Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo is a Finnish professional Counter-Strike 2 player currently competing as a rifler for Aurora Gaming. Entering the professional circuit at a young age, he spent his formative years developing within the MOUZ organization. He is recognized for his mechanical consistency and site-anchoring capabilities, which earned him the 17th spot on the HLTV Top 20 player ranking in 2024. After securing multiple international trophies with MOUZ, he transferred to Aurora Gaming in July 2026.
Player bio
- Name: Jimi Salo
- Nationality: Finnish
- Date of birth: September 9, 2006
- Current team: Aurora Gaming
- Former teams: MOUZ, MOUZ NXT, Conquer, SJ, IQUE, NYYRIKKI
- Big accolades: 1st place PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, 1st place ESL Pro League Season 19, 1st place BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024, 1st place ESL Pro League Season 18, #17 HLTV Top 20 2024
Early career and academy progression
Salo began his competitive career in 2020 within the Finnish regional circuit. He played for organizations including NYYRIKKI, IQUE, SJ, and Conquer. These initial experiences allowed him to refine his individual mechanics against domestic opponents before moving to a larger stage.
In November 2021, he joined the academy roster MOUZ NXT. The structured environment provided a foundation for his growth into a tier-one competitor. His consistent performances in the academy system led to his promotion to the main MOUZ roster in July 2023.
Tier-one success and recent transfers
Playing at the highest level of Counter-Strike 2, Salo established himself as a reliable anchor and high-impact rifler. During his tenure with MOUZ, he secured several major international trophies, including back-to-back ESL Pro League championships and a victory at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025.
Following a period of fluctuating team results in early 2026, he was benched in April of the same year. On July 3, 2026, he officially departed the MOUZ organization and signed with Aurora Gaming, marking the next phase of his professional career.
Major championship results
| Tournament | Team | Placement |
| StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 | MOUZ | Quarter-finalist |
| BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 | MOUZ | 3rd to 4th |
| Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 | MOUZ | 3rd to 4th |
| PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024 | MOUZ | Quarter-finalist |
Trivia and in-game setup
Salo is the younger brother of Jere “sergej” Salo, another recognized Finnish Counter-Strike professional. Early in his career, he faced a VAC ban from Valve-sponsored events, which was lifted in January 2023 following updated eligibility guidelines. This allowed him to fully participate in the highest levels of professional competition. He utilizes a low-sensitivity hardware configuration, playing on 400 DPI and a 1.5 in-game sensitivity for an eDPI of 600.
