The European esports powerhouse Astralis has officially announced the benching of its in-game leader, Casper ‘cadiaN’ Møller, just ahead of the PGL Astana tournament set to take place in May 2025. In his place, Rasmus ‘HooXi’ Nielsen has been brought in as a stand-in. Nielsen, who had been without a team since his benching from G2 Esports in July of the previous year, now rejoins the competitive scene under Astralis’ banner.
The organization shared this development via a statement on X (previously Twitter). Astralis CEO Jakob Hansen addressed the change, citing underwhelming team performance as the main reason behind the decision. He acknowledged Møller’s professionalism and contribution but noted that both the player and the roster had not met the expected standards. Hansen expressed well wishes for cadiaN in his future endeavors.
Brief Tenure and Legacy
Møller’s stint with Astralis began in September 2024 following his transfer from Team Liquid. Although relatively short, his time with the team carried high expectations due to his extensive experience in the Counter-Strike scene. Prior to Astralis, cadiaN had notable success with Heroic, securing victories in major tournaments such as the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Rio Major in 2022 and the BLAST Premier: Spring Final in 2023.
Despite showing promise in events like the BLAST Premier: World Final 2024 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, the team failed to secure a spot in the upcoming Austin Major. Astralis’ campaign ended in disappointment after a loss to the Ukrainian team B8 during the qualifiers—marking the fifth consecutive time the organization missed a Major event.
Shortly after the announcement, cadiaN posted a cryptic message on his X profile, stating that these were “interesting times” and hinted that he would reveal more details at a later stage.
New Era and Additional Departures
With immediate effect, HooXi has begun preparations with the main Astralis roster and will participate as a stand-in during PGL Astana. Nielsen brings with him a decorated background, having claimed prestigious titles with G2 Esports, including IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne in 2023.
In a parallel move, Astralis confirmed the departure of its Sports Director, Kasper Straube, who had joined the team in 2023. CEO Jakob Hansen acknowledged Straube’s commitment and integrity, thanking him for his dedication and wishing him success moving forward.
Hansen stated that the dual exits—of both the in-game leader and Sports Director—are part of a broader restructuring effort following recent underperformance, particularly the failure to qualify for the Major.
These changes reflect Astralis’ effort to re-establish itself as a leading force in competitive Counter-Strike and to revitalize its campaign ahead of the upcoming tournament in Astana.