Esports is one of those areas where mistakes are inevitable, both on the battlefield and behind the scenes. Counter-Strike, in particular, has become a real battlefield not only for players but also for managers. And when something goes wrong, teams often take drastic measures, changing their rosters and strategies. Recently, this affected the Danish legend Astralis, who decided to part ways with one of their key players, Benjamin blameF. Let’s figure out whether he is really to blame for the team’s problems and what the future holds for the talented rifler.
Benjamin Bremer, known as blameF, began his esports journey at the age of 18, playing in small tournaments and local Danish mixes. His first step to the professional scene was his debut at the King of Nordic – Season 9 tournament, where he represented Scandinavia. But real fame came to him after moving to Epsilon eSports in 2018. It was there that blameF began to demonstrate a high level of play on the tier-2 scene, winning prizes at tournaments such as the ESL Pro European Championship 2018. His success attracted the attention of more serious organizations, and a year later he found himself on the Heroic roster.
Then blameF began to gain momentum: third place at the GG.Bet Ice Challenge 2019 and regular performances against top teams secured his status as a promising rifler. But the real sensation was his move to Complexity in the same 2019 — the contract cost the organization $500 thousand. Soon the player began to be compared to the best in the world, and his style of play was appreciated by fans and analysts.
After almost two years at Complexity, blameF, along with close friend and teammate Christian k0nfig Wieneke, joined Astralis in 2021. This moment became symbolic: the legendary Danish roster collapsed, and blameF was supposed to become part of a new era of the organization. At the start, the player demonstrated an incredible level: bronze at BLAST Premier: Fall Finals 2021 and consistently high statistics. But here’s the problem — the team synergy never worked out. Despite blameF’s efforts, Astralis did not achieve stable success. They did not qualify for the last CS:GO major and were unable to take prize places in major tournaments in the new version of the CS2 game.
Benjamin seemed to be the player who “pulls the team along”, but it seems he’s run out of strength. Astralis were failing tournament after tournament, and the management decided to look for someone “to blame”. BlameF was the one.
Astralis has long resembled an unfinished project that they are trying to “fix on the fly”. After each failure, the team changes the roster, but the problem seems to be deeper. Benjamin became a “convenient target” – his game is consistently good, but one player is not enough to cover all the gaps. The management decided that blameF did not meet their expectations and parted ways with him. However, it is worth noting: his personal performance remained high. Perhaps the problem lies not in him at all, but in the lack of a clear team strategy and support.
The break with Astralis is not the end of a career, but a new chapter. Benjamin is still one of the best riflers on the scene, and interest from other top organizations will not be long in coming. His professionalism and versatility make him a valuable player for any team. For blameF himself, this is a chance to prove that he is more than just “part of the system”. A new roster and fresh ideas could be the “reset” that will bring him back to the top.
By leaving Astralis, blameF leaves behind a contradictory legacy: on the one hand, stable play and attempts to save the team, on the other, a lack of major victories. But if the history of esports teaches anything, it’s that talented players always find their place. And blameF still has many chances to show what he’s capable of.