Shameful downhill of Ax1le

There was a time when Sergey “Ax1Le” Rykhtorov was considered one of the most complete riflers in Counter‑Strike. He was the cornerstone of Gambit and later Cloud9’s system, a clutch‑capable lurker with elite impact, and a perennial HLTV Top‑5 presence. But by mid‑2025, Ax1Le’s career had reached its lowest point: a benching at BetBoom Team following a string of disastrous results, a career‑worst rating, and a visible collapse in form.

I don’t care. I play for the team result, not for individual statistics, and that’s more important to me. I do everything I can for the team, Ax1Le admitted in one of his last interviews at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.

From Gambit’s Golden Era to Global Recognition

Ax1Le’s rise to the top began with Gambit Esports. He joined Gambit Youngsters in 2019 and quickly became one of the defining pieces in the team’s meteoric ascent. Alongside sh1ro, nafany, and interz, he helped Gambit dominate the online era of CS:GO in 2020–2021. The team’s disciplined, structured style allowed Ax1Le to flourish in a supportive lurk and anchor role.

This period was marked by multiple S‑Tier titles and deep runs at every major event. Gambit won IEM Katowice 2021, IEM Summer 2021, and ESL Pro League Season 13, with Ax1Le himself being named MVP at two of those events (IEM Summer 2021 and EPL S13). At the PGL Major Stockholm 2021, Gambit placed top‑4, and Ax1Le recorded a strong 1.09 rating against elite competition.

• HLTV Top‑20 rankings: #5 in 2021, #4 in 2022.
• Average rating during Gambit peak: consistently above 1.13, with a 1.14 rating on LAN.
• Gambit’s system: clean utility usage, strong mid‑round calling from nafany, and space creation for Ax1Le to thrive.

The transition to Cloud9 in 2022 kept most of Gambit’s core together, but cracks began to show in the following year as results became less consistent.

The Timeline of Decline

The first major downturn came in late 2023. Cloud9 struggled with inconsistent roster moves and failed to make deep runs at Majors, while Ax1Le’s rating dipped to 1.09 that year. By 2024, the problems had escalated.

• Cloud9 eventually disbanded its core roster after a string of disappointing results.
• Ax1Le joined BetBoom Team, a line‑up lacking both star power and a stable IGL.
• His rating plummeted to 1.01 in 2024, barely above the 1.0 baseline.

By 2025, the numbers became alarming. At the BLAST.tv Austin Major, BetBoom exited in 23–24th place, and Ax1Le posted a 0.79 rating in Stage 2. At smaller events like the CCT Season 2 Europe Series #20, his form deteriorated even further, dropping to a 0.66 rating. Over the last three months, he hit a career‑low rating of 0.86, compared to the 1.13 rating he averaged during his peak Gambit years. His Major rating has also dropped to 0.75, compared to 1.00 in 2022 and 0.93 back in 2021.

Ax1Le is still trying to find himself in CS2. He will need to show his experience against tier‑1 opponents, noted Boombl4 after another weak showing at the Major.

The Numbers Behind the Collapse

The decline in Ax1Le’s performance was not limited to one metric; it was across the board. His ability to win opening duels and secure high‑impact rounds, once his trademark, dropped significantly. He now finds himself in the bottom 40% for opening duel success rate, and his impact index has fallen by nearly 40% compared to his 2022 peak. Trading efficiency is no longer there, as he struggles to convert even favorable 2v2 situations that he once thrived in. His kill‑per‑round numbers have declined to just 0.57, and over the past three months, he has produced a negative K/D ratio of 0.85, with 426 kills against 504 deaths, a differential of ‑78.

These numbers are a far cry from the consistent impact he showed during Gambit’s golden era. Between 2021 and 2022, Ax1Le held an average rating of 1.13, while his LAN rating reached a formidable 1.14. In 2023, this dipped slightly to 1.09 before crashing to 1.01 in 2024. Over the past three months in 2025, his HLTV rating has hit a career‑low 0.86, with Majors showing an even more concerning 0.75 rating.

Event examples drive the point home. At the Austin Major 2025, he finished with a ‑14 K/D difference against MIBR and a rating of 0.79. His performance at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 was one of the worst of his professional career, ending with a 0.63 rating.

Team Instability and Role Disintegration

The core difference between Ax1Le’s peak and his current state is team environment. Gambit gave him structure, space, and consistent roles. At BetBoom, roster instability compounded the issue. Without a structured IGL and consistent AWPer, Ax1Le’s classic lurk‑late‑round role collapsed. He was often forced into uncomfortable positions, over‑aggressive mid‑round peeks, and poorly supported entries.

On top of that, CS2’s shifting meta hurt his strengths: the new utility timings and smokes reduced his ability to manipulate late‑round space, a hallmark of his style.

Comparison With His Peers

While Ax1Le faltered, similar riflers like ropz, flameZ, and XANTARES maintained 1.10+ ratings in CS2. They adapted to the meta faster, diversified their positions, and thrived in structured line‑ups.

This contrast highlights how Ax1Le’s downfall is not only a “team issue” but also a failure to adjust individually.

Is There a Way Back?

The benching at BetBoom in July 2025 may be a wake‑up call. Ax1Le is only 23 years old, with the mechanical ceiling and pedigree to bounce back. But it will likely require:

1. A fresh system with a strong IGL: Ax1Le thrives with clear roles and space.
2. Rebuilding confidence: regaining consistency in opening duels and clutches.
3. Re‑adapting to CS2 meta: refining utility usage and mid‑round timing.

Without these changes, it’s difficult to see him returning to HLTV’s Top 20 anytime soon.

Final Thoughts

Ax1Le’s story is a cautionary tale. In 2021, he was a tournament MVP, a key part of Gambit’s golden era, and a top‑5 player in the world. Three years later, he is benched, his rating plummeting below 0.90, struggling even at mid‑tier tournaments.

The harsh reality is that Ax1Le has failed to adapt to CS2. The things that made him exceptional in CS:GO — controlled spacing, late‑round lurks, perfect utility timing — no longer work the same way in the new game. In CS:GO, he might have still been an elite rifler today, but in CS2, he looks lost.

From elite rifler to the sidelines in less than two seasons – the Ax1Le downfall is one of CS2’s sharpest declines. Whether he can recover will depend as much on his mindset as on the next team willing to take a chance.