Team Liquid has officially announced the removal of Aleks “Rainwaker” Petrov from their active CS:GO lineup. In his place, head coach Damian “daps” Steele will be stepping in as a stand-in for the upcoming BLAST Premier Showdown tournament in North America. This decision comes after a series of disappointing results for Liquid since their switch to an international project earlier this year.
Since joining Liquid in June, Rainwaker has struggled to perform consistently, making him the team’s lowest-rated player. Despite being assigned challenging roles within the team, such as anchoring bombsites and providing support, his performance has not met expectations. As a result, Liquid has decided to bench him and explore new approaches to improve their results.
Daps, who has been inactive as a player since April 2022, will temporarily fill the vacant spot in the active roster for the BLAST Premier Showdown. Known for his leadership skills, daps has successfully led North American rosters in the past, including OpTic Gaming and NRG. While he may not excel in terms of raw aim and mechanics, his experience and strategic mindset make him a valuable addition to the team.
It is unclear whether Liquid is actively searching for a permanent replacement for Rainwaker or if daps’ performance during the tournament will determine his future with the team. However, it is likely that the organization will consider signing a new fifth player to strengthen their roster.
The BLAST Premier Showdown will feature several notable teams, including Forsaken, Imperial, Complexity, FURIA, and Evil Geniuses. Liquid’s first match will be against Forsaken, and they will be competing for a spot in the BLAST Premier Fall Finals.
Overall, Liquid’s decision to remove Rainwaker from the roster reflects their commitment to finding a solution and improving their performance in CS:GO. The BLAST Premier Showdown provides an opportunity for the team to experiment with new approaches and potentially secure a spot in the upcoming Fall Finals.
Source: DOTESPORTS
