We are happy to announce that our Counter-Strike 2 roster is now officially locked in for the foreseeable future.
Following the start of the new season and the introduction of Joe "joeski" Holmes on a tryout basis, we have now completed our evaluation and decided to sign long-term contracts with joeski and the rest of the current lineup.
ENCE Counter-Strike 2 lineup as a whole:
● Aleksi "millert" Lehtopuu
● Giorgi "Schwarz" Gakhokidze
● Henri "HENU" Ylilehto
● Joe "joeski" Holmes
● Teemu "teme" Korva
● Aleksi "allu" Jalli (coach)
With the roster finalized, the team can now shift its full focus to developing together.
From tryout to roster
In early August, Joe "joeski" Holmes joined ENCE on a trial basis, replacing Niki "Cliqq" Kinnunen in the active lineup for the duration of the tryout. The move was part of our efforts to continue exploring different options and find the right combination for our young roster.
Right from the start, joeski made a strong impression both with his individual in-server skills and his approach to learning and adapting.
“When I watched joeski come in on trial, it was clear right away he had the tools - but what stood out most was everything around that. How fast he tried to adapt to our system, how early he showed up, how he took feedback and came back better the next session. That's not something you can teach into someone. That's character. As a coach, I'm very happy to have Joe on board with this project.”
- Aleksi "allu" Jalli, ENCE CS2 head coach
Following the tryout, we decided that joeski was the right fit for the team going forward. With Niki "Cliqq" Kinnunen’s contract coming to an end at the end of August, we decided not to continue together and instead make joeski a permanent part of the roster.
Thank you, Cliqq
Niki "Cliqq" Kinnunen joined ENCE as part of our new generation of players and showed clear individual talent throughout his time with the team. While the decision to move forward with a different lineup was ultimately made, we are grateful for the time and effort he put into the team.
“Cliqq has undeniable talent - that was never in question. But where his progress as an individual currently stands within a team game is still finding its space. We would have been very happy to continue building with him. But when joeski became available, that was an opportunity we simply had to explore.
I'm glad we got to work together, even for a short period of time. Cliqq, I wish you nothing but the best going forward.”
- Aleksi "allu" Jalli, ENCE CS2 head coach
Welcome to ENCE, joeski
With the evaluation now complete, Joe "joeski" Holmes officially joins the ENCE Counter-Strike 2 roster.
The trial showed that joeski can adapt quickly to the demands of the team, while bringing the individual qualities we were looking for. With the roster now settled, the focus turns towards developing the group together and building a strong foundation for the future.
Schwarz is here to stay
One of the defining pieces of the ENCE roster is Giorgi "Schwarz" Gakhokidze, who will continue as the team’s in-game leader. Despite ENCE’s focus on developing a Finnish core, Schwarz’s leadership qualities make him an important part of the project.
“People will naturally ask why Giorgi "Schwarz" Gakhokidze stays with us given our Finnish focus. The answer is simple - his potential as a leader. Even though he's still young, he already possesses many of the qualities you need to lead a team, and that's genuinely impressive to see at his age.
His work ethic and curiosity about the game's macro perspective are essential for this role, and he's excellent in both areas. Our working dynamic as coach and in-game leader is smooth and natural, and that chemistry matters. For me, Schwarz is a natural choice to lead this new ENCE for years to come.”
- Aleksi "allu" Jalli, ENCE CS2 head coach
allu fully stands behind Schwarz
Building step by step
With the lineup now finalized, the immediate focus is on developing the team's fundamentals and establishing a strong identity together.
“Short-term, our goal is to develop and strengthen the structure and team dynamic of this squad, with a lot of emphasis on the most basic CS protocols - communicating, trading, and following the same plan as a team. Alongside that, we want to slowly improve our VRS ranking, going up step by step rather than chasing something we're not ready for yet.”
The long-term ambition is clear, but the team understands that reaching that level will take time.
“Long-term goals are always hard to put into words, because we want to proceed step by step rather than jump ahead of ourselves. But the obvious answer is that we want ENCE back where it belongs - competing in the biggest tournaments. That's a big and hard task, but I believe we have the tools and the ability to get there long term.”
The next LAN event is just around the corner
Building for the long-term
Now, a new chapter begins. The focus is on development, consistency, and building the foundations for long-term success.
“We’ve spent a lot of time over the past months evaluating where we are as a team and, more importantly, where we want to go. With this roster, we feel we have a group of players we truly believe in, and we want to give them the time and stability needed to build something meaningful together.
By committing to this roster for the long-term, we want to create an environment where the players can focus on improving as individuals and as a team, without feeling that everything is dependent on the next tournament or result.
There will be difficult periods along the way, especially with a young team, but that’s part of the process. What matters to us is that we believe in the potential of this group and in the work being done every day. Now it’s about giving them the opportunity, support, and time to turn that potential into results.”
- Eemeli "Woomera" Ikonen, ENCE General Manager
The work starts now.
#EZ4ENCE
