{"id":34824,"date":"2026-03-12T11:17:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T11:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/?p=34824"},"modified":"2026-03-12T11:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T11:17:12","slug":"ence-hit-reset-entire-cs2-roster-benched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/news\/cs-2\/ence-hit-reset-entire-cs2-roster-benched\/","title":{"rendered":"ENCE Hit Reset: Entire CS2 Roster Benched as Org Returns to Finnish Counter-Strike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Finnish esports organization <strong>ENCE <\/strong>has announced a dramatic reset to its<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.counter-strike.net\/?l=english\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.counter-strike.net\/?l=english\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Counter-Strike 2<\/a><\/strong> division, benching its entire active roster and coaching staff while outlining plans to rebuild around Finnish talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All players from the lineup have been placed on the transfer list as the organization shifts its strategy away from international rosters and back toward developing domestic players. The decision marks one of the most significant structural changes in the team\u2019s recent history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ENCE Strategic Shift Back to Finnish Roots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The next chapter of ENCE<br><br>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5b3UOC4lHm\">https:\/\/t.co\/5b3UOC4lHm<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cAGsCMvw4D\">pic.twitter.com\/cAGsCMvw4D<\/a><\/p>&mdash; ENCE (@ENCE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ENCE\/status\/2031792269737804055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 11, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In an official statement, <strong>ENCE <\/strong>explained that maintaining internationally competitive rosters has become increasingly difficult within the current esports ecosystem. As a result, the organization has decided to return to its roots and invest in Finnish talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <strong>ENCE<\/strong>, the long-term goal is to \u201cdevelop the next generation of Finnish stars\u201d and build a sustainable <strong>Counter-Strike 2<\/strong> program centered around the national scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The move represents a clear philosophical change after several years of fielding multinational lineups in pursuit of top-tier international results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ENCE Performance Struggles in the CS2 Era<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"955\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pglama.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pglama.jpg 955w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pglama-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pglama-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pglama-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pglama-450x284.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">PGL Major Copenhagen 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ENCE\u2019s <\/strong>recent competitive results likely played a role in the decision. In the CS2 era, the team qualified for only one Major, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/liquipedia.net\/counterstrike\/PGL\/2024\/Copenhagen\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/liquipedia.net\/counterstrike\/PGL\/2024\/Copenhagen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PGL Major Copenhagen 2024<\/a><\/strong>, and has not appeared in the global top-20 rankings since the first half of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These struggles contrasted with the organization\u2019s earlier success during the CS:GO era, when a fully Finnish lineup led by Aleksi &#8220;<strong>Aleksib<\/strong>&#8221; Virolainen made a historic run to the grand final of<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/liquipedia.net\/counterstrike\/Intel_Extreme_Masters\/Season_XIII\/World_Championship\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/liquipedia.net\/counterstrike\/Intel_Extreme_Masters\/Season_XIII\/World_Championship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IEM Katowice 2019<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That roster became one of the most iconic teams in Finnish <strong>Counter-Strike<\/strong> history, and the organization now appears eager to recreate a similar identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Special Case: podi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/podi.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/podi.jpg 800w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/podi-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/podi-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/podi-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/podi-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Paavo &#8220;<strong>podi<\/strong>&#8221; Heiskanen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ENCE <\/strong>also addressed the situation surrounding Paavo &#8220;<strong>podi<\/strong>&#8221; Heiskanen. According to the organization, the Finnish AWPer requested to pursue opportunities at the tier-one level rather than participate in a long-term development project focused on young Finnish players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His decision further highlights the transitional nature of <strong>ENCE\u2019s <\/strong>upcoming rebuild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ENCE Benched Roster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/somediey.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/somediey.jpg 800w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/somediey-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/somediey-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/somediey-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/somediey-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Viktor &#8220;<strong>sdy<\/strong>&#8221; Orudzhev<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The following players are now inactive and available for transfer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Viktor &#8220;<strong>sdy<\/strong>&#8221; Orudzhev<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paavo &#8220;<strong>podi<\/strong>&#8221; Heiskanen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ryan &#8220;<strong>Neityu<\/strong>&#8221; Aubry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maciej &#8220;<strong>F1KU<\/strong>&#8221; Miklas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Szymon &#8220;<strong>kRaSnaL<\/strong>&#8221; Mrozek<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Niclas &#8220;<strong>enkay J<\/strong>&#8221; Krumhorn (coach)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The organization confirmed that all members of the lineup are free to explore transfer opportunities as <strong>ENCE <\/strong>prepares to start a new project focused on domestic talent development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Next for ENCE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the entire roster has been benched, <strong>ENCE <\/strong>confirmed that its academy and development programs will continue operating as part of the new strategy. The organization plans to reveal details about its next lineup in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the reset now underway, the coming months could mark the beginning of a new era for <strong>ENCE<\/strong>, one aimed at restoring Finland\u2019s presence on the international <strong>CS2 <\/strong>stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Finnish esports organization ENCE has announced a dramatic reset to its Counter-Strike 2 division, benching its entire active roster and coaching staff while outlining plans to rebuild around Finnish talent. All players from the lineup have been placed on the transfer list as the organization shifts its strategy away from international rosters and back toward<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":34825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[5,11],"class_list":{"0":"post-34824","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cs-2","8":"tag-cs2","9":"tag-cs2-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34824"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34830,"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34824\/revisions\/34830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}