Jake “Stewie2K” Yip and Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo are set to depart from Team Liquid.
Despite being the undisputed best Counter-Strike team not too long ago, Team Liquid has been sputtering terribly throughout 2021. That came to a head at the PGL Stockholm Major, where the team finished in a shared 12th place after amassing an underwhelming 1-3 record.
It’s no surprise that this is resulting in changes for Team Liquid, but what might be a shock is that it’s leading to the departure of what might be the team’s two biggest stars. The organization announced the news of their departures in a post on social media, saying the decision was mutual between the players and team.
Stewie2K joined Team Liquid in 2018 not long after he helped Cloud9 win the ELEAGUE Boston Major. With Liquid, he helped the team earn its Intel Grand Slam season two title, earning the team $1 million amid a string of first-place finishes. The team began to decline after the StarLadder Berlin Major, which was followed by the releases of longtime captain Nicholas “nitr0” Cannella and coach Eric “adreN” Hoag. Those changes did not net the team greater results.
FalleN joined much more recently in January 2021. Replacing a departing Nitr0, he served as both an AWPer and strategist for Liquid. Though the Brazilian star performed reasonably well, his tenure with the team wasn’t especially successful.
With the duo now planning a departure, Team Liquid will look to rebuild around Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, Keith “NAF” Markovic, and Michael “Grim” Wince. It’s possible that more changes could be in the works for Team Liquid as well.
What’s next for Stewie2K and FalleN after leaving Team Liquid?
The good news for Stewie2K, FalleN, and Team Liquid is that there will be options aplenty for each of them.
Stewie2K previously indicated that he doesn’t plan to move to Valorant, but there’s no question that multiple major organizations would love to add him to their teams. He remains a popular figure within the CSGO scene and would add both star power and firepower to any given lineup. He could also comfortably slot into almost any North American or European team in CSGO.
FalleN seems less likely to go to Valorant, but it’s not completely outside the realm of possibility. A possibility is that he finds his way back to South American CSGO, potentially reuniting with some of his two-time major championship teammates from SK Gaming and Luminosity Gaming.
Finally, Team Liquid will be spoiled for choice when it comes to replacing the veteran players. There are already a slew of players available for transfer and while North American CSGO’s developmental systems have been hindered by Valorant, there’s no reason they won’t be able to find another Grim out there.
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.
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