Fnatic become enemy #1 as CS community reacts to Cypher benching
Jack Stewart, Senior Editor
Last Updated: 10/10/2025
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) fans, particularly the UK community, are livid after Fnatic’s controversial decision over Cai ‘CYPHER’ Watson.
Earlier today, it was confirmed that Fnatic are benching CYPHER before the PGL Budapest major despite their unlikely qualification.
He has been replaced by Mykyta ‘jackasmo’ Skyba, who subbed in to help Fnatic qualify for the event along with CYPHER.
While the final roster for Budapest hasn’t been confirmed, fans feel CYPHER not playing after qualifying would be a massive injustice.
Ahead of our opening match at the CS Asia Championship against paiN Gaming next week, @jackASM0 joins the roster on loan until the end of the season, stepping in for @cyphercsgo_ for the duration of the tournament.
— FNATIC CS (@FNATICCS2) October 10, 2025
We were impressed by Nikita's impact during our winning run at… pic.twitter.com/b9WSsVnt3O
Fnatic clarify the CS2 roster decision
Fnatic have tried to further explain this decision.
Bizarrely, the organisation has confirmed that, so far, this change is only for the upcoming CS Asia Championship in Shanghai.
This is according to legendary Fnatic CS star Patrik ‘cArn’ Sättermon, who revealed more details Fnatic’s fan app.
So there is a 6-man roster to Budapest (for now) as the clarification of the team is still unknown until after Shanghai. pic.twitter.com/ZWmger7gdR
— Conor 🇮🇪 (@MrW1lde1337) October 10, 2025
cArn later clarified that Fnatic still haven’t decided their final line-up, saying:
“Cypher is not playing in China no… We have not made decisions for the rest of the year, but we want to try this path for now and will keep you posted.”
This decision means CYPHER could return to the line-up for the major, but would be desperately out of practice as a result.
CS2 community berates Fnatic for CYPHER’s unfair treatment
Fnatic’s qualified for the PGL Budapest major under very unlikely circumstances.
CYPHER played well during this surpirse run and did so having only joined the team a few months ago.
As a result, a lot of fans are fuming over the idea that CYPHER won’t get to play in the tournament he earned a spot for.
CYPHER arriving home after FNATIC's successful world tour only to be kicked pic.twitter.com/VYAnpeorhX
— Travis (@TravCS) October 10, 2025
This is crazy…cypher was instrumental in helping them qualify for the Major and now they do this? If he doesn't play the Major, that is absolutely disgusting.
— James Banks 🇺🇦 (@BanKsEsports) October 10, 2025
I was at the Chinese visa office when cypher was applying…so for sure he can come to CAC as well. https://t.co/ScFQcs91zd pic.twitter.com/YXK7iAg9fV
"CYPHER celebrating his Major Qualification and being kicked after that" https://t.co/CJCHIRjxDQ pic.twitter.com/e195TY1XW2
— hoh20202 (@hoh202020) October 10, 2025
Some were quick to point out just how bad CYPHER’s luck has been, especially as he was days away from playing with Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev.
Comment
byu/ChaoticFlameZz from discussion
inGlobalOffensive
There was particularly a lot of anger from Heidi Darragh, CYPHER’s significant other, who slammed Fnatic, saying:
“Cai’s been f*cked over by every org he’s been on, we both thought Fnatic would be different.”
no one deserved this more than you did, so proud of you my angel 🥲🫶🤍 pic.twitter.com/qYfYows2Ln
— theskiesbg 🌙📸 (@theskiesbg) October 6, 2025
Fnatic : ‘let’s bring cypher in to help us qualify for a major because we haven’t in almost two years!’
— theskiesbg 🌙📸 (@theskiesbg) October 10, 2025
*brings cypher in and he does it in 3 months*
Fnatic : ‘let’s now replace cypher before the major and give him no reason why because that makes sense’
fucking joke. https://t.co/s4nmp2fu1q
you would think an org like fnatic WOULD have some decency and respect but i guess not! cai’s been fucked over by every org he’s been on, we both thought fnatic would be different.
— theskiesbg 🌙📸 (@theskiesbg) October 10, 2025
stepping in? what, like cai stepped down? at least have the decency to say you benched him two days after he helped you make the major.
— theskiesbg 🌙📸 (@theskiesbg) October 10, 2025
The cruel irony of CYPHER’s support
The saddest part about this saga is how supportive CYPHER was of his eventual replacement.
After qualifying for the major, CYPHER took to Twitter to beg teams to pick up Jackasmo, saying:
“Please someone pick him up, he’s so f*cking good. My GOAT.”
Unsurprisingly, the internet has had a lot of fun following this cruel irony…
genuinely heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/O3Z5SlR84l
— Minttu (@MintBlasub) October 9, 2025
Cypher looking back on this tweet: https://t.co/Lpi13dxVyM pic.twitter.com/pAHO8FzdGM
— Brian (@BrianCS_) October 9, 2025
PAS MAL LE SCOUTING DE CYPHER 🤣 pic.twitter.com/6DqUkSZ7uP
— KRL (@KRL_STREAM) October 10, 2025
CS2 fans called for KRIMZ’s head
During the major qualifier, it was Freddy ‘KRIMZ’ Johansson who was replaced by Jackasmo due to visa issues.
Considering CYPHER’s popularity, fans have quickly called for Fnatic to replace KRIMZ instead.
Crazy call. CYPHER's form was up and down, but he's an entry. He was pivotal in getting fnatic to the major. jackasmo for KRIMZ makes more sense role wise. KRIMZ deserves props for his improvement during the major run-in and his experience is critical but this is not the move. https://t.co/FVIkSfuBN6
— Travis (@TravCS) October 10, 2025
How has CYPHER been kicked when KRIMZ being replaced by jackasmo just makes so much more sense.
— Josh Nathan (@DwegCS) October 10, 2025
Crazy scenes at fnatic right now after just qualifying for the major. https://t.co/Gee9Goq4qb
fnatic management: https://t.co/P21wBkLQQ9 pic.twitter.com/u2oJ6g0wg7
— index (@indexCS) October 10, 2025
However, Fnatic are sticking to their guns as cArn confirmed they believe KRIMZ is the better option for the line-up.
Carn doing an ama and the first pic is why cypher over krimz and the second one is is cypher benched pic.twitter.com/0SXcbnDpYY
— Conor 🇮🇪 (@MrW1lde1337) October 10, 2025
Fnatic become public enemy no. 1 in CS2
With the community up in arms, many CS2 fans are now ready to ‘hatewatch’ Fnatic and hope for their downfall in Shanghai.
Yeah hatewatch incoming 👍
— Reason Gaming (@ReasonGaming) October 10, 2025
I thought @FNATICCS2 is a serious organization.
— Aleksandar Trifunovic (@kassad) October 10, 2025
I was wrong.
Got my eyes on you now!
Fnatic haters rise up
— PHY (@PhyCasts) October 10, 2025
In situations like this, how can you not dislike Fnatic. Cypher has been to every event far and wide for them and a direct part of them qualifying for their first major in ages only to be absolutely screwed by the Org.
— Ne0kai (@Ne0Kai) October 10, 2025
Inconsistencies come with the entry role, but if he doesn't… https://t.co/wv8ioaDWVx
I swear if they rob CYPHER of his Major comeback, there's no rebounding from that. fnatic, your fan base was on life support. Cai was keeping it alive. https://t.co/DG8jIINvld
— Conner (@ScrawnyCG) October 9, 2025
Jack Stewart, Senior Editor
In my seven years of esports writing, I've introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I'm most proud of the latter.
Stay Updated with the Latest News
Get the most important stories delivered straight to your Google News feed — timely and reliable
From breaking news and in-depth match analysis to exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content, we bring you the stories that shape the esports scene.
Monthly Visitors
User Satisfaction
Years experience