G2 and Liquid have completed a high-profile roster swap, sending Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa to Liquid and Guy “NertZ” Iluz to G2. The move reshapes both teams and carries important implications for the Major qualification race and the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). For G2, the transfer reunites NertZ with coach Eetu “sAw” Saha and AWPer Álvaro “SunPayus” García, while Liquid regain an American core with the addition of malbsMd, strengthening their position in the Americas VRS ahead of the Major cut-off.
Liquid return to an American core before the Major cut-off
One of the main reasons behind the move appears to be the regional qualification system used for Major invites. Prior to the change, Liquid were positioned outside the top qualification spots in the European VRS standings, putting their potential Major invitation at risk. By signing malbsMd, Liquid once again qualify under the Americas region, dramatically improving their chances of securing a Major slot before the April 6 cut-off.
The move also relieves some of the immediate pressure on the organization as they prepare for a packed schedule that includes BLAST Open Rotterdam, as well as additional events such as DraculaN and the WINAMAX Counter-Strike 2 Trophy, where they hope to accumulate the necessary VRS points. Liquid are currently playing with Justinas “jL” Lekavicius as a temporary stand-in while completing the transition.
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G2 hope NertZ rebounds under sAw
On the other side of the trade, NertZ will look to rediscover the form that made him one of the breakout stars of international Counter-Strike. The Israeli rifler was one of the standout players of 2023, earning the HLTV Rookie of the Year award and finishing the year ranked 13th best player in the world. However, his time with Liquid failed to match those heights.
During his stint in the team, his rating dropped to 1.05, compared to 1.13 during his time in ENCE and 1.12 with HEROIC. The reunion with coach sAw, who previously helped develop his aggressive rifling style, could be a key factor in helping him regain his previous level. For G2, the move also follows a difficult period after the departures of NiKo and m0NESY, which left the team searching for stability and firepower.
Both teams racing against the Major eligibility deadline
Because of Valve’s roster rules, both teams must complete at least five official matches with their new players before the Major qualification cut-off in order for the lineup changes to become eligible. This explains why both organizations have added additional tournaments to their calendar.
G2 are set to attend BC.Game Masters and Stake Ranked Episode 1, while Liquid have confirmed participation in DraculaN, WINAMAX Counter-Strike 2 Trophy, and BLAST Open Rotterdam as they attempt to finalize their lineup eligibility.
New lineups
G2
- Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač
- Matúš “MATYS” Šimko
- Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko
- Álvaro “SunPayus” García
- Guy “NertZ” Iluz
- Coach: Eetu “sAw” Saha
Liquid
- Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
- Keith “NAF” Markovic
- Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek
- Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak
- Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa
- Coach: Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea
Community reaction
The trade quickly sparked discussion across the Counter-Strike community, with analysts and commentators weighing in on the potential impact of the move.
Former professional player and analyst Jacob “Pimp” Winneche described the deal as a personal win, noting how both teams addressed key roster needs.
G2 + NertZ – malbsMd
Liquid + malbsMd – NertZ
Win win for me!
Another analyst, Travis, highlighted the strategic logic behind the swap, particularly the reunion between NertZ and coach sAw.
Incredibly sensible for both parties. Convinced NertZ can be fixed by sAw and malbs likely fixes Liquid’s Cologne conundrum.
However, he also pointed out a broader regional implication: Liquid’s return to the Americas VRS could reduce the number of available qualification spots for other North American teams.
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What the move means for the CS2 scene
The trade represents a rare direct player swap between two Tier-1 organizations and highlights how heavily the VRS qualification system now influences roster decisions. For G2, the priority is rebuilding their competitive identity after losing star players. For Liquid, the focus is survival in the Major qualification race. Whether the move proves successful will likely become clear over the next few weeks as both teams rush to complete the required matches before the qualification deadline.
