Is Virtus.pro Roster Doomed From The Beginning?

Virtus.pro entered the second half of 2025 in crisis mode. Instead of strengthening the roster during the summer break, the organization made a highly questionable move that now looks like it only accelerated their downfall. VP have been consistently underperforming in Tier-1 competition, and the latest roster change has not provided any improvement.

In fact, the situation is even worse: the team is plagued by internal conflicts, a fragile lineup, and one of the worst result streaks in the organization’s recent history.

The Roster Move: Perfecto In, FL4MUS Out

On June 25th, Virtus.pro benched Timur “FL4MUS” Marev, a 20-year-old rifler who was seen as a promising piece of their core, and signed Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy as his replacement. FL4MUS was still under contract until 2029, and his buyout clause is rumored to be close to $1 million, making the move controversial from the start.

FL4MUS’ individual numbers in the first half of 2025 were solid (rating 1.05, impact 1.19, ADR 79.3). Yes, his form dropped to 0.88 rating in the last three months, but he was still a young player with room to grow. Perfecto, on the other hand, had been out of pro play for over a year. His return was high-risk: after 10 maps with VP, his rating sits at 1.00, with no standout performances.

From day one, this was never a guaranteed upgrade. VP needed instant results, but Perfecto required time to adapt.

Lost in Transition: electroNic’s System Falls Flat in VP

The first events after the roster change highlighted just how fragile the current Virtus.pro lineup is.

At FISSURE Playground #1 (July 15–16), VP were eliminated in 13th–16th place after a humiliating 0–2 loss to TYLOO, who were forced to field their coach zhokiNg as a stand-in. TYLOO beat VP on Inferno 13–9 and Anubis 16–14, despite VP winning both pistols. ICY was the team’s only bright spot with a 1.28 rating and +13 K/D, while electroNic bottom-fragged with a 0.95 rating.

The following day, VP were swept 0–2 by MIBR, looking disorganized and outclassed.

These early defeats were followed by another disaster at IEM Cologne 2025 (July 23–25). VP opened with a 2–0 win over TYLOO in the play-in, but were then dismantled by GamerLegion (0–2) and Heroic (0–2), finishing 9th–12th. Across these series, VP never looked competitive, averaging only 10.3 rounds per map.

Beyond the numbers, these performances have raised serious concerns about electroNic’s leadership. Transitioning from NAVI’s structured environment under B1ad3, where roles were clearly defined and ideas were systematically implemented, electroNic now finds himself leading a squad that lacks tactical cohesion and relies more on individual form than system.

His current calling style seems to suffocate initiative rather than enable it. In NAVI, the trio of s1mple, b1t, and electroNic himself delivered consistent firepower, while Perfecto and Boombl4 supported a well-oiled machine built by B1ad3. At VP, however, that foundation doesn’t exist. Players like FL1T and fame, once dangerous in looser systems, now look confused, while flameZ—who came from the freer, confidence-based Vitality environment—has struggled to adapt to electroNic’s stricter approach.

There’s also growing doubt about whether electroNic is making the right mid-round calls. VP often look reactive rather than proactive, failing to adapt or capitalize on early advantages. The team’s recent results—losing 7 of their last 8 series and not advancing past the early stages of a Tier-1 tournament since March—speak volumes about the underlying strategic issues.

Internal Conflict and Insider Reports

After the Austin Major, Evgeniy “FL1T” Lebedev reportedly told the organization that he would not continue playing with “low-skill players,” referring directly to ICY and FL4MUS.

At this point, VP began talks with the PARIVISION roster, exploring potential changes. Eventually, management presented the remaining players with a question:

If we sign Perfecto, will you stay?

The players agreed, leading to FL4MUS being benched. However, VP failed to secure a replacement for ICY. He stayed in the active lineup by default and is now visibly struggling. His rating has dropped to 0.94 over the last 10 maps, and he looks uncertain and pressured on the server — further destabilizing the team.

VP Management: Another Disaster

Once again, Virtus.pro management is under fire. The roster change failed to fix anything and only created more instability. The team currently has a 43% win rate under coach Ivan “F_1N” Kochugov (37 maps coached, 0 trophies).

VP’s leadership also has a tendency to make coaches the scapegoats for poor results. In the last year alone, the organization has changed three different coaches, and it would be easy for them to replace F_1N as well if results don’t improve. This lack of continuity only makes the roster situation worse.

The organization’s inability to build a stable core or communicate a clear long-term plan is driving away fans and reportedly causing frustration within the team. VP’s reputation for poor roster planning is now at an all-time low.

The FL4MUS Contract Trap

The FL4MUS situation highlights the management issues even further. Locked into a contract until 2029 with a rumored $1 million buyout, the organization now faces an uphill battle if they wish to make additional roster changes.

This contractual misstep makes the lineup effectively “frozen” and leaves VP with no flexibility to make quick improvements.

What’s Next for VP?

The outlook is bleak:

• Their short-term chances at upcoming events are close to zero.
• ICY is the most likely candidate to be benched, but no replacement is currently lined up.
• The team may be forced into a complete rebuild, though their hands are tied by expensive contracts and a shrinking talent pool.

Unless VP make a decisive move soon, they risk completely falling out of Tier-1 competition.

Conclusion

Virtus.pro’s 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the worst in the organization’s history. Poor roster decisions, internal conflicts, and disastrous contract management have put them in a downward spiral.

Without a clear vision and bold structural changes, VP are heading straight for irrelevance. The organization needs to break this cycle — or risk becoming a permanent cautionary tale in CS2 roster management.