For some, participating in a Major is just another tournament; for others, it’s a dream pursued for years. British player Cai “CYPHER” Watson was finally close to returning to the main stage, but fate decided otherwise.
Official confirmation
CYPHER announced on social media that he will not take part in the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. In a short post, the player wrote that the decision came as a surprise to him, as he had dreamed of qualifying for a Major again after a two-year break.
It was a dream to qualify after two years without a Major. I’m disappointed, but what can I do.
After that, co-captain Benjamin “blameF” Bremer addressed fans with his own comment:
I just want to say that Cai is a world class teammate who will do everything for the team and in my opinion is one of the best entry fraggers of tier2, he always showed up 100% ready and motivated for prac and he took critism like a complete professional. Thank you Cai <3 https://t.co/uQIcT6Zw4I
— Benjamin Vang Bremer (@blameFFFFF) October 23, 2025
What happened in Fnatic
A few weeks earlier, Fnatic had made headlines after their victory at Fragadelphia Blocktober 2025. The team pulled off an incredible comeback, having only a 2.5% chance to qualify for the Major. However, shortly after the tournament, the roster began to shift — CYPHER was benched, and his spot in the starting five was taken by Nikita “jackasmo” Skyba.
The last time CYPHER played for Fnatic was at Fragadelphia, helping the team defeat OG, BIG, and 9INE. His average rating for the tournament was 1.00, with the highest entry kill rate among teammates.
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Reaction from the team and the community
blameF’s words quickly gained traction on Twitter. Many analysts and players agreed that the Briton only lacked consistency to secure his place in the roster before the Major. blameF in reply to a comment criticizing his use of the term “tier-2”:
The Tier-2 scene is insanely competitive right now, and Cai has always been 100% ready. To me, he’s one of the best in his role.
Fnatic fans are divided: some believe jackasmo brings the team more aggression, while others argue that a roster change right before the Major could once again disrupt team chemistry.
A brief background on CYPHER
22-year-old Cai “CYPHER” Watson is one of the youngest British players to have already played for 11 different teams. His most notable performance came with Into The Breach during the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023, where the roster made a sensational playoff run. After that, CYPHER played for TSM, BLEED, and joined Fnatic in the summer of 2025.
In his three months with the “orange-and-black” roster, he helped the team win Fragadelphia, reach the finals of Birch Cup 2025, and maintained a steady 1.00 rating throughout.
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What’s next for CYPHER and Fnatic
Fnatic have not officially commented on whether CYPHER will remain as a substitute after the Major. Sources close to the team report that his contract is still active, and the player might receive in-game stickers as part of the extended roster.
Fnatic’s main lineup for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 currently looks as follows:
- Rodion “fear” Smyk
- Dmytro “jambo” Semera
- Benjamin “blameF” Bremer
- Freddy “KRIMZ” Johansson
- Nikita “jackasmo” Skyba
- Coach: Miks “Independent” Siliņš
Meanwhile, the British entry fragger remains without specific plans but, according to close sources, has no intention of stopping.
