OG CS:GO Roster Undergoes Major Shake-Up as FlameZ and NiKo Depart

In a surprising turn of events, European organization OG is reportedly parting ways with two of its key players, Nikolaj "NiKo" Kristensen and Shahar "FlameZ" Shushan. Insider sources have confirmed that these departures, first hinted at by Belarusian insider Harumi on May 16th, may mark the beginning of a larger overhaul for OG's CS:GO roster.

FlameZ, who had been an integral part of OG's starting lineup since mid-2021, joined the team as part of a roster shuffle that saw founding members Nathan "NBK-" Schmitt and Issa "ISSAA" Murad benched. However, sources reveal that FlameZ's contract with OG has expired, and despite negotiations, the organization and the Israeli rifler have failed to reach an agreement on an extension.

Similarly, NiKo, who joined OG in mid-2021, found himself on the bench in mid-2022. He recently returned to the roster in early-2023 as a stand-in for in-game leader Nemanja "nexa" Isaković. However, OG's performance since NiKo's return has been lackluster, with their only notable result being a 3rd-4th place finish in the online Brazy Party event.

The underwhelming performance at the recent CS:GO Major, BLAST.tv Paris, was a breaking point for OG. The team suffered losses to ENCE, NIP, and GamerLegion in the Challengers Stage, ultimately leading to an early exit. It is believed that this poor start to 2023 set the stage for changes within the roster, following OG's final LAN commitment, IEM Dallas 2023, which begins on May 29th.

The departures of FlameZ and NiKo mark the start of a potential series of changes for OG's CS:GO lineup during the upcoming off-season. It is rumored that further alterations may be dependent on market options and player availability.

As of now, the remaining members of the OG CS:GO roster are expected to include Adam "NEOFRAG" Zouhar, Maciej "F1KU" Miklas, Abdulkhalik "degster" Gasanov, with Casper "ruggah" Due as the coach and Alexander "kakafu" Szymanczyk as the assistant coach.

OG will now face the challenge of rebuilding their roster and finding suitable replacements for FlameZ and NiKo. With the CS:GO scene constantly evolving, the organization will need to carefully consider their options to regain their competitive edge.

As the CS:GO community eagerly awaits further updates from OG, fans and analysts alike are left speculating on the potential impact of these departures and the future direction of the organization's CS:GO division.

FLAMEZ LADIES AND GENTS 👌 pic.twitter.com/UihjNnyxSF

— OG CS:GO (@OGcsgo) May 24, 2023