Natus Vincere has announced that Counter-Strike Global Offensive coach Mykhailo “Kane” Blagin will be leaving the organization after BLAST Pro Series Moscow.
The announcement follows Na’Vi’s disappointing quarterfinal exit from the StarLadder Berlin Major after suffering a 0-2 defeat at the hands of NRG Esports. Kane will be leaving alongside captain Danylo “Zeus” Teslenko, who also announced his plans to retire after BLAST Pro Series Moscow.
Kane has been the coach of Natus Vincere for just over two years and guided the team to the finals of the FACEIT London Major, as well as the semifinals of both the ELEAGUE Major: Boston and IEM Katowice Major.
Kane thanked Natus Vincere’s fans for their support but also hints at regret that the team could not win a major.
“I would like to express my gratitude, first of all, to the fans of ours…I am sad to part ways with the guys who became a part of my life, but such is the work of a coach,” Kane said in a statement. “I have to admit 2019 wasn’t the most successful in terms of results. Unfortunately, the main goal, winning a Major, remained unfulfilled.”
The departure of Kane is a hit to Natus Vincere, but the CIS region is undergoing a major shuffle which should give the organization plenty of options.
Recent reports have suggested that the team’s in-game roster is already set, with Natus Vincere looking to replace Zeus by bringing back Ladislav “GuardiaN” Kovács. He played with the team from 2013 to 2017 and has competed with FaZe Clan since.
BLAST Pro Series is set to run from September 13 to 14. Official announcements on the team’s new roster are likely to come in the weeks that follow, as Natus Vincere is set to compete at DreamHack Masters Malmo, which begins on October 1.
