G2 Bench SunPayus Despite IEM Cologne 2026 Major Run; Sign r1nkle
G2 has announced significant roster changes following their run at the IEM Cologne 2026 Major, one of Counter-Strike’s most prestigious tournaments. The organization has benched Spanish AWPer Álvaro ‘SunPayus’ García despite the team’s respectable quarter-final finish, placing them 5th-8th in the competition.
In SunPayus’s place, G2 has signed Artem ‘r1nkle’ Moroz, a 21-year-old Ukrainian AWPer previously benched by Ninjas in Pyjamas. The signing comes after NiP’s failure to qualify for the Major, making r1nkle available for transfer.
G2’s performance at Cologne demonstrated competitive promise. The team defeated NAVI in their playoff run and faced Team Spirit in a closely contested quarter-final series before elimination. Despite this solid Major performance, the organization has opted to pursue roster adjustments, evidently seeking to strengthen their AWP positioning for upcoming competitions.
The move underscores competitive esports’ volatile nature, where strong tournament results don’t guarantee roster stability. Both players now face uncertain futures as the Spanish AWPer goes to the bench and the Ukrainian prospect takes his opportunity with a top-tier organization.