Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen recently returned to competitive CS2 in impressive fashion, guiding Astralis to a surprising finals appearance at PGL Astana 2025. In an interview with Bo3.gg, the Danish in-game leader discussed his hiatus, performance turnaround, and his uncertain future with the legendary organization.
Turning Reflection into Results
Reflecting on his unexpected benching from G2 Esports, HooXi admitted confusion around the decision:
– I am still not 100% sure what I could’ve done different.
During his year of inactivity, HooXi diligently worked on individual improvements, particularly his leadership style and the atmosphere he created within the team, areas he identified as weaknesses during his tenure at G2.
Explaining how he quickly brought a healthier atmosphere to Astralis, HooXi stated:
– First of all, bringing a good mood was a weak point for me in G2 and something I spent a lot of time reflecting upon. Secondly, I think the pressure was off from the get go. Making a change to the lineup and going in without much time to prepare, the expectations were generally low from the public. Lastly, a roster change is also a chance to ‘start over’, which usually brings the famous honeymoon.
His personal reflection and adjustments clearly paid off, as Astralis delivered their best tournament performance in recent memory.
Uncertain Future, Big Ambitions
Despite immediate success with Astralis, HooXi confirmed there is currently no full-time deal in place:
– No there’s not. I think I could do a lot more with this roster if I got more time, so it is definitely interesting, but for now I am back to where I left off.
HooXi’s comment highlights his openness to remaining with Astralis, believing strongly in the roster’s potential if given more time and preparation. However, with no contract finalized yet, his future remains uncertain.
Still ambitious and hungry for success, HooXi expressed his desire to continue competing at the highest level, with winning a CS2 Major as his ultimate career goal.
As the professional scene eagerly awaits his next move, HooXi has proven he is far from finished in competitive CS2, bringing newfound confidence and experience to whichever team he joins next.
