Astralis has dropped Kristian “k0nfig” Wienecke from the starting roster of their Counter-Strike: Global Offensive division, citing personal circumstances.
k0nfig has played a pivotal role in Astralis’ shooter lineup since November 2021. The reputed CSGO player joined the Danish organization after a tumultuous stint with Complexity alongside Benjamin “blameF“ Bremer — a move that
seemed refreshing at the surface
failed to have much impact. Despite it all, Astralis retained the core players. However, recent events that directly impact k0nfig’s performance have resulted in the cancellation of his contract with Astralis.
“With his energy and positive mindset, Kristian has contributed a lot to the team, both on and off the server, and it’s no secret that everybody in Astralis have enjoyed having him around. He will always be welcome here, now and in the future,” head of esports Kasper Hvidt said in a
statement
on the matter.
The organization has cited k0nfig’s personal reasons behind the termination. While followers of the team were already well aware of
Malta-fist fight rumors, nothing concrete was known yet. That was until k0nfig took to his Twitter to reveal what really went down after Astralis’ loss against Heroic at ESL Pro League Season 16.
Astralis discusses altercation that led to a broken leg
According to k0nfig, he was attacked, humiliated, and disrespected by a promoter in a nightclub. The pro player was separated from his teammate when he went to grab food. Upon returning to the club, the guy at the door had asked for a 5000 euro fee and had spat on his face. According to k0nfig, the promoter had beaten him black and blue before rushing inside.
When he saw the promoter outside the club, k0nfig jumped him out of anger. Unfortunately, the encounter spiraled into a brawl that left him with a broken leg, dislocated foot, and shaken mental health.
“Ever since the episode, I have been in a really deep dark place which I didn’t think I could be in. I feel sad, angry, disappointed, scared, and worried all at the same time. The entire time I was hospitalized, I cried. I cried every day, multiple times,”
k0nfig said.
The physical injury required multiple surgeries, after which k0nfig moved back to his home. However, his poor health had put his future at Astralis in jeopardy. The organization has now officially dropped him, as k0nfig rests and works on his form. The pro player plans to return as a “god-tier” CSGO pro player.
The news comes amid rumors of Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz paying a share of his transfer fee in order to return to Astralis. The organization would logically have removed Asger “Farlig” Jensen to accommodate the new AWPer. However, recent events have changed a lot. It remains to be seen how Astralis plays this situation. It has an empty slot to fill, but one that demands an ace rifler.
Fariha Bhatti
About Fariha Bhatti
Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.
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