Explore the dramatic CS:GO roster change as woxic exits mousesports, reshaping the team and sparking intense community debate.
In the ever-evolving world of professional CS:GO, roster changes are as common as headshots, but some still manage to send shockwaves through the community. As of 2026, looking back at pivotal moments, the reported removal of Özgür "woxic" Eker from mousesports' active lineup in 2020 stands out as a significant turning point. The news, first broken by French outlet 1pv, came hot on the heels of the team's disappointing 13th-16th place exit from ESL One Cologne 2020 Europe. The Turkish sniper, once a cornerstone of the squad's success, found himself on the way out, with young gun Aurimas "Bymas" Pipiras reportedly lined up to fill the suddenly vacant spot. It was one of those moves that had fans scratching their heads, wondering if the team was fixing something that wasn't broken.
The Rise of the Turkish Sniper
Woxic's journey to the top tier of European Counter-Strike was a classic tale of raw talent meeting opportunity. He cut his teeth and honed his craft with HellRaisers from 2017 to 2019. During this period, he wasn't just playing; he was announcing his arrival. The guy quickly built a reputation as one of the most fearsome and promising AWPers on the continent. His breakout moment came on the grand stage of the FACEIT London Major in 2018. HellRaisers, defying all expectations, made a stunning run to the quarter-finals. Woxic was the engine of that surprise package, famously topping the leaderboard with a blistering 64 kills in their playoff match against the North American giants, Team Liquid. He wasn't just hitting shots; he was painting masterpieces with the AWP.
A New Chapter with Mousesports
The success in London, however, proved difficult to sustain. At the next Major, IEM Katowice 2019, HellRaisers stumbled and bowed out early. Sensing a need for change and a bigger challenge, woxic made his move in March 2019, joining the newly assembled multinational project at mousesports. This is where things really got interesting. The woxic-mouz partnership seemed like a match made in heaven, at least for a while.
The trophies started rolling in:
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🏆 DreamHack Open Tours 2019
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🏆 CS:GO Asia Championship 2019
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🏆 ESL Pro League Season 10 Finals
Driven by woxic's explosive AWPing, the team soared to become the world's second-ranked squad, holding that prestigious position from late 2019 right into the early months of 2020. His individual brilliance was undeniable. He was crowned the MVP of the CS:GO Asia Championship, a tournament where his sniper rifle was the decisive factor in crucial victories over TYLOO and ENCE. The recognition culminated in him being named the 12th best CS:GO player in the world for 2019 by the authoritative HLTV rankings. By all measurable in-game metrics, woxic was delivering.
The Cracks Begin to Show
Despite the silverware and high rankings, competitive esports is a brutal environment where past success guarantees nothing. The cracks in the mousesports facade began to show in mid-2020. Their campaign at ESL One Cologne 2020 Europe was a disaster, ending with losses to Natus Vincere and MAD Lions and a final placement in the 13th-16th bracket. For a team that had recently been number two in the world, this was a hard pill to swallow.
This is where the story takes a turn from pure performance to the more nuanced, and often murkier, world of team dynamics. According to the 1pv report, the decision to move on from woxic wasn't primarily about his ability to click heads. Instead, it was allegedly "linked to various problems concerning his attitude." That phrase does a lot of heavy lifting. It hints at off-server issues—perhaps clashing personalities, disagreements on strategy, or problems with practice ethic—that the public rarely sees but that can tear a team apart from the inside. It’s the classic sports dilemma: do you keep a superstar if their presence is toxic to the team environment?
The Heir Apparent: Bymas
With woxic's departure looming, mousesports had already been preparing for the future. They had followed the trend set by teams like Astralis by adding a sixth, "developmental" player to their roster: Aurimas "Bymas" Pipiras. Just 17 years old at the time, Bymas had already gotten a taste of top-level play with a two-and-a-half-month stint as a stand-in for FaZe Clan. The Lithuanian rifler represented a different philosophy—youth, versatility, and a blank slate for the coaching staff to mold. His reported promotion signaled a potential stylistic shift for mousesports, moving away from a system built around a dominant primary AWPer to a more flexible, rifler-heavy approach. Talk about a change of direction!
Legacy and What-Ifs
As of 2026, the woxic-mousesports saga remains a fascinating case study in team building. On paper, the partnership was immensely successful, delivering multiple championships and a top-two global ranking. Woxic proved he had the skill to compete with the very best. Yet, the reported attitude issues that led to his removal serve as a stark reminder that esports, at its highest level, is about more than just individual mechanics. It's about synergy, communication, and shared commitment.
The move ushered in a new era for mousesports, who were next slated to compete in ESL Pro League Season 12 Europe with their revised lineup. For woxic, it was a sudden end to a highly productive chapter, leaving fans to wonder what could have been if both sides had managed to align not just their crosshairs, but their goals and attitudes as well. Sometimes, the story isn't about the shots you miss, but the team you just don't quite fit with anymore.
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