Sprout parts with AZR after 45 days due to CS:GO disappointment.
Sprout, an international CS:GO team, has tweeted about their decision to part ways with their Australian in-game leader Aaron “AZR” Ward after just 45 days of him being in the team. The tweet was made on the official Sprout Twitter account and stated they mutually agreed to part ways with AZR. Check out our previous articles about CS:GO.
Disappointment at the BLAST Paris Major
AZR was brought on board by Sprout to lead the team to the last CS:GO Major. However, the team’s performance at the BLAST Paris Major Europe RMR A was a huge disappointment to the organisation. In Europe RMR A, Sprout only defeated Viperio while falling to Falcons, Into The Breach, and Apeks. According to HLTV, AZR had a -40 K/D ratio and the second-lowest rating in the competition during his performance.
Role clashes within the team
AZR has stated that he didn’t have enough time to implement his philosophy during his stint with Sprout but also acknowledged the role clashes within the team. He believed that the team didn’t have the same vision for the IGL to take and create space for the team as he did. In Europe RMR A, Sprout only defeated Viperio while falling to Falcons, Into The Breach, and Apeks. According to HLTV, AZR had a -40 K/D ratio and the second-lowest rating in the competition during his performance.
Next steps for Sprout and AZR
Sprout has announced that they will be trialling new in-game leaders to replace AZR and focusing on nurturing talent through their academy team for the upcoming Counter-Strike 2 launch. To avoid becoming dormant for as long as he did after EXTREMUM went down in October 2021, AZR has said that he is prepared to grind CS2 and focus on his game.
Conclusion
Sprout’s decision to part ways with AZR was not an easy one, but the team needed to move forward. While AZR may have struggled to find his footing within the team, he remains determined to improve his game and continue playing professionally. Sprout, on the other hand, is looking to the future with their academy team and the upcoming Counter-Strike 2 launch. It will be interesting to see how both parties progress in the coming months.