Vitality reportedly expanding CSGO roster with Nivera

Vitality is reportedly looking to acquire Nabil “Nivera” Benrlitom to their Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster. The French esports organization will be fielding a six-man roster with Nivera’s addition.

Vitality has previously shown interest in procuring a sixth player for its roster to ensure its players’ health. The organization was actively searching for a player and had its eyes set on three players from Heretics. Several reports confirmed that Nivera, Nicolas “Keoz” Dgusand, and Bryan “Maka” Canda were on Vitality’s radar with strong ratings of 1.04, 1.04, and 1.05, respectively. 

The Belgian-Moroccan player’s crisp aim and versatile playstyle helped him gain an edge over the other contenders, earning him a spot on Vitality’s CSGO roster. Nivera will be joining the in-game leader Dan “apEX” Madesclaire and the squad as the sixth in the lineup.

• Report: Vitality considering adding 6th player to CSGO team

The French organization is currently fielding a strong CSGO roster that sits at number four in the world rankings. Most recently, the team displayed an action-packed performance in ESL One Cologne and BLAST Premier: Spring 2020, finishing in the second position at both events. 

Unlike some other teams, Vitality has continued to participate in many online tournaments, which might have increased the need for an extended roster of six. With Nivera’s addition, the team will have a versatile sixth player to stand in as needed. 

Nivera’s versatility could be a valuable asset for Vitality 

Looking at Vitality’s current roster situation, Nivera looks like an ideal pick. The young rifler is quite agile with the AWP as he used to be a primary AWPer He later switched to the rifle following in the footsteps of his brother, Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom, who has inspired many CSGO professionals. The player likes to switch between the two weapons, making him a versatile choice to stand in. 

Vitality is the second significant organization to recently support a six-man roster after Astralis, which currently has a seven-man lineup. Cloud9’s general manager Henry “HenryG” Greer has also previously confirmed that the team will have an sixth active player. Furia’s coach Nicholas “guerri” Nogueira has also declared six-man format “the future of CSGO.” 

The chief purpose of acquiring a sixth player is to reduce pressure and stress from the active players. Former in-game leader Alex, who left Vitality’s active roster due to burnout issues and a hectic schedule, might have caused the organization to consider an expansion of the team.