Natus Vincere claimed victory at StarSeries Fall 2025, confidently winning the tournament and putting an end to their streak of setbacks. For the team, this was an important step toward regaining stability after a troubled summer. The trophy not only provided the squad with crucial VRS points but also restored belief in their potential ahead of the major autumn tournaments.
THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF ALEKSIB IN NAVI
Despite modest statistical numbers (average rating 0.94), Aleksib plays a role that is not always visible in figures. He is responsible for macro play, psychological balance, and internal trust within the roster. It was the Finnish captain who kept NAVI from further collapse, giving the team a new direction after a series of defeats.
WHY NAVI FAILED
After makazze’s positive debut in Cologne, the team ran into a crisis. Losses to 3DMAX and M80 came as a cold shower. According to Aleksib:
As we started losing and we couldn’t have these debrief discussions seeing each other, it really took some of the vibe and energy away from us.
The lack of live discussions and adaptation after online matches drained the team’s energy, leading to a loss of form.
THE ROLE OF MAKAZZE AND “OVERHEATED EXPECTATIONS”
The arrival of Drin “makazze” Shaqiri created a surge of motivation in NAVI. His aggressive style added variety, but at the same time led to inflated expectations.
After having a very nice debut with makazze in Cologne we put our thoughts way above what we actually were at that moment.
A shallow playbook and haste in building the game became the main reason for the sharp drop after the initial success.
VICTORY AT STARSERIES AND WHY IT MATTERS
StarSeries became a turning point: NAVI won the title, dropping only one map. According to the captain:
I’m happy with how we are changing the direction, but we still need to show it against good opponents. This is the first stepping stone.
This trophy gave the team not only VRS points but also the feeling of being a collective capable of competing at the highest level.
ALEKSIB’S STATISTICS
- Average rating: 0.94
- Maps won: 60.1%
- K/D: 0.82 (3517 kills / 4271 deaths)
- ADR: 62.4
- Best tournament of recent months: StarSeries Fall 2025 (rating 1.05)
WHAT’S NEXT FOR NAVI
The triumph in Kyiv does not mean a return to the very top. Ahead lies ESL Pro League Season 22 in Stockholm, where NAVI joined the strongest pool: Vitality, FaZe, Spirit, MOUZ, and The MongolZ. This will be the real test — whether the team is ready to consolidate success against elite opponents.
PREDICTIONS
Currently, NAVI holds a place in the second tier of the world rankings, but they have the potential to break through. Importantly:
- the team has finally regained trust in each other;
- makazze is integrating quickly into the system;
- Aleksib, despite modest individual stats, consistently fulfills the role of leader.
If NAVI can avoid repeating the “overheated expectations effect” and confirm their form at ESL Pro League, then by autumn 2025 the team will realistically contend for a return to the HLTV top 5. At the same time, failure in Stockholm could once again cast doubt on the lineup’s stability — this tournament will define whether StarSeries was just a flash or the beginning of a new cycle.
