Natus Vincere’s early exit at the Esports World Cup 2026 has resurfaced questions about the team’s off-season decisions. Over the summer, head coach Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi revealed that the organization was exploring potential roster changes. Ultimately, no moves materialized, and NAVI committed to their existing squad for the second half of the 2026 CS2 season.
Following a devastating Round of 16 elimination by Legacy at the EWC, we asked in-game leader Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen if the lingering roster rumors had impacted the team’s cohesion. Rather than deflecting, the veteran captain offered a pragmatic perspective drawn from his extensive career.
I’ve been in NAVI for two and a half years, and before NAVI, I was in a lot of teams in the two-and-a-half-year span,” Aleksib noted. “It’s pretty typical in esports. Back in the days, I might have been too naive when I was young, but now I’m old enough to understand that it’s the name of the game, and that’s how it goes. So no surprises there. I think it’s just natural.
While Aleksib admitted he “cannot speak on behalf of other people” regarding how the rumors specifically affected his teammates, his personal approach remains strictly professional. Still, the IGL didn’t hide his frustration with the team’s current form on the server, noting he “was hoping for a better result here.”
Confidence in makazze
The pressure of an unchanged roster failing to deliver immediate results inevitably places heavy scrutiny on individual performances. Young talent Drin “makazze” Shaqiri has experienced a slight statistical drop-off recently, but his captain was quick to shut down any concerns regarding his future or his current impact on the squad.
I know behind the scenes how he is. He’s this person that brings the energy up in other individuals as well, and it’s easy to play around him,” Aleksib said of makazze. “He’s not complaining. He’s always trying to sacrifice for you. So, he’s a player that will be at the top for a long time if he keeps going and keeps grinding.
Rather than pointing fingers at individuals, Aleksib attributed the recent struggles to broader team performance issues, emphasizing that he is “not worried about him.”
A disappointing server reality
Despite his composed handling of the roster questions, the reality of the Legacy defeat stung. NAVI dedicated significant time to resetting and practicing after a frustrating run at the recent Major, only to find themselves completely outclassed at EWC.
We just gave them two big leads on both maps and it was very tough to fight from when you’re so much behind,” Aleksib admitted. “It was not us, and with this performance, I don’t think that we could have even challenged the top three, top five teams.
As NAVI moves forward into the rest of the 2026 calendar, the questions surrounding their summer choices will likely persist until they can prove their resilience on the server. For now, Aleksib and his squad must hit the demo viewer and find a way to bounce back.
