Report: Team Envy bench xms, eyeing kioShiMa as replacement

Team Envy has reportedly benched Alexandre “xms” Forté and is looking to add Fabien “kioShiMa” Fiey as his replacement on its active five-man Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster, according to a Flickshot report.

The French team of Envy entered the ELEAGUE Major: Boston with relatively high hopes after placing top four at the DreamHack Open Winter event in December. Unfortunately, their success in the last month of 2017 did not translate to the first month of 2018 as Envy flamed out in the initial part of the major, the New Challengers Stage, with a 1-3 record.

Following the exodus of star players Nathan “NBK” Schmitt, Kenny “kennyS” Schrub, and Dan “apEX” Madesclaire in February, Envy brought in xms, Cédric “RpK” Guipouy, and Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom to complete its roster. Despite winning the DreamHack Open Atlanta championship in July, the new roster could not match up to the achievements that Envy’s former lineup had compiled.

The disappointing play and unrest in the roster was vividly seen at the ELEAGUE Major: Boston, where the team finished with a top 21 placing after losing to Cloud9, Renegades, and tournament shocker Quantum Bellator Fire in the first weekend of the tournament.

Although nothing is apparently set in stone, kioShiMa is at the very top of Envy’s list to replace xms, according to Flickshot. Playing for Envy from February 2015 to April 2016, kioShiMa is very familiar with some of his potential teammates, especially captain Vincent “Happy” Cervoni, whom he played with as a part of Team LDLC and Envy until being replaced on the roster.

As a part of the WESG qualification process, kioShiMa played with Team Envy’s roster, excluding ScreaM, in October and November before being eliminated by Space Soldiers at the WESG Europe Finals.

Due to being on the FaZe Clan bench (where he’s been since August), kioShiMa will not be able to sign a contract with Envy like a traditional free agent. His contract will need to be bought out.

If the deal is made, the championship-winning pair of kioShiMa and Happy will finally be reunited on Team Envy.