TL;DR
- Danny ‘zonic’ Sørensen may leave Astralis when his contract expires in late 2021
- Core players gla1ve, Magisk, dupreeh, and Xyp9x also face contract decisions
- Team performance declined after dev1ce’s departure and roster instability
- IEM Cologne 2021 represents critical test for Astralis’ future direction
- Heroic coach HUNDEN emerges as potential replacement candidate
After steering Astralis through five championship-filled years, head coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen faces a career crossroads as his agreement concludes this December. The mastermind behind Counter-Strike’s most dominant squad must weigh his future direction carefully.
HLTV’s investigative reporting reveals the Danish tactical leader is seriously considering departure options. Should zonic exit, Astralis loses the strategic architect responsible for their unprecedented trophy collection spanning half a decade. The organization proactively scouts replacements, with Nicolai “HUNDEN” Petersen from Heroic emerging as the primary candidate to fill the potential void.
Sources: zonic ponders leaving Astralis as contract nears end
https://t.co/rvg5N4qOx1— HLTVorg (@HLTVorg)
July 4, 2021
zonic’s potential exit could trigger organizational transformation following years of roster consistency. Internal sources indicate friction between players and management has escalated over recent months, potentially culminating in multiple departures when contracts lapse in late 2021.
HLTV’s investigation confirms zonic’s contract synchronization with foundational players Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander, Emil “Magisk” Reif, Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, and Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth. Failure to secure extensions could completely reshape Astralis’ competitive identity, potentially forcing the major-winning core to seek new organizational backing.
This contract alignment creates unprecedented leverage for the players during negotiations. Teams considering roster upgrades should monitor this situation closely, as these elite free agents could reshape competitive landscapes across multiple regions.
Following sustained competitive supremacy, the Danish powerhouse demonstrated noticeable performance deterioration throughout 2021. The downturn originated last year when medical absences forced Xyp9x and gla1ve into temporary leave, compelling emergency roster adjustments.
Management responded by integrating Lucas “Bubzkji” Andersen and Patrick “es3tag” Hansen, though es3tag’s tenure concluded abruptly with his Cloud9 transfer after mere months.
April delivered another devastating blow when superstar AWPer Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz secured his release to join Ninjas in Pyjamas. Post-transfer results consistently fell short of Astralis’ established championship standards.
As the solitary four-time Major champion organization, Astralis retains potential for organizational recovery before year’s end. IEM Cologne 2021 commencing next week provides the immediate competitive proving ground.
This tournament marks competitive Counter-Strike’s LAN return after extended online competition—an environment historically favoring Astralis’ methodical, preparation-intensive approach.
Astralis will play its first match in ESL Cologne 2021 on Friday, July 9.
Action Checklist
- Monitor contract negotiation updates through HLTV and official Astralis channels
- Analyze IEM Cologne 2021 performance for roster stability indicators
- Track player social media for potential departure signals
- Evaluate potential replacement coach impact on team dynamics
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » zonic may leave Astralis and take multiple players with him Analyzing zonic's potential departure from Astralis and its impact on CS:GO's legendary roster