YEKINDAR completes Virtus.pro contract buyout, freeing him up to start a ‘new chapter’ soon

Is a full-time Liquid move on the horizon?
YEKINDAR playing for Team Liquid at IEM Cologne 2022
Photo by Adela Sznajder via ESL Gaming

Team Liquid’s splendid CS:GO stand-in Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis is now free to fully pursue all opportunities after the Latvian player announced today that he has fully bought out his own contract with former team Virtus.pro.

Recommended Videos

On Twitter, YEKINDAR confirmed he had bought himself “a while back,” but had not been released from VP until now due to the change of ownership at the organization. Just a few weeks ago, Armenian investor Aram Karamanukyan was appointed the CEO of VP after purchasing the organization’s trademark.

While the organization’s Dota 2 roster has seemingly reinstated the VP name and branding, the CS:GO roster is still competing under the Outsiders tag as recently as the Europe RMR. In March and April of this past year, both ESL and PGL announced that organizations tied to the Russian government would be banned in response to the invasion of Ukraine, forcing the VP roster to take up the name Outsiders.

YEKINDAR, however, has not competed under the Outsiders name or with that roster since May of this year when he and former teammate Timur “buster” Tulepov were moved to the inactive roster. Since July, YEKINDAR has been competing as an extended stand-in with the North American Team Liquid roster.

Since joining, YEKINDAR has been a massive part of the recent wave of success Liquid have found in international competition. Liquid reached the playoffs of IEM Cologne, qualified for the BLAST Fall Finals with a top seed, reached the grand finals of ESL Pro League season 16, and qualified for the Rio Major with a Legends spot, all with YEKINDAR filling in.

A potential full-time move to Liquid is now possible for YEKINDAR, but not 100 percent guaranteed. In his announcement on Twitter, he hinted that he will be “looking forward to announcing [his] future very soon” as he starts a new chapter.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article FlyQuest swoops in to pick up Australian CS2 roster after previous organization closed down
The FlyQuest LCS roster on stage during the 2023 season.
Read Article What to do if CS2 crashes mid game
Italy with two players shooting each other with a smoke behind them
Read Article Vitality demolish C9 to put themselves two matches from defending Counter-Strike Major title
Apex screaming to the fans in the Royal Arena at the Copenhagen CS2 Major.
Related Content
Read Article FlyQuest swoops in to pick up Australian CS2 roster after previous organization closed down
The FlyQuest LCS roster on stage during the 2023 season.
Read Article What to do if CS2 crashes mid game
Italy with two players shooting each other with a smoke behind them
Read Article Vitality demolish C9 to put themselves two matches from defending Counter-Strike Major title
Apex screaming to the fans in the Royal Arena at the Copenhagen CS2 Major.
Author
Scott Robertson
VALORANT lead staff writer, also covering CS:GO, FPS games, other titles, and the wider esports industry. Watching and writing esports since 2014. Previously wrote for Dexerto, Upcomer, Splyce, and somehow MySpace. Jack of all games, master of none.