G2 Collapsed: 4 Fatal Mistakes That Destroyed the Star Roster with NiKo and m0NESY

Not long ago, G2 was seen as one of the main title contenders in CS2. But in just a few months, the organization lost everything: NiKo and m0NESY joined Falcons, the roster dropped out of the HLTV top 10, and fans can barely recognize what was once a powerhouse team. This article breaks down four crucial mistakes that turned one of the best lineups in the world into a shadow of its former self.

Mistake #1 — Kicking jks: Breaking the Balance

In 2023, G2 won IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, climbed into the world’s top 5, and boasted one of the most balanced rosters in the scene. But things fell apart after their failure at the Paris Major — the club abruptly benched jks without discussing the decision with the players.

“I was sad when jks left. No one told me, and I was angry at the management,” m0NESY later admitted.

Jks was the team’s glue guy — the one doing the dirty work that allowed NiKo, huNter, and m0NESY to shine. He was replaced by nexa, who underperformed and disrupted communication as a former IGL.

Mistake #2 — An Inexperienced Coach: Taz Over Trusted Swani

Next, G2 parted ways with coach Swani, who had been with the team for over four years. They brought in legendary player TaZ — but with zero coaching experience.

“I don’t think you can appoint a rookie coach to lead a team with G2’s ambitions,” Swani later said.

“Hooxi wanted a different coach, but no one listened. That was the first mistake.”

Soon after, Hooxi himself left the team. He was replaced by Snax — a close friend of TaZ — but the Snax–TaZ duo failed. G2 looked lost and didn’t even make the playoffs of the Major.

Mistake #3 — Losing Stars for Free or for Pennies

NiKo didn’t renew his contract and left for Falcons in summer 2024 — on a free transfer, despite having massive market value. The club missed the chance to renegotiate early. A similar thing happened with m0NESY: his contract ran until the end of 2025, but he was sold early for just $2.5 million to avoid losing him for free.

“He has a special bond with NiKo. But he’s the heart of the project,” G2 executives claimed just months before the sale.

In the end, G2 lost its two best players of the past decade — and with them, the foundation needed to build a new roster.

Mistake #4 — Disastrous Replacements

The money from m0NESY’s transfer didn’t save the team. The stars were gone, and the replacements couldn’t handle the pressure.

• HuNter became the IGL but struggled — he had no prior experience leading

• SunPayus replaced m0NESY, but only posted a 1.11 rating compared to m0NESY’s 1.25.

• MalbsMd came in for NiKo, but his K/D is negative and his rating only 1.09.

• HeavyGod is the only consistent player, but he was originally a support.

• Matys, from tier-3 Fnatic, is known mostly for his infamously bad mousepad.

As a result, G2 dropped out of HLTV’s top 10 for the first time since 2022, failed to make the playoffs at major events, and started losing to teams that weren’t even considered tier-1 a year ago.

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Conclusion: G2 — A Team That Forgot How to Think

The downfall of G2 is a case study in mismanagement. The org ignored players’ opinions, failed to extend key contracts in time, hired coaches with no experience, and made changes that ruined team chemistry. One of the most exciting lineups in recent CS2 history is now gone — and its former stars are thriving in Falcons.