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Cloud9 Purchase Es3tag to Complete their ‘Colossus’

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The news that Cloud9 were in negotiations with Astralis for the acquisition of Patrick ‘es3tag’ Hansen to complete their ‘Colossus’ erupted first on the Danish channel TV2 Sport. Astralis would confirm the sale the following day in ‘one of the biggest transfers on record’ for a fee that will remain undisclosed by both parties.

While the General Manager for the North-American Organization, Henry ‘HenryG’ Greer, aspires to also add a possible sixth man, this determines the squad that will represent them on the first set of challenges for the roster: Betway Nine to Five 5 and Flashpoint Season 2, of which Cloud9 are a partnered team.

This concludes most of the process of rebuilding their CS: GO Division, a process that started in September when Cloud9 signed HenryG and renowned coach Aleksandar ‘kassad’ Trifunović, promptly announcing that they would be dropping their American-South African roster that was bought over from ATK earlier in the year.

Having joined Astralis when his contract with Heroic expired, es3tag will conclude his four-month stint having only represented the Danish powerhouse during two events: ESL Pro League Season 12, where they would reverse-sweep Natus Vincere at the finals, and the upcoming DreamHack Open Fall, at which he probably won’t make an appearance unless Astralis wants to receive a penalty in the RMR Standings.

Astralis acquired es3tag for free in July, being now sold to Cloud9 with an rumoured transfer fee of at least $500,000

With Andreas ‘xyp9x’ Højsleth back on the active-roster, this sees the Astralis bench reduced to just Lucas ‘Bubzkji’ Andersen, who has only played four series since he joined the team.

The 22-year-old talent could soon have more company, as Astralis’s Director of Sports, Kasper Hvidt, has expressed the desire to work with ‘a full two-team roster with 10 players’.

Being promoted as the ‘Colossus’, mimicking Complexity’s ‘Juggernaut’, this new Cloud9 squad has been announced piece-by-piece, with HenryG revealing the details of each player’s contract in an unprecedented move.

Their first announcement was In-Game-Leader Alex ‘ALEX’ McMeekin, following it up with his compatriot William ‘mezii’ Merriman. Turkish star Özgür ‘woxic’ Eker would soon join to take over the ‘Big Green’ and finally, Ricky ‘floppy’ Kemery would transition from the former Cloud9 roster into this new European core.