Emil "kUcheR" Akhundov has departed the HellRaisers roster, the organization announced on their website.

According to the official statement, Emil "⁠kUcheR⁠" Akhundov's contract expired and the organization offered him to take a break, as the team wanted to try out a new player.

The Ukrainian decided to leave altogether, as he did not want to be tied to the organization anymore, and will try to find a new team.

Earlier today rumours began spreading around about Tomáš "⁠oskar⁠" Šťastný having been offered a spot in one of the teams attending the major due to the player's comments on stream, however that was denied by the organization and was explained as simply a joke by the Czech.



kUcheR leaves HellRaisers after the team failed to advance to the major

The move comes after the team managed to win the PGL European Minor to make it to the MLG Columbus Main Qualifier, and placing 5th-6th at Acer Predator Masters Season 2.

In Columbus they weren't able to qualify for the major however, as they lost to Liquid in the decider in a close series after another narrow match with mousesports in the winners' match.

"It's a pity to leave HellRaisers, since they were my second family. The organization offered me to take a break, having decided to try out a young player." Akhundov said in a statement. "I said that I did not want to be on the hook and left the team. I will continue to play and will try to find a new team. Thanks to everyone, who supported and cheered for me!"

The new player in HellRaisers seems to be 17-year-old Sergey "⁠smike⁠" Sklyarenko, who is now listed as a stand-in. He was previously part of a fully-Ukrainian lineup of eXplosive, HellRaisers' subsidiary, that exited the CIS Minor in group stage following two straight losses, to Gambit and Binary Dragons.

HellRaisers' lineup is now following:

Interestingly, Zero is listed as a stand-in as well, despite him having attended three events with HellRaisers.