Virtus.pro Recruits electroNic to Strengthen Team

Virtus.pro has announced the signing of Denis “electroNic” Sharipov, formerly of Cloud9, in a surprising move to replace Nikolay “mir” Bityukov in their Counter-Strike 2 roster. This development has taken fans and esports analysts by surprise.

Denis “electroNic” Sharipov shared his expectations: “I am excited about the opportunity to play with Jame, whose unique leadership style is inspiring. I look forward to fully adapting to the new team and starting to conquer trophies.”

Virtus.pro had a challenging 2024, failing to advance from the Play-in at IEM Katowice and just missing the playoffs at PGL Major Copenhagen. The addition of electroNic is aimed at boosting the team’s attacking potential, as mir was showing the lowest rating against top-30 teams at 0.97.

This transition seems logical as electroNic can fill similar roles on the map as mir but is more aggressive in his gameplay.

“Denis’ joining will provide a significant boost to the team in the upcoming challenges in Dallas, London, and beyond,” says Nikolai Petrossian, CEO of Virtus.pro.

ElectroNic was part of Cloud9 for less than a year, having joined alongside Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy from Natus Vincere last July. Despite high expectations, the team failed to advance beyond the quarter-finals at several events, which led to criticism over unresolved role issues.

With electroNic’s departure, Cloud9 now has the opportunity to sign an AWPer, though their exact plans remain unclear.

Virtus.pro is gearing up for their next appearance at ESL Pro League Season 19, where they will compete alongside teams like FaZe and Cloud9 in Group A. It is still uncertain whether electroNic will participate in the tournament in Malta.

The current lineup for Virtus.pro now includes: