Astralis signs siuhy and cmtry to form first international roster
Astralis has signed Polish IGL siuhy and Ukrainian rifler cmtry, ending its all-Danish era and forming its first lineup without a Danish majority to compete for Major qualification.
Astralis has signed Kamil 'siuhy' Szkaradek and Nikita 'cmtry' Samolotov to fill the spots left by benched players Rasmus 'HooXi' Nielsen and Jakob 'jabbi' Nygaard. This confirms the first lineup in the organization's history without a Danish majority. The new starting five comprises Victor 'Staehr' Staehr, Love 'phzy' Smidebrant, Gytis 'ryu' Glušauskas, siuhy, and cmtry. Staehr is now the sole Dane in the active roster, marking a definitive strategic shift for the four-time Major champion, which had previously only fielded all-Danish lineups.
New players face immediate match pressure for Major sticker eligibility
The new signings face immediate competitive pressure. They must play five matches before the Major invite cutoff to qualify for in-game stickers. According to tournament rules, "The new players need to play five matches before the Major invite cutoff to qualify for in-game stickers." Astralis's first scheduled outing with the new roster is against Sashi in the opening match of Stake Pulse Beat III on October 14, in Group C. If that event does not provide enough matches, Stake Ranked Episode 5 will be the final opportunity to reach the required threshold before the deadline.
Background and roles of the new arrivals
The new arrivals bring distinct backgrounds. Siuhy, a Polish former in-game leader for Team Liquid, became a free agent on October 2. Astralis's announcement confirmed his signing but did not specify if he will assume a leadership role in the new lineup. His tenure with Liquid was marked by early tournament exits. Ukrainian player cmtry joins as a rifler, transitioning from his previous role as an AWPer during his time with NAVI Junior and FUT. With this change, Love 'phzy' Smidebrant remains the team's primary AWPer.
Context: Astralis’s path to the PGL Singapore Major and recent history
This roster overhaul follows a recent high. The previous lineup, led by HooXi since 2025, secured Astralis's place at the PGL Singapore Major 2026 by winning Stake Ranked Episode 4. That victory over Nemiga in the final delivered the organization its first LAN trophy since 2019. The result locked in their Major invite via the Valve Regional Standings. Coach Filip 'NEO' Kubski continues in his role to guide the new international squad. Astralis's first match with the revised roster is against Sashi in the opening match of Stake Pulse Beat III on October 14, in Group C.
