The duo will be taking over from Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer and Eetu “sAw” Saha, who played crucial roles in elevating ENCE to second place in the world rankings twice.

Gla1ve, a 28-year-old Danish in-game leader, is making a return to competitive play after a brief hiatus since June, when he was benched by Astralis.

His departure from Astralis coincided with the team undergoing significant changes, including the addition of Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard and Martin “stavn” Lund.

Despite his prior success with Astralis, gla1ve struggled to lead the team to notable achievements upon his return in October 2021.

Joining him is kuben, a former player and veteran coach with a five-year stint at Virtus.pro.

After parting ways with Apeks, where he guided the team to a semi-final finish at the BLAST.tv Paris Major, kuben will now be providing his coaching expertise to ENCE.

Niklas “Willkey” Ojalainen, ENCE’s General Manager, expressed excitement about the new additions, emphasizing the importance of big names to fill the void left by the departing players.

He highlighted the crucial working relationship between the coach and IGL and praised kuben for his scouting abilities and skill in building a team structure.

Gla1ve’s addition to the roster is hailed as one of the most significant in ENCE’s history, given his extensive achievements, including four Major championships with Astralis.

The Danish IGL is eager to prove himself once again and relishes the responsibility that comes with leading the team.

ENCE’s debut with the new lineup, featuring gla1ve and kuben, is scheduled for the Elisa Masters in Espoo, Finland, where they will face HAVU on Wednesday, November 29.

This marks a crucial moment for both gla1ve and kuben, as they aim to build on the legacy left by Snappi and sAw, who propelled the team to success in various tournaments and achieved a top-five world ranking.

Two legends of the game.

We warmly welcome @gla1ve_csgo and @kuben_tt as the new ENCE CS IGL and coach duo!

Read more: https://t.co/c9L8HffHTW#EZ4ENCE pic.twitter.com/j3j1mTUret

— ENCE (@ENCE) November 27, 2023

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The departure comes after his benching in June, during which he yielded the in-game leader role to Benjamin “blameF” Bremer and his playing position to Victor “Staehr” Staehr.

Astralis, in a heartfelt acknowledgment, highlighted gla1ve’s pivotal role in their success, including four Majors, an extended period as the top-ranked team, and a transformative impact on CS:GO strategy.

Despite challenges in the last two years, marked by the departure of key players and the coach, gla1ve expressed deep gratitude for the significant lessons learned during this period.

In a poignant tweet, gla1ve bid farewell to Astralis, describing the last seven years as a life-changing journey.

He recognized Astralis as not just a team but a family, expressing gratitude to fans, behind-the-scenes staff, and teammates who shared in the highs and lows.

It's hard to put into words how grateful I am for the last 7 years I've spent with Astralis. They will always hold a special place in my heart as a team where we were able to reach new heights and create something never seen before.

What we achieved and experienced as a team is�� pic.twitter.com/jklH22l9es

— Lukas Rossander (@gla1ve_csgo) November 22, 2023

The parting of ways, after 734 maps together, signifies the end of an era that witnessed unprecedented success.

As speculation swirls regarding gla1ve’s next destination, rumours suggest a potential move to ENCE.

This possibility gains traction as ENCE reportedly faces the departure of their current in-game leader, Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, to Team Falcons.

If confirmed, this move could reshape the dynamics of both ENCE and Team Falcons.

Gla1ve, in his departure, hinted at the anticipation of a new chapter in his illustrious career.

The esports community is left wondering about the strategies he will bring to a new team and how his leadership will redefine the dynamics of the squad fortunate enough to have him at the helm.

The departure from Astralis is not just an end but a prelude to a narrative yet to unfold, a legacy etched in the history of Astralis and CS:GO.

The echoes of gla1ve’s departure will serve as a reminder of an era defined by strategic brilliance, unyielding determination, and unparalleled success.

A message from everyone in Astralis.

Thank you, @gla1ve_csgo. pic.twitter.com/La164af9mH

— Astralis Counter-Strike (@AstralisCS) November 22, 2023

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gla1ve, who was part of the original lineup, leaves Astralis after seven years amid major team restructuring. Astralis are expected to announce the roster change soon.

?Staehr?��s contract with Sprout was initially supposed to expire at the start of 2024 after which he would join Astralis as a free agent. However, after a round of discussions, Astralis were able to speed up the process and reach an agreement with the German organization to sign Staehr months ahead of the contract expiration date.

With gla1ve��s absence, the in-game leader duties will be passed down to Benjamin “?blameF?” Bremer, who has more experience from his time as Complexity��s IGL. blameF already took up the captain reins to some extent before the move, as he has been leading the CS:GO team in matches on certain maps.

gla1ve started playing for Astralis when the organization was founded in 2016 and has led the team to win multiple top-tier events over the last years, including four major wins.

The move to replace gla1ve comes amid calls for a change following Astralis�� recent poor performances. The captain has also displayed poor individual form over the past few months.

If the report proves factual, Astralis�� CS:GO lineup will consist of ?blameF?, Staehr, Nicolai “?device?” Reedtz, Alexander “?Altekz?” Givskov, and Christian “?Buzz?” Andersen.

Astralis have made a number of other changes to their CS:GO division over the past week. The organization announced on Wednesday that it had parted ways with Head Analyst, Nicolai “?HUNDEN?” Petersen and their Director of Sports, Kasper Hvidt.

While it is not certain whether Astralis intend to continue their restructuring, the team need to wrap it up before the end of June 22. This is the roster submission deadline for the BLAST Premier Fall Groups which will be Astralis�� first outing in the fall season.

Any more changes after the deadline will require the tournament organizers�� approval and like result in a bottom seeding in the event for Astralis.

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