Fnatic has officially benched Freddy “KRIMZ” Johansson. This move ends a decade-long active stretch on the server for the Swede, totaling 3,511 consecutive days. When including his initial 2014 to 2016 stint, his time with the organization spans 4,288 days. This stands as the longest total tenure for a player under a single banner in Counter-Strike history.
The transition to a new core
The roster change arrives during a difficult 2026 season for Fnatic. The team dropped to 80th on the Valve Regional Standings by June 5 and recently failed to qualify for the ongoing IEM Cologne Major.
In response to these results, the organization has gradually rebuilt its roster around a Ukrainian core. The recent additions of Nikita “jackasmo” Skyba and Viktor “Br4tkO” Kondratets alongside Rodion “fEAR” Smyk and Dmytro “jambo” Semera left KRIMZ as the final remaining piece of the previous project. While the organization did not specify the exact reason for the benching, his removal clears the path for this full roster transition.
Reflecting on a 12-year journey
Following the announcement, KRIMZ released a statement on X to address his departure. He thanked the organization for fulfilling his childhood dreams and supporting his growth over the last 12 years. The veteran player expressed gratitude to former teammates, coaches, and staff, with a specific mention of his long-time colleague Andreas “Samuelsson” Samuelsson.
Addressing the fans directly, KRIMZ acknowledged the team’s recent lack of competitive success but maintained that he gave his maximum effort until his final day on the active roster. He closed his statement by confirming that the Viking has been on the battlefield for the last time in black and orange.
Looking back at 22 trophies and two Majors
During his peak years with Fnatic from 2014 to 2020, KRIMZ secured 22 notable event victories. This run included back-to-back Major championships at ESL One Katowice and ESL One Cologne in 2015. He also earned five Most Valuable Player awards during this period.
As Fnatic shifted away from a fully Swedish lineup in 2021, KRIMZ stood as the sole remaining member of that Major-winning squad. He adapted to multiple roster rebuilds over the following years as the team fluctuated between the top 10 and top 30 in the world rankings.
The active Fnatic roster is now down to four players and their coach:
- Rodion “fEAR” Smyk
- Dmytro “jambo” Semera
- Nikita “jackasmo” Skyba
- Viktor “Br4tkO” Kondratets
- Miks “Independent” Siliņš (coach)
