foot injury, with the player revealing that a bone is “slightly cracked” and ligaments are “severely stretched.”
The Bosnian rifler expressed frustration at missing the Brazilian event, stating he hopes to recover quickly and return for upcoming competitions.
This marks another unfortunate interruption for G2, who had only recently begun stabilizing their lineup.
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G2 Turn to Academy Talent
To fill the gap, G2 will field academy player Vilius ‘tAk‘ Keserauskas from G2 Ares as a stand-in.
The 21-year-old will be stepping into tier-one competition for the first time, having spent roughly 18 months developing within the organization’s academy system.
While relatively untested at this level, tAk has shown promise, making this event a potential breakout opportunity.
Leadership Shuffle Within the Roster
With huNter- absent, in-game responsibilities will also shift.
Álvaro ‘SunPayus‘ García is expected to take on leadership duties, supported by Guy ‘NertZ‘ Iluz.
This adjustment comes at a delicate time, as G2 is still integrating NertZ into the lineup following recent roster moves.
Poor Timing for G2
The timing could hardly be worse for G2. The team recently secured a victory at Stake Ranked Episode 1 and had been building momentum despite a packed schedule of tier-two LAN events.
However, limited practice with their updated roster was already a concern, and huNter- absence only compounds the issue heading into a major international event.
G2 IEM Rio Roster
G2 will attend IEM Rio with the following lineup:
- Matúš ‘MATYS‘ Šimko
- Nikita ‘HeavyGod‘ Martynenko
- Álvaro ‘SunPayus‘ García
- Guy ‘NertZ‘ Iluz
- Vilius ‘tAk‘ Keserauskas (stand-in)
- Eetu ‘sAw‘ Saha (coach)
What This Means for G2
G2 enters IEM Rio with reduced firepower and minimal preparation, placing additional pressure on both their new addition, NertZ, and their stand-in, tAk, to perform.
For tAk, the event represents a rare chance to prove himself on the big stage. For G2, it’s a test of resilience, one that could define their trajectory heading into the next stretch of the 2026 season.
