Team Liquid considers Jorko and sl3nd for AWPer role as CS2 roster shuffle heats up
The esports giant is evaluating two young snipers while retaining current AWPer ultimate, reflecting the relentless roster churn in competitive Counter-Strike 2.
Team Liquid, one of the most recognized brands in competitive gaming, is reportedly weighing two young AWPer candidates, Jorko and sl3nd, as it looks to shore up the most scrutinized position on its Counter-Strike 2 roster. The move signals that even after confirming the retention of current sniper Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak, the organization isn’t done exploring its options.
The AWPer question that won’t go away
Team Liquid confirmed on June 25, 2026 that it would retain ultimate, the 20-year-old Polish player who joined the squad back in August 2024. That sounds like a vote of confidence. But the simultaneous evaluation of replacements tells a more nuanced story.
The two names on Liquid’s shortlist are Georgi “Jorko” Mitev and Henrich “sl3nd” Hevesi. sl3nd, a 21-year-old with Hungarian-Romanian roots, is reportedly the closer of the two candidates to a potential deal. Jorko’s background is less publicly detailed, but his inclusion on the shortlist suggests he’s caught the eye of Liquid’s scouting apparatus.
Before zeroing in on these two, Liquid had been linked to another player known as cmtry. That trail apparently went cold, prompting the pivot to Jorko and sl3nd.
No roster change has been formally announced as of early July 2026. The AWPer role, which refers to the player who wields the AWP sniper rifle, has historically been a pressure point for Liquid. Getting it right can be the difference between tournament wins and early exits.
The retention of ultimate provides Liquid with a safety net. He’s young, he’s had time to develop within the system, and keeping him avoids the disruption of integrating a new player mid-season. But the fact that Liquid is still actively scouting suggests the coaching staff isn’t fully satisfied with the current configuration.
If sl3nd does end up signing, it would represent a bet on a relatively unproven talent at the tier-one level. The 21-year-old would be stepping into one of the most pressure-filled roles in all of competitive gaming, on one of its most visible stages.