Ukrainian AWPer Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov has officially returned to active competition after joining Inner Circle following a three-month absence from the server. The organization confirmed the signing on social media, announcing that headtr1ck will fill the spot previously occupied by Artem “Flierax” Khioara, who was moved to the bench earlier in March.
Return after a period on the sidelines
For the 21-year-old sniper, the move marks a return to competitive play after a difficult period. Over the past three months, headtr1ck had been sitting on the bench of B8 before officially leaving the team at the beginning of March. Despite the inactivity, the Ukrainian player posted respectable numbers during 2025. He finished the year with an average 1.05 rating, although his performance dropped noticeably over time.
- 1.12 rating in the first half of the year
- 0.94 rating in the second half
The decline in form during the latter part of the season ultimately contributed to his removal from the active roster.
Inner Circle looking to improve results
For Inner Circle, the signing could represent an attempt to stabilize their performances after a series of disappointing playoff runs. The team managed to reach the playoffs in several recent events but was eliminated in the first round in three of their last four tournaments.
Adding an experienced AWPer like headtr1ck is expected to bring more firepower and stability to the roster, particularly in high-pressure rounds where strong AWP impact can often decide the outcome of matches. Shortly after the announcement, headtr1ck also shared a message on social media:
Joining Inner Circle. I really put my trust in this project and I’m sure everything is in our hands. Happy to be here — thank you to everyone who supported me.
Debut expected at CCT Season 3 Europe Series 18
Headtr1ck’s first official appearance for the team is expected to take place at CCT Season 3 Europe Series 18, where Inner Circle have received a direct invitation to the playoff stage. The tournament will serve as the first real test for the updated lineup and will show how quickly the Ukrainian AWPer can integrate into the team’s system.
Inner Circle roster
Following the signing, Inner Circle’s Counter-Strike 2 lineup now consists of:
- Viktor “onic” Babii
- David “Dawy” Bibik
- Arseniy “cptkurtka023” Derevinskiy
- Eduard “zeRRoFIX” Petrovskyi
- Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov
Coach:
- Dmytro “jR” Chervak
A fresh opportunity for headtr1ck
The move represents an important opportunity for headtr1ck to restart his career trajectory. At just 21 years old, he still remains one of the more promising Ukrainian AWPers, and strong performances with Inner Circle could help him re-establish himself on the international Counter-Strike scene.
