“We fell into a hole of adding more and more structure” – HooXi on Astralis’ Struggles and NEO’s Influence
Astralis exited the Esports World Cup 2026 Counter-Strike 2 tournament in the Round of 16, losing to G2 in a two-map series. According to IGL Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen in an interview with Insider Gaming, the team’s performance was inconsistent: they played a strong first map with good execution and energy, but struggled significantly on the second map, losing crucial rounds that could have shifted the series in their favor.
The loss comes after Astralis brought in Counter-Strike legend and former FaZe coach Filip “NEO” Kubski during the offseason. HooXi’s interview suggests the team may be grappling with tactical integration following this addition to their roster. While HooXi acknowledged needing to review the replay for a full analysis of the second map loss, the interview hints at broader structural challenges the team is facing, with the title referencing concerns about “falling into a hole of adding more and more structure.”
The defeat marks a disappointing campaign for one of esports’ storied organizations at one of the year’s premier tournaments.