ENCE has had a disastrous 2020, and the organization is looking to rebound in 2021.
Part of the plan to make that a reality includes some changes to its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster, and the latest to come through is the benching of Miikka “suNny” Kemppi. The organization announced the news in a statement on its website.
“Effective today, suNny has been benched from playing in ENCE’s active CS:GO roster. This decision has been made in mutual understanding between Miikka and the organization, as we are evaluating our next steps towards the 2021 CS:GO season. Miikka has been given the permission to openly pursue new opportunities,” ENCE said.
ENCE still has suNny under contract, which effectively leaves him idle on the team’s bench. The organization is likely in talks with other teams regarding a transfer. suNny acknowledged as much in a tweet a day prior, and noted that there are talks ongoing.
Hey,
ENCE and I have come to an agreement that I am allowed to search a new team for 2021. Please contact me or ENCE’s gm @willkey87 since I don’t have an agent.
There is talks going on, but nothing has been decided yet.
Thanks for the support!Miikka
— Miikka Kemppi (@suNnycsgo) December 22, 2020
The news of suNny’s benching comes after previous lamentations over the removal of Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen from ENCE’s roster. Aleksib’s removal from the team was infamously announced around the StarLadder Berlin Major, where it was stated that he would be kicked regardless of the team’s performance. Despite that, the team managed to make a top-eight run.
Aleksib was later transferred to OG, where he has enjoyed mixed results but has done far better than his former teammates at ENCE. suNny took Aleksib’s place on ENCE’s roster, a move that has seen the roster struggle throughout 2020. ENCE AWPer Aleksi “allu” Jalli recently discussed the move and suggested that it was a mistake, something that had suNny and fellow former ENCE player Jere “sergej” Salo bristling mad.
ENCE has been struggling to find success in CSGO since the removal of Aleksib from its roster in 2019. Here are some of the stories behind those issues:
With the benching of suNny, ENCE has just three CSGO players left on its roster:
The team is shorthanded to a significant degree, but things are even worse than they seem. Though Jamppi is a premium talent, he is currently banned from Valve-sponsored events due to allegations of a VAC ban on an account that he owned. He took Valve to court over the matter and lost.
— ENCE (@ENCE) December 16, 2020
ENCE is not officially attached to any CSGO events until March’s ESL Pro League Season 13. Because of that, ENCE may take some time to weigh its options as it rebuilds its roster.
ENCE is a shorthand for Enceladus, a figure in Greek mythology. Enceladus was a giant who is depicted in art as having been a rival of Athena. According to legend, he was killed by Zeus and buried under Mount Etna, but his stirrings caused volcanic eruptions.
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