Norwegian esports organisation HEROIC has announced Älımjan “Alkaren” Bıtımbai will miss the start of the 2026 Counter-Strike 2 season due to ‘unforeseen visa issues’.
As a result, the Kazakhstani player won’t compete in the BLAST Bounty Season 1 closed qualifiers.
Announced on January 13th, 2026, the organisation revealed it is looking to find a solution and hopes Alkaran can return to the starting line-up soon. Taking his place is Simon ‘yxngstxr‘ Boije, who returns to the roster after being moved to the bench on January 6th.
Currently ranked 17th in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), HEROIC is one of 32 teams competing in BLAST Bounty, the first Tier 1 event of the year. Its campaign begins on January 14th, where it faces off against Friendly Campers in the round of 32.
HEROIC was set to play Fragadelphia Frag Miami 2 champions NRG in its opening match. However, the North American side withdrew from the event, allowing Friendly Campers to take its place.
“We would like to stress, this decision is not a reflection of Alimzhan’s ability or character,” said HEROIC on social media. “We are working to find a solution to the situation, and hope to see him rejoin the active lineup as soon as possible.”
HEROIC’s 2026 Ambitions
HEROIC has remained among the world’s top 20 teams despite a period of turbulence during the second half of 2025. However, following top-16 finishes at FISSURE Playground 1, IEM Cologne 2025, and FISSURE Playground 2, the team dropped out of contention for the StarLadder Budapest Major.
With Alkaren out of the starting line-up for an undisclosed amount of time, it’s unclear how long yxngstxr will compete under the HEROIC banner. Over the next two months, the team will compete at IEM Kraków 2026 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 as it aims to begin the year on the front foot.
