The first episode of HLTV Confirmed in 2026 traditionally kicked off with the Time Capsule format — a symbolic “sealing” of predictions for the upcoming CS2 season. Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill, alongside Professeur and Striker, broke down the key categories while posing the central question: is it better to be “boring and right,” or to take risks for the sake of a bold prediction?
Team of the Season — Vitality
SPUNJ had no hesitation in picking Vitality, openly admitting that it was a “boring but correct” choice. In the studio, he summed up the season’s dilemma perfectly:
Are we going to be boring, or are we going to be right?
In his view, Vitality are the team best equipped for a marathon season filled with dozens of tournaments. Structure, consistency, and system-based play outweigh randomness — and that, according to SPUNJ, is what ultimately defines a Team of the Year rather than brief peaks of form.
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Major MVP — ropz
One of the most intriguing picks in the capsule. SPUNJ named ropz as his Major MVP, not because of regular-season statistics, but due to the playoff factor. As he described it, this was more of “a shout” — an intuitive prediction rooted in how ropz performs in high-pressure, decisive moments. That choice also implicitly ties the MVP award to a potential Vitality Major victory, neatly completing SPUNJ’s overall vision for the season.
Best Roster Change — zweih → PARIVISION
The centerpiece prediction of the entire segment. SPUNJ singled out this move not for star power, but for its realistic upside.
They still have an opportunity to punch a bit higher than where they are right now.
For him, PARIVISION are a team with room to grow, and zweih is a player capable of accelerating that progress. That combination is why SPUNJ ranked this transfer above all other roster changes heading into 2026.
Team to Make Roster Change — Aurora
In this category, SPUNJ landed on Aurora, acknowledging that the team sits in a zone of potential instability. While he avoided naming specific players, his point was clear: this roster is unlikely to make it through the entirety of 2026 without adjustments, especially if results fall short of expectations.
Breakout of the Season — xielo
A category SPUNJ described as one of the hardest to predict. After weighing teams versus individual players, he ultimately settled on xielo.
If he’s competing at a higher level, it’ll be obvious by the end of the season.
This pick represents a bet on a genuine step up in responsibility and level — not just a short-term upset or a single strong tournament run.
Disaster of the Season — BIG
SPUNJ’s harshest forecast. He selected BIG as a potential disaster of the season, emphasizing that this wasn’t about one bad event, but about overall direction. In the studio, the choice came almost instantly — as an example of a team that could become stuck in poor decision-making without finding a clear identity in 2026.
Retirement of the Season — karrigan
The most emotional moment of the Time Capsule. SPUNJ immediately added an important disclaimer:
We are fans of these players, we love them, and we don’t want them to retire — respectfully.
Still, cold logic led him to name karrigan. This was not a prediction of inevitability, but rather an acknowledgment of career cycles and the physical and mental toll of the modern CS2 calendar.
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What these predictions say about 2026
SPUNJ’s Time Capsule isn’t a collection of hype-driven takes, but a structured view of the season as a long-term process. Time and again, he favors stability over shock value, upside over reputation, and long-term logic over short-term results.
Now the main intrigue is clear: which parts of this capsule will prove “boringly correct,” and which will look boldly wrong by the end of 2026?
