Passion UA have officially reshaped their CS2 lineup with a double move that instantly changes the team’s ceiling: Santino “try” Rigal joins as the new primary AWPer, while Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold arrives on loan after being benched by The MongolZ late last year. For an organization that struggled to find stability at the start of 2026, this is not just a roster tweak — it’s a statement.
Senzu joins on loan: HLTV’s No. 13 of 2025 finds a new home
The headline addition is undoubtedly Senzu. The 19-year-old Mongolian rifler was ranked 13th best player of 2025 by HLTV, cementing himself as one of the most explosive young talents in the world. After being moved to the bench by The MongolZ at the end of October, questions surrounded his future. Now, Passion UA have secured him on loan — a move that many in the community have already labeled a coup.
Despite recent discussions about a possible transition to full-time AWPing, Senzu will continue as a rifler in this lineup. That decision suggests Passion UA want to preserve his impact as a space-creating, high-tempo fragger rather than reshaping him into a role that could dilute his strengths. Social media reaction was immediate and intense. From “One of the best riflers in CS2 is saved” to memes referencing the famous “Senzu Bean,” the move sparked global buzz — especially among Mongolian fans who see this as a fresh chapter rather than a setback.
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try takes over the AWP: South American star makes first move abroad
While Senzu grabs headlines, the structural shift comes with the arrival of try. The 21-year-old Argentine sniper joins from Imperial after 18 months in Brazil, where he consistently posted strong individual numbers despite the team’s mixed international results. Over his tenure, try maintained a 1.19 average rating and was widely considered Imperial’s most reliable performer.
He attended three Majors with the Brazilian side and was instrumental in their surprising run to Stage 3 at the StarLadder Budapest Major. Against higher-tier opposition, try was often the only Imperial player able to hold his own statistically. This transfer also marks the first time in his career that try will play outside of a South American lineup — a significant milestone that could redefine his trajectory.
What happens to hallzerk?
Although Passion UA have not officially confirmed who is stepping out of the starting five, all signs point toward Håkon “hallzerk” Fjærli making way. The Norwegian AWPer had been part of the core across Complexity and Passion UA for over three years. While often solid domestically and against mid-tier teams, his performances against elite opposition were inconsistent — something that likely influenced the organization’s decision to pursue a higher-upside alternative. Replacing a long-standing core member with a younger, more aggressive sniper signals a shift in philosophy: more firepower, more volatility, more ambition.
A response to a rough start
Passion UA’s 2026 campaign began poorly. The team failed to win a series at BLAST Bounty Season 1 and exited early at IEM Katowice Stage 1, raising concerns about firepower and late-round conversion. Bringing in try addresses the AWP stability issue. Signing Senzu injects raw star power. Together, the moves aim to solve both structure and explosiveness — two areas that held the team back in international play.
Expected Passion UA lineup
- Johnny “JT” Theodosiou
- Michael “Grim” Wince
- Vladyslav “Kvem” Korol
- Nick “nicx” Lee
- Santino “try” Rigal
- Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold (loan)
The multinational composition also raises interesting questions about long-term regional identity and communication dynamics — but in pure skill terms, this roster now boasts significantly higher individual potential.
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High risk, high reward
This is one of the boldest roster moves of early 2026. Passion UA have acquired:
- A top-15 player of last year.
- A proven Major AWPer entering his prime.
- Two high-upside pieces who can dramatically raise the team’s ceiling.
The gamble? Integration, roles, and chemistry — especially with Senzu adapting to a new system and try entering his first non–South American environment. If it clicks, Passion UA transform from fringe playoff hopefuls into a legitimate dark horse in tier-one CS2. If it doesn’t, it will be remembered as one of the most ambitious but unstable experiments of the season. Either way, the message is clear: Passion UA are done playing it safe.
