Virtus.pro has announced that it has benched Ilya ‘Perfecto‘ Zalutskiy from its Counter-Strike 2 roster and put the in-game leader on the transfer list.
Moreover, the organisation also announced a ‘temporary competitive pause’ as it searches for a new IGL and a combination of players capable of competing at high-profile events.
Announced on February 4th, the news marks the end of Perfecto’s seven-month stint as Virtus.pro’s IGL. Since joining the team in June 2025, the team’s highlight came at BLAST Bounty Season 2 2025, scoring a top-eight finish.
“After joint discussions, we concluded that the current roster configuration is unable to build consistent performances and fully realise its potential,” wrote Virtus.pro on social media. We thank Perfecto for his professionalism and dedication during his time with VP.”
However, the team has since struggled to compete at the Tier 1 level, most recently reaching only the top-16 at the IEM Rio qualifiers.
Virtus.pro’s most recent appearance came at Exort Cataclysm CIS Season 1, a Tier 2 event featuring several Russian teams. The organisation failed to win any of its Group Stage matches to finish the event in last place.
What’s Next for Virtus.Pro?
Currently ranked 72nd in February’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS), Virtus.pro is unlikely to earn qualification for the IEM Cologne Major taking place in June.
In recent months, the organisation has relied on academy prospects in a bid to reverse its fortunes. In October 2025, it promoted Vladimir ‘b1st’ Krasikov to the main roster, hoping to rediscover form.
Taking a temporary competitive break to assemble a roster armed with the ability to climb towards the top of the global standings could be a smart decision by Virtus.pro. With the organisation looking to reconfigure its line-up, it will be interesting to see who fills the role of in-game leader.
