Boombl4 hints he had $95,000 stolen from him by former team
Recent revelations made by Robin “Fifflaren” Johansson are sparking other Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players to come forward on their own unfortunate dealings with esports organizations.
Current Natus Vincere player Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov stated on Twitter that $95,000 was “stolen” from him by an unspecified party. He goes on to list a pair of dates which mark the beginning and end of his days with the Quantum Bellator Fire. He remained vague on the specifics but opened up a bit further in the hours that followed.
“I want to say thanks to Winstrike Team, that saved my career at that moment,” he said on
Twitter. “One of those people who stole our money is now in a CIS minor on a different team, and I am very sad that people after this remain in esports.”
Boombl4 rose to fame at the ELEAGUE Boston Major alongside the rest of the Quantum Bellator Fire roster. Despite being an unheralded CIS squad, the team stunned CSGO fans with a top-eight run.
The lineup was transferred to Winstrike Team five months later. Quantum Bellator Fire signed a new CSGO squad shortly thereafter that struggled with roster moves for four months en route to disbandment.
Boombl4’s revelation comes on the heels of renewed discussion on organizations’ exploitation of professional players.
Earlier in the week, Fifflaren sat down for a
lengthy interview
regarding his run with Ninjas in Pyjamas from 2012 to 2014. Despite being a part of one of the most successful CSGO teams in history, the organization’s business practices and deep cuts into tournament winnings left him financially strapped. A number of other players from the team went on to
corroborate his story.
While Boombl4 was not a part of NiP, esports has long had an industry-wide issue with organizations taking advantage of their talent. Exploitative contracts have seen companies skim exorbitant sums of money off the top of players’ earnings without their knowledge. This isn’t as much of a problem today as it was several years ago, but similar stories still pop up regularly both with players airing past grievances and with new incidents coming to light.
It is unclear who Boombl4 is talking about, but the CIS Minor to the StarLadder Berlin Major is currently underway. More revelations may come in the near future.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
View full profile
Read Also
Esports Betting
NAVI vs The MongolZ: ESL Pro League Season 23 Predictions
Owen Harsono
NAVI and The MongolZ will face off in the opening series of the ESL Pro League Season 23 playoffs. This matchup is shaping up to be one of the closest contests of the first round, so you definitely don’t want to miss it. Here are our predictions for the ESL Pro League S23 NAVI vs The MongolZ match. Tournament: ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage: Playoffs Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: ...
Counter-Strike
What PGL’s new 2027-2028 CS2 Tier 1 Program means for teams
Fariha Bhatti
Esports tournament organizer PGL has pulled the curtain on its two-year roadmap dubbed PGL CS2 tier 1 program. With at least $11 million committed annually, the initiative promises new revenue streams for professional teams and players. PGL has been part of the CS2 esports since 2015, becoming more mainstream with its first major in 2017. The organizer’s latest roadmap establishes itself as a long-term fixture in the CS2 tournament ecosystem. ...
Counter-Strike
CS2 announces X-Ray Scanners for cases, here’s what it means
Fariha Bhatti
Valve has come up with a new way to make CS2 cases more palatable in Germany, where loot boxes are under strict scrutiny amid the country's concerns around gambling. Here’s how CS2 X-Ray Scanners work, and what it means for players. It’s not exactly a secret that CS2 cases rely heavily on chance, making them awfully similar to a scratch ticket or even a loot box. Paying for a red-tier ...
News
New York sues game developer Valve, alleges gambling promotion
Khizar Mundia
The US state of New York has filed a lawsuit against Valve Corporation, claiming as it sues the industry giant that an in-game mechanic that the developer uses and promotes in multiple popular titles is too similar to gambling. The lawsuit specifically targets loot boxes, an in-game mechanic that players unlock using real-life money for a chance to win in-game prizes. The rewards are sought after and traded, often using ...
Esports Betting
PARIVISION vs Vitality at PGL Cluj-Napoca: Final preview, picks
Fariha Bhatti
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 has its CS2 finalists locked in, and with PARIVISION reaching its second S-tier final of the year, our betting preview considers whether the team can complete its Cinderella run on the big stage versus tournament favorite Vitality. PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 has been full of surprises thus far, but PARIVISION saved the biggest for last. After knocking out MOUZ in the semifinals, the Russian core now faces Vitality, ...
Esports Betting
The MongolZ vs Vitality at PGL Cluj-Napoca: Semifinal preview
Fariha Bhatti
By knocking out FURIA, The MongolZ have ensured Vitality avoids one of its most dangerous match-ups at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, but that result now puts the Mongolian side face-to-face with the tournament’s biggest favorite in the semifinal. Here’s how our preview sees this match shaping up for bettors. The MongolZ is a team not to be taken lightly, but on most days, a Vitality match-up wouldn’t spark much debate given ...
Esports Betting
The MongolZ vs Furia at PGL Cluj-Napoca: Playoff preview, picks
Steven Rondina
The MongolZ and Furia are set to face off in the PGL Cluj-Napoca playoffs, and it’s an interesting matchup for bettors between two quality teams looking to stake a claim at the top of the CS2 esports scene. Match PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Playoffs Kick-off February 20, 2026 at 12 pm ET Top pick Furia wins 2-1 Betting favorite Furia The main event of the quarterfinals is undoubtedly The MongolZ vs ...
