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Natus Vincere
CS2
Europe
Country
Team
Aleksib 
iM 
makazze 
B1ad3
Coach
Team Historical Statistics
- 2340 Total Matches
- 58.8% Win Rate
- 1.07 Overall K/D
- 14 Longest Win Streak
- 6 Longest Losing Streak
- 23 Average Age
Team Experience
(CS2)
Natus Vincere
| Total Pro Experience: | 4975 days |
|---|---|
| Days Under Current Tag: | 1905 days |
| Average Player Tenure: | 995 days |
| Team Synergy: | 244 days |
| Coach Tenure: | 2362 days |
| Captain Tenure: | 983 days |
Natus Vincere CS2 Review
Founded in 2009 in Ukraine, Natus Vincere (NaVi) is a legendary multidisciplinary esports organization. In this NaVi CS2 team overview from MelBet Pick’em, we’ll tell you everything known about one of the most iconic lineups in the CS2 world. In addition to CS2, it’s worth noting that the NaVi Dota 2 team also performs successfully on the international stage, further strengthening NaVi’s reputation as a world-class top-tier club.
NaVi History
The NaVi CSGO history began on December 17, 2009 — the day the CS team was founded, which would go on to become a symbol of Eastern European esports. The project was initiated by Kazakhstani philanthropist Murat “Arbalet” Zhumashevich, who provided full financial support. Over time, the club became multidisciplinary, adding Dota 2, CS2, PUBG, and other disciplines. Despite roster changes and difficult periods, Natus Vincere remains a symbol of stability, strength, and a true esports legend.
NaVi Founders
Natus Vincere was founded in 2009 thanks to the initiative of Kazakhstani entrepreneur and philanthropist Murat “Arbalet” Zhumashevich, who decided to invest in the creation of a professional esports team. He provided full financial support — from player salaries to organizing training facilities and covering travel expenses for tournaments.
Project management was entrusted to Oleksandr “ZeroGravity” Kokhanovskyi, who initially served as the first general manager and later became the CEO. He was responsible for the internal NaVi team structure, brand development, strategic direction, and partner relations. Thanks to their efforts, the NaVi esports team evolved from an ambitious startup into a global esports organization, earning its place among the world’s leading clubs.
Initial Roster of Natus Vincere
The NaVi roster made its debut in the discipline Counter-Strike 1.6 in December 2009. It was the club’s first step into esports — and an immediately successful one. The players of the initial lineup were:
- Ioann “Edward” Sukhariev — rifler;
- Yegor “Markeloff” Markelov — AWPer;
- Sergey “starix” Ischuk — rifler/support;
- Arseniy “ceh9” Trynozhenko — entry-fragger;
- Danylo “Zeus” Teslenko — captain (in-game leader).
The team’s manager was Alexander “ZeroGravity” Kokhanovskyi, while the players themselves coordinated the initial training process. Already in 2010, the NaVi CS Team made a loud statement by winning IEM IV, ESWC, and WCG — three of the biggest tournaments in a single year. This achievement became unique in CS history, turning the roster into a true legend. And no one will argue that it was the initial NaVi Team lineup that laid the foundation for the organization’s future success, setting a high standard and shaping the club’s reputation as one of the strongest in the world.
NaVi Current Roster
The current Natus Vincere CS2 roster is as follows:
- b1t — Valeriy Vakhovskyi (Ukraine, 22 years old) — Rifler. Joined the team on December 20, 2020;
- jL — Justinas Lekavicius (Lithuania, 25 years old) — Entry-fragger. Joined on June 30, 2023;
- Aleksib — Aleksi Virolainen (Finland, 28 years old) — In-game leader. Joined on June 30, 2023;
- iM — Mihai Ivan (Romania, 25 years old) — Rifler. Joined on June 30, 2023;
- w0nderful — Ihor Zhdanov (Ukraine, 20 years old) — AWPer. Joined on October 31, 2023.
Coaching staff:
- B1ad3 — Andrii Horodenskyi (Ukraine, 38 years old) — Head coach. With the club since September 20, 2019.
Also on the bench is the team’s legend:
- s1mple — Oleksandr Kostyliev (Ukraine, 27 years old), currently on loan to FaZe, but since 2016 has been a key NaVi Team player, winning over 10 tournaments, including PGL Major Stockholm 2021.
In 2024, the current NaVi lineup became a true sensation. The team won PGL Major Copenhagen, Esports World Cup, IEM Rio, and ESL Pro League Season 20. NaVi topped the HLTV rankings for 18 weeks, and all players were ranked in the top 20 by the end of the year.
NaVi Tournament Achievements
Over the years, the NaVi Team has consistently proven its status on the international stage. Some of the most iconic NaVi matches have gone down in esports history thanks to the following triumphs:
- ESL One: New York 2016 — S-tier, $125,000;
- ESL One: Cologne 2018 — S-tier, $125,000;
- IEM Katowice 2020 — S-tier, $250,000;
- IEM Cologne 2021 — S-tier, $400,000;
- PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 — S-tier, $500,000;
- IEM Rio 2024 — S-tier, $100,000.
These victories have become milestones in the history of Team NaVi, solidifying the club’s reputation as one of the strongest and most decorated in global esports.
Natus Vincere Legends
In the history of NaVi CS team, there have been many outstanding players, but two names will forever remain in the history of CS:GO. The first is Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev. Since his arrival in 2016, NaVi has exploded onto the scene. Records, victories at major tournaments like PGL Major Stockholm 2021, and, of course, an endless number of MVP awards — s1mple from NaVi became the king of Counter-Strike.
But we cannot forget Daniil “Zeus” Teslenko. He was not just a NaVi captain, but a leader who guided Natus Vincere to their first major victories, including Intel Extreme Masters Season IV in 2010. His tactical decisions and ability to motivate the team made him a valid symbol of NaVi.
CS2 NaVi Upcoming Tournaments
After NaVi’s CS2 team finished 5th–8th at the BLAST Austin Major 2025, the squad is already preparing for the following significant challenges. All eyes are now on NaVi next match as the team looks to reaffirm its status among the CS2 elite. First up is one of the most prestigious events – Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025, running from July 23 to August 3. It’s an S-tier tournament, and NaVi is aiming to deliver its best performance, setting high goals and preparing for a fierce battle for first place. Right after that, the Esports World Cup 2025 will take place from August 20 to 24, another S-tier event where NaVi plans to solidify their reputation as one of the top CS2 teams globally.
As for the autumn and winter seasons, there’s no official word on upcoming tournaments yet, but it’s clear they’ll be packed with action and key moments for the NaVi CS2 team. You can also stay up to date and find detailed information about upcoming events on the Tournaments CS2 page.
FAQ
NaVi was founded on December 17, 2009. The project was initiated by Kazakh philanthropist Murat “Arbalet” Zhumashevich, who provided full financial support and laid the foundation for the organization’s growth, which became a legend in global esports.
As of now, the NaVi CS2 roster consists of: b1t (Valeriy Vakhovsky), jL (Justinas Lekavicius), Aleksib (Aleksi Virolainen), iM (Mihai Ivan), and w0nderful (Igor Zhdanov). The team’s head coach is NaVi legend B1ad3 (Andrey Gorodensky).
As of June 29, 2025, NaVi holds a strong 6th position in the HLTV ranking, showcasing their dominance in the global CS2 scene. Additionally, NaVi is ranked 8th in the global Valve rankings, consistently delivering outstanding performances in CS2 tournaments and maintaining its elite status.
In 2025, Aleksib (Aleksi Virolainen) holds the reins as NaVi’s CS2 captain, having joined the team in June 2023. His extensive experience and leadership skills make him crucial in executing strategies and motivating the team through tough tournament battles.
NaVi’s CS2 coach, B1ad3 (Andrey Gorodensky), has been with the organization since September 2019. B1ad3 is the backbone of the team’s training sessions, providing direction and ensuring NaVi is always primed to compete at the highest level.
