To start the new year, we are providing a thorough examination of all teams participating in the 2023 competitive CS:GO season. Among these teams, Outsiders has emerged as a major surprise, having previously gone by the name Virtus.pro before the war in Ukraine. Their victory at the IEM CS:GO Rio Major towards the end of last year stunned audiences worldwide.
The first Major tournament held in Brazil ended with Dzhami “Jame” Ali’s team taking the trophy. However, the same lineup that won the championship may not stay together for long, as the team is considering making a surprise change to their roster.
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What Roster Change Could Outsiders Make Soon?
According to reports from Dexerto scene reporter Luís Mira and transfer insider Aleksey “OverDrive” Biryukov, David “n0rb3r7” Daniyelyan is set to be replaced by Aleksandr “KaiR0N” Anashkin in a surprising roster move for the team.
Possible Kick of n0rb3r7
There is uncertainty surrounding the future of David “n0rb3r7” Daniyelyan as an active player on Outsiders, as rumors have circulated, including from credible sources within the industry, about the possibility of him leaving the Russian team. The status of his place on the team remains unclear at this time.
There are strong indications that the CIS team will make adjustments to its lineup after a disappointing early exit from the BLAST Premier: World Final. Despite being favored to perform well due to their win at the IEM Rio Major, the team failed to secure a single victory in the Group Stage and lost to both Liquid and G2 Esports, the eventual winners of the tournament. This early elimination has sparked rumors of changes to the roster.
Possible Signing of KaiR0N
The talent of Aleksandr “KaiR0N” Anashkin seems to have caught the eye of a number of experienced and pro CS:GO organizations, including Outsiders.
As of the time of writing, KaiR0N is currently a member of the bench for Aurora Gaming, a position he has held since November 22nd of last year. The 18-year-old shooter has previously played for various teams such as Wolsung, eClub Brugge, and INDE IRAE. While there have been rumors that Aleksandr may join BetBoom, the opportunity to join the Major champion team may be too good to pass up.
Why Would They Want to Sign KaiR0N?
The news of KaiR0N potentially signing with Outsiders comes as no surprise to many fans, as the young German-Russian player has gained a reputation for his performances in low-tier tournaments throughout the 2022 season, as well as his strong showings in qualifying tournaments for the Dallas and Rio Masters.
He particularly caught the attention of fans at the European RMR A for the IEM Rio, where he faced off against top teams such as Fnatic and Eternal Fire, even though he was ultimately unable to achieve significant success in the tournament.
As reported by Luís Mira, Jame, the IGL of Outsiders and the HLTV MVP of the IEM CS:GO Rio Major, is a big fan of Aleksandr “KaiR0N-” Anashkin, having twice selected him as a bold prediction in HLTV’s top 20 rankings. This time, Jame has once again included KaiR0N in his predictions, a choice that is also shared by YEKINDAR. Another promising young player who has been recognized in this category is Daniel “headtr1ck” Valitov.
When to See Outsiders on the Stage?
Outsiders are currently ranked as the second best team in the world according to HLTV’s World Ranking list. David “n0rb3r7” Daniyelyan and his teammates shocked the eSports world when they won their first Major championship, a feat that has solidified their place as one of the top squads in the world.
As of now, the cs go next tournament for Outsiders will be IEM Katowice 2023, which will be held from Jan. 31 to Feb. 12 in Poland. The organizers of the event have not yet disclosed its structure and groups, but Outsiders are among other directly qualified teams, such as FaZe Clan, Vitality, Heroic, Liquid, NaVi, G2, and MOUZ.
Despite the widespread rumors that David “n0rb3r7” Daniyelyan may be removed from the team, the 21-year-old Major champion is still a part of Outsiders at present. It is unknown whether these rumors of his departure are true or not. As of now, the current lineup for Outsiders heading into the 2023 season is FL1T, Jame, n0rb3r7, fame, and Qikert.