Dev1ce out for the remainder of the year, will return for the Boston Major

Nicolai “Dev1ce” Reedtz, a key component to Astralis’ success in 2017, will absent from competitive CS:GO for the rest of the year.

Dev1ce confirmed on Twitter earlier today that his medical leave is being extended to the end of 2017. The world-class AWPer will miss the upcoming ESL Pro League Season Six Finals as well as the ECS Season Four Finals. The Boston Major in January 2018 will mark his return to the team, assuming his medical condition improves.

It’s possible that Dev1ce’s extended absence may be due to long-term complications related to a Hiatal Hernia that was diagnosed in March.

Related: Report: Astralis might skip the ESL Pro League Season Six Finals

“Dev1ce had a relapse and was taken to the hospital for a medical check-up,” the organization said on Twitter after IEM Oakland earlier this month. “It was decided to send him home for further checking [and] to get some much needed rest.”

At IEM Oakland, the team collectively decided to fly back to Denmark for the sake of Dev1ce and Peter “dupreeh” Rothmann’s health. The three other Astralis players were subsequently fined by ESL for not fulfilling their media and fan obligations.

Since Dev1ce’s medical leave began, Astralis has had Dennis Edman of GODSENT and former Team Liquid AWPer Jacob “Pimp” Winneche fill in for them. Dennis placed second with Astralis at last weekend’s BLAST Pro Series, while Pimp helped them qualify for the ECS Season Four Finals in Cancun, Mexico in mid-December. Pimp will likely attend the $750,000 Finals with his Danish counterparts, since he helped them qualify by placing fourth in the European region.

It’s also unclear whether Astralis will attend the ESL Pro League Finals from Dec. 5 to 10 because of a pending appeal to WESA, ESL’s team-governing body, regarding the use of Dennis at the league event.