Ukrainian esports organization Passion UA has made one of the biggest transfers of the year in the CS2 scene. The club officially announced the signing of the Complexity roster, which until recently represented North America at the biggest tournaments. This move sparked mixed reactions in the community, as the team long associated with Ukrainian talent has now taken on an international identity.
MEET THE NEW PASSION UA ROSTER 🔥
We are writing the next page of our history, the updated roster is ready to fight for every round and prove that true passion always finds a way.
• Roster:
🇿🇦 @JTcsgo
🇺🇦 @Kvem_csgo
🇳🇴 @hallzerk
🇺🇸 @1grimcs
🇺🇸 @nicxCS• Coach:
🇿🇦 @DrTcCs… pic.twitter.com/8IpxDOB4EH— PassionUA.gg (@PassionuaGG) August 19, 2025
The new Passion UA roster
The following players have joined the organization:
- Johnny “JT” Theodosiou
- Michael “Grim” Wince
- Håkon “hallzerk” Fjærli
- Nick “nicx” Candelaria
- Kvem
The team’s coach is Tiaan “T.c” Coertzen from South Africa, who has worked with Complexity since their stable CS:GO days.
At the time of signing, the team is ranked 23rd in the Valve rankings and will officially represent the American region, albeit under the banner of a Ukrainian club.
What happened to the old Passion UA roster
Until recently, Passion UA was known as a project that discovered new names in Ukrainian CS. The team’s core consisted of:
- Woro2k
- DemQQ
- Kvem
- jackasmo
- Topa
This lineup held a spot in the HLTV top 30, regularly competing in European tournaments, and was considered one of the most promising young squads in Eastern Europe.
However, after the transfer announcement, the following changes were made:
- Woro2k and Topa left the club;
- DemQQ and jackasmo were moved to the bench;
- The only player who remained in the starting five was Kvem, who earned the opportunity to play alongside an experienced American core.
Thus, the original idea of Passion UA as a “Ukrainian young team” has effectively ended, giving way to a more global project.
Why Complexity?
In the summer of 2025, the American club Complexity announced its withdrawal from CS2 due to financial issues and the inability to maintain a tier-1 roster. For Passion UA, this became a unique opportunity to sign players with experience at Majors, as well as in ESL Pro League and BLAST Premier.
As a result, the Ukrainian organization is moving to an entirely different level. If Passion UA was once considered an “underdog” nurturing local talent, now it becomes a participant in world-class tournaments with a ready-made, competitive lineup.
Community reaction
The announcement sparked a wave of discussions in chats and on social media. Fans expressed themselves in different ways:
- Shock and surprise: “WTF”, “wow, that’s so unexpected”.
- Irony and sarcasm: “They took American mercenaries”, “PASSION USA”, “passion NA”.
- Criticism of the decision: “why Kvem though”, “Kvem just slipped in there”.
- Indifference and skepticism: “Don’t care at all”, “whatever”.
- Positive reactions: “let’s go”, “fun”.
Overall, the community appears divided: some fans believe the organization betrayed the identity of a “Ukrainian project,” while others see this as a chance to elevate the Ukrainian brand to a global stage.
What’s next for Passion UA
The new roster faces several key challenges:
- International performance — Passion UA can no longer hide behind the label of a “young team,” since the remaining Complexity core has already played against the world’s best.
- Balancing identity — a club that positioned itself as a Ukrainian brand will now be associated with the American region and a mix of nationalities. This could be both an advantage and a source of criticism.
- Stability — the team must prove that under the new tag it can not only maintain results but climb higher, justifying both investment and fan expectations.
Conclusion
The signing of the Complexity roster is without a doubt a historic step for Passion UA. On the one hand, the club gains a chance to make its mark in tier-1 CS and elevate the Ukrainian brand to new heights. On the other hand, it risks losing the unique identity that made Passion UA beloved by fans in the region.
Whether this transfer marks the beginning of a new era of success or ends in disappointment will become clear in the upcoming season. But one thing is certain: after this move, the entire CS world will be talking about Passion UA.
