11-07-2025
jL Explains Why He Stepped Down From The Natus Vincere CS2 Roster
It is not often that Counter-Strike players of high caliber step back from the spotlight so early. This time, jL of Natus Vincere is taking a break from the active roster and giving the spot to a promising youngster from NaVi's junior team, makazze.
Justinas "jL" Lekavičius is a 25-year-old CS2 player known for his rifling skill, which led his team to multiple Tier 1 tournament wins, including a Major title. He had a fantastic run with NaVi throughout 2023-2024, but ultimately fell short of achieving good placements throughout the first half of 2025.
After the announcement of the new roster, jL explained in a YouTube video why he chose to do so, stating multiple factors. He expressed that his move towards the bench was a mutual agreement between him and NaVi. His primary reasons include dissatisfaction with his performance, the lack of breaks in between tournaments, and personal responsibilities to his family.
He also planned to take only a limited break and seeks to return to professional Counter-Strike after around six months.
The new Natus Vincere roster for the next season includes Valerij "b1t" Vakhovsjkyj, Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen, Mihai "iM" Ivan, Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov, and Drin "makazze" Shaqiri.
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