Astralis Sports Director: Device is very eager to take on the in-game leader role



Astralis’ Sports Director, Kasper Straube, addressed concerns about device’s readiness to assume the in-game leader (IGL) position.

Following Astralis’ announcement that they have signed Alexander Bro | br0 from Monte, with device taking on the IGL role, the community has been discussing the matter. Kasper Straube addressed the worries about device’s mental state after the Danish AWPer tweeted after the Bucharest RMR event, expressing his lack of enjoyment and disappointment.

On a Thursday morning Twitch stream alongside new Astralis member br0, Straube shared more details about the signing and the decision to hand over the leadership role to device following Benjamin Bremer | blameF’s benching.

Device’s recent struggles are no secret, evident in his 1.01 average rating across Astralis’ last three offline events. During the RMR tournament, Astralis lost to their rivals, HEROIC, with device posting a low 0.60 rating and only 10 kills. His tweet followed this performance, and despite this, he was appointed as the new IGL.

With the captaincy comes immense pressure, as device will need to turn things around for Astralis, who have had a disappointing run, being eliminated in the IEM Katowice Play-ins, the RMR, and the Last Chance Qualifier, missing out on the home soil Major in Copenhagen.

When asked if device’s tweet raised concerns within the organization, Straube insisted that device was fine – “on the contrary, device is anything but burnt out.”

“I see a super, super positive player. Taking on the IGL role is a massive decision; it’s not something device would have decided overnight. It’s something he’s thought about for a long time, and we’ve discussed it since I’ve known him because he sees it as a natural progression in his career,” Straube explained.

“What I think we should read into his tweet is that he’s not happy with how we’re playing, and I believe that’s something all fans and Astralis staff can agree on, as we’re also unhappy. That’s the takeaway here.”

“Device is now highly motivated, eager to succeed with Astralis. That’s why he came back. Nothing forced him back. As he said in the announcement, he’s doing what he loves, and he’ll keep doing it as long as he can. For a player with options beyond Astralis, that’s the best commitment you can get.”

The Astralis management, analyzing the team’s composition, realized a change in direction was needed. Straube became increasingly aware of device’s desire to lead.

The Danish powerhouse also hopes that br0’s arrival will resolve the role conflicts that have plagued them since stabbi joined. They aim to have Martin Lund | stavn and Jakob Nygaard | jabbi in roles where they can excel, as they have proven before.

With the Major now out of reach, Astralis turns its focus to IEM Chengdu, the first offline event under the guidance of new coach Casper Due | ruggah. Currently ranked 17th in the world, Astralis expects their ranking to drop further, a far cry from the investment made in the team.

“I believe putting players in their strongest positions will bring more energy to their game. By setting these baselines, we’ll gain a lot,” Straube stated.

“The Romanian defeat won’t just fade away. If you ignore it, the scar deepens. But if you face it and use it as motivation, it becomes a powerful driving force.”