Fnatic officially announced one of the most controversial decisions in their recent history. Cai “CYPHER” Watson, who just three months ago helped the team qualify for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, was replaced by Ukrainian player Nikita “jackasmo” Skyba.
This decision sparked an uproar in the Counter-Strike 2 community, especially considering the circumstances under which this replacement took place.
Circumstances of the Replacement: From Triumph to Disappointment
The situation appears particularly cruel when examining the chronology of events. CYPHER joined Fnatic in late July 2025, replacing Matúš “MATYS” Šimko, who transferred to G2 Esports. During his three months with the team, the British player helped Fnatic win two key tournaments: DraculaN Cup and Fragadelphia Blocktober. It was the victory in the latter that secured the team a coveted Major slot — their first in almost two years.
CYPHER’s statistics over the past three months showed a 1.00 rating, which, while not outstanding, was quite acceptable for an entry fragger. Moreover, in the decisive final against 9INE at Fragadelphia Blocktober, CYPHER showed the team’s best result with 91 frags. The paradox of the situation is that the player who helped the team qualify for the Major will not get the opportunity to play in it.
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Fear and Roster Uncertainty: A Six-Man Squad
The current situation at Fnatic creates an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty not only among fans but also within the organization itself. Officially, the team will play with six players: besides jackasmo, the roster includes fear, jambo, blameF, KRIMZ, and Independent as coach. However, nobody knows for certain who exactly will go to Budapest Major in November.
According to Fear, in an interview for HLTV, the organization has not yet made a final decision regarding the Major roster. This creates an unprecedented situation where the team is essentially playing in “6-man roster” mode but without a clear understanding of who will represent the club at the most important tournament of the year. Such uncertainty can seriously affect the psychological state of all players and their preparation for crucial matches.
Public Reaction: Between Empathy and Confusion
Fnatic’s decision was met with near-universal criticism in the CS2 community, from fans to prominent analysts.
British caster Dweg commented on the situation bluntly:
How has CYPHER been kicked when KRIMZ being replaced by jackasmo just makes so much more sense. Crazy scenes at Fnatic right now after just qualifying for the Major.
Renowned host James Banks was equally direct:
It’s a disaster. CYPHER was crucial in the qualifiers, and now he won’t even be at the Major? Absolutely disgusting. And yes, I saw him applying for a visa — he could have gone to China.
Analyst Travis also questioned the logic behind the move:
Insane decision. Sure, CYPHER’s form was inconsistent, but he’s an entry and helped Fnatic qualify for the Major. If a change was necessary, KRIMZ should have gone, not CYPHER.
These reactions highlight a key divide: while the organization likely sees this as a strategic investment in the team’s long-term potential, the public perceives it as a betrayal of a player who delivered results when it mattered most.
CYPHER’s Girlfriend’s Reaction: “F**king Joke”
One of the most striking reactions came from CYPHER’s girlfriend, who didn’t hold back her emotions on social media. Her words perfectly capture the absurdity of the situation:
Fnatic: ‘Let’s bring CYPHER in to help us qualify for the Major because we haven’t qualified for one in almost 2 years!’ Brings CYPHER in and he helps them qualify 3 months later. Fnatic: ‘Let’s replace CYPHER before the Major now and not explain to him why because that makes sense.’ F**king joke.
She also emphasized that Fnatic didn’t even bother to explain the reasons for the replacement:
At least have the decency to say you benched him two days after he helped you make the Major.
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This criticism found wide resonance in the community, where many fans expressed solidarity with CYPHER and his loved ones.
Ukrainian Core and Strategic Considerations
With jackasmo’s arrival, Fnatic effectively becomes a Ukrainian team by composition. The roster now features three Ukrainians: fear, jambo, and jackasmo — all former Passion UA players who already have experience playing together. This could give the team an advantage in terms of mutual understanding and communication, especially considering that Ukrainian players can communicate in their native language during critical moments.
Jackasmo’s statistical performance also looks promising. Over the past three months, his rating was 1.01, which is slightly higher than CYPHER’s. Additionally, the 18-year-old Ukrainian has already proven himself with Fnatic during Fragadelphia Blocktober, replacing KRIMZ. His familiarity with the team’s tactical schemes and chemistry with fear and jambo could become decisive factors.
Weighing the Impact: Emotion vs. Logic
Ultimately, the debate around this move boils down to a clash between emotional fairness and cold strategic logic. On paper, the switch may seem justifiable: a younger player with long-term potential, reuniting a proven Ukrainian trio. But emotionally, it’s hard to defend the timing and manner of the replacement.
The real impact of this move will depend on results. If Fnatic performs well at the Major and maintains internal harmony, the controversy may fade. But if instability or internal tension surfaces, this case will be remembered as one of the most damaging roster decisions in modern Fnatic history.
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The Price of Ambition
CYPHER’s replacement with jackasmo represents a classic conflict between short-term fairness and long-term ambitions. On one hand, the Ukrainian core has the potential to create a stronger and more cohesive team. On the other hand, the way this replacement was conducted demonstrates disregard for the human factor and fairness.
Time will tell whether this replacement was worth the lost community trust and personal cost for CYPHER, who once again became a victim of circumstances in the British CS scene. Regardless of sporting results, this case will go down in history as an example of how not to treat players who give their all for team success. The fear regarding the Major roster and uncertainty around the final decision only exacerbate the situation, creating an atmosphere of instability at the critical moment of preparation for the most important tournament of the year.
