German Counter-Strike team BIG has signed Belarusian AWPer Gleb 'gr1ks' Gazin from Heroic, marking a significant roster change and a shift to English communication within the team.

This move involves replacing hyped, who was benched after underperforming in 2025, and will see tabseN returning to English calling, reflecting a strategic overhaul.

BIG, which currently operates mainly in Tier 2 CS, aims to leverage international talent like gr1ks to improve their competitive standing, with their next challenge being the NODWIN Clutch Series playoffs starting October 17.

While aggressive AWPers like m0NESY have succeeded at higher levels, players like gr1ks may face difficulties against Tier 1 anti-stratting and strategic adjustments.

Gleb 'gr1ks' Gazin, a 19-year-old Belarusian known for an aggressive playstyle, had a brief stint at Heroic before being benched due to style clashes, but he proved his motivation with a 1.14 rating during a loan at GUN5.

Heroic, Gleb's former team, is struggling in the rankings, with recent results including a 9-12th place at Birch Cup and a bronze at Urban Riga Open, which may have influenced their decision to release him.

BIG's focus on international talent and communication is part of a broader strategy to develop in Tier 2 and eventually reach higher levels of competition.

The departure of hyped, who had a 0.98 rating, underscores the team's ongoing struggles and their desire to revamp the roster for better performance.

This roster change signifies a major strategic shift for BIG, emphasizing internationalization and a new operational approach that could either boost their 2025 results or introduce new challenges.

Gleb 'gr1ks' Gazin's short-lived stint at Heroic involved only 17 maps before stylistic clashes led to his benching, highlighting the challenges of integrating aggressive AWPers at the top level.

Prior to joining BIG, gr1ks played for Astrum and was loaned to GUN5, where he maintained competitive readiness with an impressive 1.14 rating over 35 maps.

This mid-season roster change reflects BIG's strategic focus on international talent and mirrors previous moves involving players from Britain and Poland, requiring team adaptation.

The team’s switch to English communication, inspired by past successes with players like smooya and XANTARES, presents communication challenges for the German core and coach during the transition.