- 100 Thieves’ CS2 Return: A Long-Term Vision
- Why 100 Thieves Skipped Established Cores
- Young Talent: The Core of the Project
- Veteran Leadership: device, rain, and gla1ve
- How This Roster Could Play In-Game
- Building Ranking From Zero: VRS and Open LANs
- Realistic Expectations for 2026 and Beyond
- CS2 Skins Economy and the 100 Thieves Brand
- What Success Actually Looks Like for This Project
100 Thieves’ CS2 Return: A Long-Term Vision
100 Thieves are back in Counter-Strike 2 after several years away from the game, and they’re doing it in a way that clearly prioritizes long-term growth over quick, flashy results. Instead of buying out a fully built roster with guaranteed ranking points, the org is taking a calculated risk: combining highly promising young riflers with some of the most experienced names in CS history.
This approach sends a strong message to fans and the wider esports scene:
- 100 Thieves aren’t just dropping in for a short content cycle.
- They’re willing to develop talent from the ground up.
- They accept that the first few months might be rocky while the team finds its identity.
From an esports development and business standpoint, it’s a smart blueprint: keep costs controlled, build a brand around future stars, and give legendary veterans a new chapter where they can pass on their knowledge instead of just holding onto past glories.
Why 100 Thieves Skipped Established Cores
Before the official announcement, reports suggested that 100 Thieves might buy into CS2 with an existing top-level core, potentially something along the lines of the GamerLegion lineup with experienced names like REZ and PR. That would have given them a team that could immediately contest for playoffs at big events.
Instead, 100 Thieves chose a different route:
- No inherited ranking from existing teams.
- No expensive superstar buyouts from tier-one orgs.
- No short-term “superteam” experiment built on aging firepower.
They placed their bets on a hybrid roster: three emerging talents supported by rain, device, and gla1ve. On paper, that looks riskier than just importing a proven roster. In reality, it offers several advantages:
- Roster moves are easier and cheaper if a piece doesn’t fit.
- Young players can grow without constant pressure of “instant trophies or bust.”
- The project can organically evolve around whoever truly becomes a franchise player.
This is the opposite of the short-term gamble we’ve seen from some other big orgs who throw money at established stars, fail to win within six months, and then blow up the roster again.
Young Talent: The Core of the Project
At the heart of this roster are three players who haven’t yet had their full breakthrough on the biggest stages but have already attracted attention from analysts and scouts.
poii and sirah: Aggressive Rifle Duo
The first two names that stand out are Alex “poii” Sundgren and William “sirah” Kjaersgaard, a Scandinavian duo coming from Alliance and ECSTATIC. Scandinavia has always been a goldmine of Counter-Strike talent, and these two fit the modern meta perfectly.
What defines them as prospects:
- High-aggression rifle style suited to CS2’s faster, more punishing gunfights.
- Willingness to take space and open rounds with bold moves instead of waiting for opponents to make mistakes.
- Enough performance history at lower tiers to prove they’re not just ranked heroes.
In a world where top teams are built around explosive riflers who can change a round in two seconds, poii and sirah are exactly the type of players you want if you’re planning for the future rather than just replaying yesterday’s CS.
Ag1l: Smart Anchor With Room to Grow
The third young piece is Andrei “Ag1l” Gil, a Portuguese player previously seen on SAW. He isn’t the kind of name that sparks instant hype on social media, but that’s precisely why this is an intelligent signing.
Ag1l is known for:
- Strong anchor play on key sites, especially on maps like Train and Nuke.
- Above-average hold percentages and solid ADR/KPR numbers in tough roles.
- A calm, methodical style that allows aggressive teammates to take more risks.
Every great team needs someone prepared to play the “boring” spots correctly, eat flashes, and still get one or two kills when opponents hit the site. Ag1l fits that rare profile of a player who can stabilize rounds rather than always trying to be the hero.
On a roster where poii and sirah will likely be the ones flying forward, Ag1l’s consistency gives the system a backbone. He’s not coming in as a superstar; he’s coming in as the guy who makes it possible for others to shine.
Veteran Leadership: device, rain, and gla1ve
The other half of this project is stacked with legendary names: Nicolai “device” Reedtz, Håvard “rain” Nygaard, and Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander. All three carry enormous reputations, but they’re also at a point in their careers where a new challenge makes a lot of sense.
device: The King Looking for a New Throne
device is one of the most decorated players in Counter-Strike history. Whether you look at Major titles, MVP medals, or years spent at the top of the game, his resume is elite. The big question now is: how close to his peak can he realistically get in CS2?
There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic:
- He’s playing under gla1ve again, a coach/IGL figure who understands how to enable him.
- In a developing team, rounds can be structured with device as a reliable win condition.
- Even if he never fully returns to his absolute prime, a 75–85% version of device is still a tier-one level AWPer.
His job isn’t just to hit shots. It’s to be the example of professionalism and efficiency for the younger players, from demo work to practice habits.
rain: From Legendary Entry to IGL
Few players have stayed relevant at the highest level as long as rain. From the early days of FaZe to finally lifting a Major trophy, he’s shown an ability to adapt to different metas and star teammates.
Now, he takes on an entirely new role: in-game leader. That shift is risky, but also exciting.
- He understands what top-tier spacing, trading, and mid-round reactions look like.
- As a former entry, he knows what his young riflers need from calls to feel confident taking duels.
- His composure in high-pressure matches can steady the team when things start to spiral.
Will rain be a tactical genius overnight? Probably not. But with gla1ve behind him and modern tools like VRS to support preparation, he doesn’t need to reinvent the game. He needs to build a pragmatic, structured style that gives his stars clear roles and repeatable setups.
gla1ve: From IGL GOAT to Head Coach
gla1ve transitioning from legendary IGL to full-time coach is one of the most intriguing aspects of this roster. As a player, he redefined how a team could approach utility, mid-round calling, and preparation. Now, he can focus entirely on:
- Building map pools that play to his players’ tendencies.
- Creating fundamental protocols for every common situation.
- Using data tools and VRS to identify fastest ways to climb rankings and exploit opponents.
The big adjustment for gla1ve will be giving up direct control inside the server and trusting rain to handle calls. But if the two are aligned, they can form one of the most strategically potent IGL/coach duos in CS2.
How This Roster Could Play In-Game
While we won’t know the exact style until we see official matches, we can sketch out how this team might function based on roles and tendencies.
Probable Roles and Structure
Likely roles could look something like this:
- rain – IGL, space-taking rifler, occasional entry or second wave.
- device – Primary AWPer, late-round closer, anchor/rotator on CT.
- poii – Aggressive rifler, entry/space creator on T, pack player on CT.
- sirah – Second star rifler, flexible between lurk and pack depending on map.
- Ag1l – Hard anchor and supportive elements, utility-focused on T sides.
Stylistically, expect a blend of:
- Structured defaults with device and Ag1l holding key zones.
- Set piece rounds designed by gla1ve to give poii and sirah high-impact entries.
- Mid-round calls from rain that lean on experience and information rather than pure gamble plays.
Strengths and Early Weaknesses
On the positive side, this roster should quickly develop:
- A strong theoretical foundation thanks to gla1ve and messioso.
- Plenty of firepower upside if the young riflers settle in.
- A stable late-game presence in clutches with device.
However, fans should be ready for some predictable early issues:
- Inconsistent performance from the younger trio, especially on stage.
- Growing pains for rain as he learns to balance calling and fragging.
- Some maps in the pool might start off very weak while they experiment with roles and CT setups.
This is normal for a new project. The important part is whether the team shows clear progression from tournament to tournament, even if the scoreline doesn’t always look pretty.
Building Ranking From Zero: VRS and Open LANs
Because 100 Thieves chose not to buy a core with existing points, they’ll have to grind their way up through qualifiers, open LANs, and mid-tier events. In the CS2 ecosystem, however, that’s more doable than ever, especially with the VRS system and a crowded tournament calendar.
What VRS Allows This Team to Do
VRS (Valve Ranking System) rewards activity and results in officially recognized events. With the right planning, a new stack can rise surprisingly fast if they:
- Play high-volume qualifiers and open tournaments.
- Target events that offer strong point rewards relative to field strength.
- Use data-driven selection of which LANs and online cups to attend.
People like messioso and VRS experts such as Jesper Larsen have already demonstrated how quickly a hypothetical zero-point team can climb the ladder if they hit solid finishes consistently.
Path to Tier-One Lobbies
For 100 Thieves, a realistic progression path might look like:
- Phase 1: Qualify for and win/perform well at smaller LANs and online events.
- Phase 2: Start appearing in play-in stages and group phases of bigger tournaments.
- Phase 3: Become a regular attendee at top-tier events even if they’re not yet favorites for playoffs.
Because this roster has no inherited core, every ranking point they earn will feel “deserved.” The flip side is that there’s no safety net—if results stall, they can’t rely on historic points to keep them in the conversation.
Realistic Expectations for 2026 and Beyond
Comparing 100 Thieves’ current lineup directly to giants like Vitality, Spirit, MOUZ, Falcons, FURIA, or NAVI is unfair at this stage. Those teams are either proven title contenders or rosters stacked with fully established stars.
So what should fans reasonably expect from 100 Thieves in the short to medium term?
Short Term (0–6 Months)
- Ups and downs where they can upset bigger names but also drop maps to teams they’re “supposed” to beat.
- A lot of role testing and map shuffling as the staff figure out what works.
- Occasional deep runs at smaller events, but no consistent tier-one playoffs yet.
Mid Term (6–18 Months)
- A clearer identity on 4–5 core maps they feel confident playing against anyone.
- One or two of the young players establishing themselves as true tier-one caliber riflers.
- More frequent appearances in big event groups and play-ins, with occasional playoff qualification.
If this trajectory holds, 100 Thieves won’t necessarily dominate the scene overnight, but they will become a respected gatekeeper team—one that punishes sloppy favorites and keeps trending upwards.
CS2 Skins Economy and the 100 Thieves Brand
A project like this doesn’t just exist inside the server. It also taps into the wider CS2 ecosystem, including the ever-growing skins market. As 100 Thieves return to the game, their visibility will inevitably influence player interest in loadouts, stickers, and weapon cosmetics tied to big events they attend.
How Competitive Play Influences Skins
Whenever a popular roster appears on broadcast or at LANs, viewers naturally pay more attention to:
- The weapon skins their favorite players use.
- Team stickers and patches from Majors and partnered events.
- Signature loadouts that become associated with standout rounds or clutches.
If device starts dropping vintage performances with a particular AWP skin, or if poii and sirah become known for iconic rifles, that can ripple directly into the trading and collecting side of the game.
Where to Buy and Sell CS2 Skins Safely
For players who want to upgrade their inventory to match the pros or simply trade into better cosmetics, using a reliable external marketplace is key. Sites like cs2 skins platforms allow you to:
- Browse a large catalog of rifles, pistols, knives, and gloves at competitive prices.
- Quickly cash out unwanted items or flip into new skins that better fit your style.
- Filter by wear, pattern, or price so you don’t overspend while chasing your dream loadout.
If you still own legacy items from the CS:GO era, those also retain value in CS2. You can move them on external marketplaces like csgo skins trading hubs, then reinvest into newer CS2 collections that fit today’s visuals and meta.
For many fans, following 100 Thieves’ progress and building a themed inventory that matches their favorite players’ weapons adds an extra layer of immersion to both watching and playing.
What Success Actually Looks Like for This Project
It’s easy to label any big org’s return to CS2 a “success” or “failure” purely based on trophies. For this 100 Thieves roster, that’s the wrong metric in the early years. Instead, success should be measured along several axes:
- Player development: Do poii, sirah, and Ag1l grow into legitimate top-level competitors?
- System identity: Do rain and gla1ve build a recognizable style that works under pressure?
- Results progression: Are they consistently moving from open circuits into deeper stages of bigger tournaments?
- Roster flexibility: Can the org make smart, non-panic adjustments if certain pieces don’t fit?
Viewed through that lens, this project is less about “Can 100 Thieves win a Major in 12 months?” and more about “Can they become a sustainable, evolving contender that remains relevant across multiple seasons?”
Right now, all signs point to a well-thought-out long game: reasonable spending, high-upside talent, and proven winners guiding the ship. The road will be long, and there will be setbacks, but 100 Thieves have finally set themselves up in CS2 not just to arrive, but to stay.
For fans and players alike, that makes this one of the most intriguing rosters to follow—both in the server and across the wider CS2 ecosystem, from rankings and tactics all the way down to the skins you equip when you queue up for your next match.
