Jamppi says he won't return to CSGO despite Valve rule change
Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen told followers in a recent stream that he will not be returning to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Jamppi received a VAC ban in 2015 that didn’t allow him to compete in any of Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournaments. The CSGO prodigy was then booted from OG due to his inability to play, severely stunting his esports career. Even though ENCE surprisingly signed him after, Jamppi had a continuous legal battle with Valve and was still not able to compete at majors.
Going into 2021, it seemed that Jamppi’s long fight to unban his account was not going anywhere. In response, the Finnish FPS pro decided to leave CSGO altogether. He shared a video on Twitter at the end of January in which he stated that there is “nothing he can do” about the ban. Instead, Jamppi moved to Team Liquid’s Valorant roster.
“I hope there is nothing that can stop me [in Valorant] like any bans. It’s mentally a good thing. I can play free and compete, and hopefully become one of the best players in that game,” Jamppi said.
CSGO losing pro players to Valorant
Even though the move to Valorant was understandable, CSGO fans have expressed frustration at losing another talented pro player to Valorant, Riot’s new tactical shooter. Valve then announced in April that only players that received a VAC ban in the past five years would be disqualified from tournaments and events. This meant Jamppi could make his return.
During a recent stream, viewers asked Jamppi if he would ever be coming back to the Counter-Strike scene.
“Don’t be mad, guys, but I’m going to stick to Valorant,” Jamppi responded.
He said it was “for sure” that he wouldn’t return to CSGO at this time. While the decision was “extremely hard to make,” Jamppi added that he hopes there aren’t too many people upset about his decision.
Jamppi and the rest of the Team Liquid squad will be competing at the Valorant Champions Tour Masters Reykjavik LAN event on May 24. This will be the first in-person Valorant tournament since the game’s esports scene was launched.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
View full profile
Read Also
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026 CS2 Stage 3 Pick’Em Predictions
Owen Harsono
It’s that time of the year again, as the next Counter-Strike 2 Major is right around the corner. The IEM Cologne 2026 Major is set to start on June 2, meaning you still have some time to lock in your Pick’Em predictions. The Pick’Em Challenge is one of the most exciting parts of the CS2 Majors, as it allows you to test your knowledge and predict which teams make it ...
Counter-Strike
Team Spirit concede just 10 rounds in Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major
Owen Harsono
It was pretty weird seeing Team Spirit having to start the IEM Cologne Major from Stage 2, but they quickly proved why that was a mistake. With donk shooting on all fronts, the Eastern Europeans speed ran the competition to book their spot in Stage 3. With how they’ve been playing, it’s hard not to wonder whether they can actually win the entire thing. These boys can sometimes be known ...
Counter-Strike
BIG pull off 0-12 comeback to stay alive – IEM Cologne Major Stage 1 recap
Owen Harsono
We’ve just witnessed arguably the worst choke in Counter-Strike Major history, and we’re only on the first stage of the IEM Cologne Major. If you didn’t tune into the Stage 1 matches, here’s what you need to know heading into Stage 2. Many fans tend to underestimate Stage 1 teams for fair reasons, but some survivors in this tournament look extremely promising. Two Eastern European teams, BetBoom Team and B8, ...
Counter-Strike
Who will win the IEM Cologne Major 2026?
Owen Harsono
If you’re looking to play it safe and back one team at the Counter-Strike 2 IEM Cologne 2026 Major, traders prediction markets platforms have a clear frontrunner – it’s Team Vitality. But if it’s not meant to be, there are a few other candidates that could lift the trophy. Here’s what traders on Polymarket and Kalshi think. If you haven’t been watching CS2 this year and are only jumping on ...
Counter-Strike
The 10 best CS2 players who have never won a Major
Owen Harsono
In Counter-Strike, winning a Major immediately puts you into legend status. It’s an achievement that proves you won the game’s biggest trophy. However, there have been some really good players that could never get their hands on the biggest trophy that Counter-Strike esports has to offer. Here is WIN.gg's list of best CS2 players who have never won a Major. ScreaM is one of Counter-Strike's most famous players for one ...
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026: All the teams, favorites, and outright betting odds
Owen Harsono
Mark your calendars, as the IEM Cologne Major kicks off on June 2, 2026. We’re going to see the best teams in the world compete, but which ones are actually favored to take the title? This will be the first time in 10 years that IEM Cologne will return as a Counter-Strike Major, so the stakes this year are much higher than they’ve been in a decade. In this guide, ...
Esports Betting
All IEM Cologne winners and rosters in Counter-Strike history
Owen Harsono
IEM Cologne is one of Counter-Strike’s biggest events, happening every single year. Some seasons, the event is labeled as one of Valve’s two Counter-Strike Majors of the year, but if not, still stands as one of the big events every player chases to win. With the IEM Cologne 2026 Major right around the corner, let’s take a trip down memory lane and check out every single winner of the tournament, ...
