Russian organization Virtus.pro has announced that Denis “electroNic” Sharipov has been moved to the bench. This decision marks the logical conclusion of a 16-month period that was expected to become a new era of revival for the Bears, but instead ended in a string of painful defeats and internal crisis.
A high-profile transfer that didn’t work out
electroNic joined Virtus.pro in April 2024 after his stint with Cloud9. His arrival was regarded as one of the most ambitious transfers on the CIS scene: a four-time HLTV Top 20 player, Major champion, and former NAVI star was expected to be the missing piece that would bring VP back into contention for titles.
At first, electroNic replaced mir, and later—after Dzhami “Jame” Ali was benched—he took on the role of in-game leader. It seemed that Sharipov’s experience and flexibility could give the team a chance to combine an aggressive style with Virtus.pro’s trademark discipline. However, results were lacking from the very start: the team dropped crucial matches, and tactical experiments failed to create consistency.
A series of tournament failures
The year 2025 has been one of disappointment for Virtus.pro:
- FISSURE Playground 1 — 13–16th place ($5,000), an early exit without a fight.
- IEM Cologne Stage 1 — 9–12th place ($4,500), a collapse in the opening stage of one of the summer’s biggest events.
- BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals — 5–8th place ($18,750), the only relatively acceptable result.
- Esports World Cup — 13–16th place ($2,000), one of the club’s worst showings on the world stage.
- BLAST Open London 2025 — last place after a defeat to M80, which became the final straw.
As a result, Virtus.pro not only lost opportunities for stable prize money but also fell out of the pool of teams regularly competing for semifinals and finals.
The organization’s statement
Virtus.pro CEO Nikolai Petrossian stated that the partnership with electroNic failed to meet expectations:
Denis is one of the most experienced and decorated players in the world. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to build a team that could consistently fight for top positions at the biggest tournaments. I want to thank him for his genuine dedication and readiness to take on the responsibility of being captain, even when things were difficult.
The organization also highlighted Sharipov’s professionalism and commitment, which he showed even in the toughest conditions.
Constant changes and lack of stability
Since April 2024, Virtus.pro’s roster has gone through significant upheaval. Over this period, the team lost three players, constantly experimented with roles, and also switched coaches three times. By the time electroNic was benched, only FL1T and fame remained as the backbone of the lineup.
This underscores VP’s main problem—lack of stability and a clear direction. Even with a player of electroNic’s caliber, the club was unable to build a system capable of competing with the likes of Vitality, Spirit, or FaZe.
Virtus.pro’s roster after the change
The current Virtus.pro roster is:
- Evgenii “FL1T” Lebedev
- Petr “fame” Bolyshev
- Kaisar “ICY” Faiznurov
- Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy
- Ivan “F_1N” Kochugov (coach)
On the bench:
- David “n0rb3r7” Danielyan
- Timur “FL4MUS” Marev
- Denis “electroNic” Sharipov
Virtus.pro have already confirmed that the name of their new fifth player will be announced soon. The team is expected to return to action at FISSURE Playground 2, starting on September 12.
What’s next for electroNic?
It is still unknown where the 26-year-old will continue his career. Considering his experience, achievements, and versatility, electroNic remains a valuable asset for any top team. The community is already speculating about potential interest from Cloud9, BetBoom, or even NAVI, though no official confirmation has been made.
Community Reaction
The benching of electroNic sparked an active discussion among fans and analysts.
- Streamer fl0m joked: “Welcome back Jame,” hinting at a possible return of the legendary captain. Influencer Jake Lucky reacted with the meme “baby shark doo doo doo.”
- Some fans are calling for Perfecto to become the new IGL and for FL4MUS to be brought back, while others are speculating about options with Nexa or even electroNic moving to FaZe.
- Analyst Sergei Zotov posted a picture of s1mple with the caption “Call him,” fueling rumors of potential reunions. Meanwhile, some fans reminded everyone: “s1n destroyed him” at BLAST London.
Overall, the community is divided: some see this as an inevitable step for Virtus.pro, while others view it as the end of yet another failed era.
electroNic’s removal from Virtus.pro’s starting lineup marks the end of another ambitious rebuild that failed to deliver results. The organization now stands at a crossroads: either find a new foundation for the roster or risk losing its place among the world’s elite.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming signing, hoping it will become the turning point, as the next season promises to be decisive for the Bears.
