G2 Bench SunPayus; r1nkle Joins CS2 Roster

After what many would consider a successful run at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, G2 CS2 has decided to bench their AWPer Álvaro "SunPayus" García in favor of Artem "r1nkle" Moroz.

The Ukrainian 21 y.o made waves in 2025 with Ninjas in Pyjamas and was benched by the team in April 2026. 

G2 benches SunPayus 

SunPayus joined G2 alongside SAW and MATYS following the Austin Major 2025. The AWPer replaced hades who was subbing for m0NESY- for a brief duration of the Major. 

This new G2 squad under huNter’s leadership looked like an upgrade over the previous Polish leadership. In mere two months, they lifted a tier 1 trophy by defeating Team Vitality. Unfortunately, with no clear star, the win was their peak, and once their peers started leveling up, G2’s pieces couldn't keep up. 

While G2 remained a strong contender throughout the rest of the year and early months of 2026, it was clear that they would not win another tier 1 trophy. Even their Hail Mary of swapping malbsMd with NertZ did not improve their position in tournaments. 

Their brightest spot was the Cologne Major 2026, where they took down NAVI to qualify for the Playoffs and lost to Team Spirit on the final map of OT, placing 5th-8th. 

SunPayus himself lacked consistency. In one tournament, he could single-handedly win rounds and maps; in others, he'd struggle to have an impact. Even in tournaments where he consistently has an impact on rounds, he was outshined by his counterparts. 

Is r1nkle a suitable Replacement? 

On paper, r1nkle isn’t an upgrade. With primarily tier 2 experience, it’d be hard to make a case for him over SunPayus, who has significantly more tier 1 experience. Not to mention, r1nkle himself has a problem with consistency. He was benched on NIP in favor of Stavn, who has never been an AWPer in a professional setting before. 

However, r1nkle’s ceiling is higher than that of SunPayus, and taking a gamble on a younger talent might pay dividends, especially since the squad has plateaued. 

Moreover, G2 is a team that thrives on the fundamentals, so as long as their AWPer hits all the necessary shots, they should at least consistently qualify for top-8/6 at tournaments without many problems. But if the r1nkle move works out, that won’t be their ceiling. 

Don't forget to follow Strafe Esports for the latest news about your favorite esports and to check out our X account for the most recent content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and much more.

Featured Image Credits: Stephanie Lindgren // BLAST Open London

Read More: 

G2 Esports and One Piece Collaborate to Create New Limited-Edition Drop

Cache Is Back, Overpass Is Out for CS2 Premier Season 5

IEM Cologne Major 2026 Grand Final Shatters Counter-Strike Peak Viewership Record

History Is Made in Cologne: Team Falcons Are Major Champions