ENCE has adjusted its Counter-Strike 2 lineup by signing former Young Ninjas player Joe “joeski” Holmes on a trial basis through August. Niki “Cliqq” Kinnunen will step down from the active roster to accommodate the change.
Evaluating the main roster
This roster move is part of an ongoing project that began in April when ENCE promoted its academy squad to the main roster. The organization later hired Aleksi “allu” Jalli as head coach in June to develop a new tactical foundation for the young team.
General Manager Eemeli “Woomera” Ikonen stated on their website that the team remains in the early stages of its development. The management team is taking a measured approach to roster construction, using this trial period to assess how joeski integrates into official matches before making a final decision.
Recent offline performance
The trial announcement follows the team’s recent offline appearance at the Elisa Breakout Series 1 during Assembly Summer 2026. ENCE secured a spot in the grand final after an undefeated group stage and a playoff victory over HAVU.
The team finished as the tournament runner-up following a close 0-2 loss to BCG. Head coach allu noted that the event provided the roster with essential experience under pressure, and the organization secured four LAN victories to improve its VRS ranking. The coaching staff will now use the upcoming schedule to test the new lineup dynamics in official competition.
