With the year’s biggest CS:GO tournament; IEM Katowice, just around the corner, Danish esports organization Astralis has adopted a little bit of a different strategy.
Astralis will be competing at IEM Katowice 2021 with an additional substitute in the form of Mads “vester” Vestergaard.
Vester is part of Astralis Talent, the organization’s academy team.
Astralis adds vester to its CS: GO Roster
Meet @vestercs. ✨#AstralisFamily | #ToTheStars
— Astralis Counter-Strike (@AstralisCS) February 17, 2021
Last year, Astralis competed with a myriad of substitutes and stand-ins, while multiple members of the starting lineup were absent. The starting lineup was back in form in Oct., and as a result, the team decided to continue competing with Lucas “Bubzkji” Andersen serving as the sixth man. Bubzkji ideally makes his appearance in the starting lineup when the team plays on Nuke.
Kasper Hvidt speaks on vester’s addition to Astralis
Director Kasper Hvidt. described vester’s presence in the main roster as a representation of the organization’s commitment to developing new talent and claiming it isn’t a mere strategic adjustment.
While Astralis wants to use Katowice as a platform where its Talent players become more experienced, it will use vester every time two starting players are absent.
Aside from Astralis, several other CS: GO teams have adopted the six-man approach. Natus Vincere has effectively been using Valerii “B1T” Vakhovskyi, one of its academy players as a substitute. Likewise, Team Vitality has used Nabil “Nivera” Benrlitom as a sixth-man to great success, but he is slated to compete in every map in the event since Dan “apEX” Madesclaire has taken time off.
Astralis will play their first series at Katowice on Thursday, Feb 18.
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