Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team eLevate has released Derek “desi” Branchen and will replace him with ex-Nihilum player Andrew ”Professor Chaos” Heintz. This news comes after the team suffered close losses against affNity and Keyd Stars on May 31 in the ESEA and ESL Pro League.
The move was announced both by Branchen and eLevate via Twitter, with Branchen confirming Heintz as the team’s new fifth:
Released from @eLevateGG today, expect Professor_Chaos for me the rest of the season. Thanks for the opportunity and gl rest of the season
— desi (@desi_csgo) June 2, 2015
We have officially released @eLevateDesi from our CS:GO roster and wish him the best of luck in his future.
— Team eLevate (@eLevateGG) June 2, 2015
Branchen has played with eLevate previously. He was a member of the team last year prior to leaving in favor of a stand-in spot on iBUYPOWER on Nov. 17. He was removed from the roster in favor of former team captain Sam “DaZed” Marine, however.
After his time with iBUYPOWER, Branchen took a break from the competitive Counter-Strike scene. He was announced as the team’s new member after Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski left for an opportunity with Team Liquid on March 23. Since then, the team has achieved middling results, with one exception of a second place finish at the CEVO-P Season 6 LAN Finals.
In Branchen’s spot the team has opted to use Heintz, who was replaced on Nihilum by Spencer “Hiko” Martin on April 30. Since then, Heintz hasn’t found a permanent place with a squad. ELevate will be his first key back into competitive play.
