Cloud9 set to sign buster

Cloud9 chose their replacement for Timofey “⁠interz⁠” Yakushin after weeks of trials and talks.

Cloud9 are slated to enter the 2023 season with a new lineup, as they are set to sign Timur “⁠buster⁠” Tulepov, multiple sources have revealed to HLTV.org.

The team had been looking into finding a replacement for interz for at least a month following the end of their 2022 campaign at the IEM Rio Major. buster was among the biggest candidates from the start, but several other players were considered.

buster‘s first tournament back on the server should be IEM Katowice. Cloud9 have been invited to start the event in the Play-in stage, which kicks off on January 31 and has eight spots in the group stage on offer.

With the move to Cloud9, buster will end a six-month stint on the sidelines after he was benched in Outsiders following the end of the PGL Major Antwerp in late May. He and Mareks “⁠YEKINDAR⁠” Gaļinskis was replaced in the team by David “⁠n0rb3r7⁠” Danielyan and Petr “⁠fame⁠” Bolyshev, but while the Latvian was quick to find a new home in Liquid, the wait was much longer for the 23-year-old Kazakhstani rifler.

Should buster‘s signing come to completion, Cloud9‘s lineup at IEM Katowice will be:

Vladislav “⁠nafany⁠” Gorshkov
Dmitry “⁠sh1ro⁠” Sokolov
Sergey “⁠Ax1Le⁠” Rykhtorov
Abay “⁠HObbit⁠” Khasenov
Timur “⁠buster⁠” Tulepov

Konstantin “⁠groove⁠” Pikiner (coach)