CS:GO Team Virtus Pro Withdraws from IEM Rio to Focus on Enhanced Training
Virtus Pro, a professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) team, has withdrawn from the upcoming $250,000 CS:GO event IEM Rio. The team’s decision came after failing to qualify for the BLAST Paris Major and their disappointing performance in the Europe RMR. Instead of risking further disappointment, Virtus Pro has decided to focus on enhanced training to improve its performance. Check out our previous articles on CS:GO on our page.
Struggling to Live Up to Expectations
Virtus Pro has been underperforming in 2023, failing to live up to expectations after winning the IEM Rio Major in November 2022. The team has not made a deep run in any of their following tournaments, including failing to qualify for the BLAST Paris Major. The team’s poor performance in the Europe RMR A led to criticism, particularly for the decision to fly backup player David “n0rb3r7” Daniyelyan to replace Aleksandr “KaiR0N-” Anashkin in the decisive series against MOUZ.
Enhanced Training and Withdrawal from IEM Rio
In an official announcement on Twitter by Virtus Pro, they stated that their current shape would not bring satisfaction to either the team or the fans, leading to their withdrawal from IEM Rio. The team plans to focus on enhanced training to improve their performance instead. This decision will allow the team to regroup and come back stronger in future tournaments.
Uncertainty over Lineup
It remains unclear whether Virtus Pro will stick with Kair0N- or if n0rb3r7 will replace him permanently in the active lineup. Kair0N- was brought in earlier in the year as a more aggressive rifler, but the decision to replace him with David “n0rb3r7” for the Europe RMR A series has left the team’s lineup uncertain.
ESL to Announce Replacement
Due to Virtus Pro’s decision to pull out of IEM Rio, ESL will need to quickly announce a substitute for the competition. Some of the teams expected to participate in the Brazilian competition are Heroic, Natus Vincere, Cloud9, and FaZe Clan. It will be interesting to watch which team replaces Virtus Pro and how they fare in the competition.
Conclusion
Virtus Pro’s decision to withdraw from IEM Rio to focus on enhanced training shows the team’s dedication to improving its performance. Their underperformance in 2023 has left the team with uncertainty over their lineup, but this decision will allow them to regroup and come back stronger in future tournaments. ESL’s announcement of Virtus Pro’s replacement for IEM Rio will be eagerly anticipated by fans and other teams alike.