Acend, the European esports organization best known for winning the Valorant Championship in 2021, has officially entered Counter-Strike 2 with a Bulgarian roster. Acend move is a major step for the organization as it looks to expand its competitive footprint beyond Riot Games’ ecosystem and into Valve’s revived tactical shooter.
Fresh Start With Familiar Faces
The new Acend lineup features the following players:
- Teodor “SPELLAN” Nikolov
- Kalin “KalubeR” Erenditsov
- Dimitar “Skrimo” Yanulov
- Kaloyan “shaiK” Borisov
- Slaven “AwaykeN” Lyubenov
The five players previously competed together under the banner StoichkovPeek, a roster that recently won the Game Zone Masters 2025 in Poznań, Poland, after defeating Betclic in the grand final. Their quick success in regional events caught the attention of Acend, who were looking for a solid entry point into CS2.
Bold Expansion for Acend
Acend’s move into Counter-Strike 2 marks the organization’s first major FPS venture since its success in Valorant. The organization made headlines in 2021 when it became the first team to lift a Valorant world championship trophy, establishing itself as a serious contender in the top-tier esports scene.
Now, with CS2’s growing momentum following its full release, Acend joins a wave of organizations expanding into Valve’s title – but with a twist: opting for a fully national roster from an emerging region rather than recruiting international veterans.
This strategy could give Acend a distinctive identity and access to a passionate, underrepresented fanbase within the Bulgarian CS2 community.
What’s Next for Acend
The road ahead for Acend’s new roster is filled with opportunity and pressure. Their first steps in Counter-Strike 2 competition will define how quickly they can translate local success into an international level.
This isn’t merely a new division for Acend. It’s a fresh story unfolding for an organization known for breaking boundaries, and for a region eager to prove it belongs on the global stage.
