NAVI Announces Recruitment for CS2 Academy

Esports team Natus Vincere has opened up a new round of recruitment for their academy — NAVI Junior. This is an opportunity for young talents in the Counter-Strike 2 universe to join one of the world's most renowned esports organizations.

There are applications for players aged 15 and 17 years old who meet specific criteria. Key criteria include a minimum of 3400 Elo on the Faceit website, which already indicates a high level of individual skill. Applicants must also possess at least the English for conversation level since the academy collaborates directly with the international esports community.

It is not the first time when the NAVI academy was a launching pad for young players. Drin "Makazze" Shakiri, for example, was promoted to the first team from NAVI Junior in July 2025, showing that the academy can be a direct path to the pro level.

In addition, NAVI made a significant decision in the past by selling its roster at the time from its academy to the Turkish club FUT Esport. This allowed the company to resume the NAVI Junior project and focus on scouting and nurturing the next generation of talented prospects.

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Part of the academy is to make young esports enthusiasts not only better at playing the game itself but also get used to professional environments, get guided by veteran coaches, and compete in high-tier tournaments. For the majority, it could be the starting point for a rigorous career on the big stage of CS2.