Team Next Level CS2 has emerged as one of the most exciting Ukrainian organizations in the competitive Counter-Strike 2 scene. TNL broke into tier-two with a youthful core, a veteran coach, and a sharp map pool anchored by Ancient and Mirage. If you’re following the European CS2 circuit, this is a squad worth knowing.
In this guide, we’ll cover TNL’s current roster, their journey through 2024-2025, notable achievements, and what makes them a team to watch.
Team Next Level CS2 Former Roster
The Former roster of TNL consists of five talented Ukrainian players: onic (Viktor Babii), nifee (Dmitry Tediashvili), cairne (Artem Mushynskyi), Flierax (Artem Khioara), and Dawy (David Bibik).
| Player | Real Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| onic | Viktor Babii | IGL / Rifler |
| cairne | Artem Mushynskyi | Star Rifler / Entry |
| Flierax | Artem Khioara | Rifler |
| nifee | Dmitry Tediashvili | Rifler |
| Dawy | David Bibik | Rifler |
The staff and leadership include CEO Mykhailo “kane” Blahin, coach Dmytro “jR” Chervak, with Tafa serving as manager/analyst. onic is the in-game leader.
Key Players to Watch
Viktor “onic” Babii serves as the IGL since launch, steering mid-rounds and vetoes with a pragmatic calling style centered on information plays and late-round percentage decisions. Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi is TNL’s most productive fragger — a consistent opener who also converts clutches on comfort maps like Ancient and Dust2.
cairne is a reliable series closer with high ADR on Ancient and Dust2. Dawy delivered monster impact at Level Up LUND! with clutch retakes and high-damage entries.
If you’re looking to improve your own rifling skills, check out our guides on the AK-47 and M4A1-S to master these essential weapons.
Team History and Timeline
On May 26, 2024, TEAM NEXT LEVEL entered Counter-Strike 2 with a roster consisting of jabba2h, onic, Ganginho, remorse, xxlafy and jR, with the latter joining as coach.
The team went through several roster changes during their first year:
- June 2024: TNL parted ways with xxlafy and signed St0m4k.
- September 2024: TNL parted ways with remorse and acquired cairne from DASH.
- October 2024: Ganginho retired from competitive Counter-Strike and moved to the CEO position. TNL signed yukitoro.
- January 2nd, 2025: TEAM NEXT LEVEL signed Flierax, nifee, and Dawy.
Leadership Changes in 2025
39-year-old Ukrainian esports athlete Mikhaylo “kane” Blagin took over as TNL CEO. The Ukrainian club officially announced this via its X social media account.
Blagin coached Passion UA from August 2023 to April 2025; previously, he also worked as a coach with NAVI, Gambit and FlipSid3 Tactics. His experience includes winning PGL Major Kraków 2017 with Gambit and reaching the finals of FACEIT Major 2018 with NAVI.
This leadership addition brought serious pedigree to the organization. For context on other top-tier teams kane has worked with, see our profiles on Natus Vincere CS2 and other team vitality cs2 competitors.
Tournament Achievements
TNL has built an impressive resume in the tier-two European circuit:
Their tournament history includes victories at prestigious events like the Justice Cup and Level Up LUND, highlighting their consistency and ability to perform under pressure.
2025 Highlights
- 1st — Level Up LUND! 2025 (April 13): Signature win where Dawy headlined key maps with standout ADR and mid-round entries.
- 1st — Exort: The Proving Grounds Season 1 (June 6–22): Closed out the online B-tier after a strong Ancient/Dust2 showing; cairne delivered a series-leading performance vs. top-32 opposition.
- 3rd–4th — CCT S3 Europe Series #2 (May 20–Jun 1): Qualified for ESL Pro League S22.
- 2nd — EEF European Esports Championship 2025 (July 9–13): Runner-up finish under the Ukrainian banner, reinforcing the team’s upward trend.
TEAM NEXT LEVEL has earned $138,373 in prize money from CS2 tournaments.
Map Pool and Playstyle
Understanding TNL’s map pool helps you predict their vetoes and watch their matches more strategically.
Their strongest maps include:
- Ancient — ~71% win rate, frequent first-pick with strong conversion after opening kill
- Mirage — ~79% win rate, high round closes after first pick
- Anubis — ~77% win rate with excellent pistol rounds; TNL favor A-splits with late mid pressure
- Dust2 — ~65% win rate with their highest pistol win rate
Nuke remains the pressure point — teams that deny early info and punish yard transitions find success against TNL.
If you want to practice utility on these maps, explore our resources on all souvenir packages from various tournaments or browse mirage souvenir packages for collector items.
Current World Ranking
As of August 2025, TNL are ranked inside the top-30 globally and are active in European qualifiers and CCT events.
Overall last-3-months win rate sits around the low-70% range.
The team’s age profile averages around 20–21 years, suggesting strong upside into late 2025 and beyond.
Inner Circle Acquisition
On September 25, 2025, TEAM NEXT LEVEL organization was acquired by Inner Circle Esports.
The victory marks a promising start for the roster that was acquired from TNL earlier. Under the Inner Circle tag, they have officially begun their LAN journey, and this debut win gives them early momentum.
Inner Circle’s fresh incarnation under the new branding got off to a powerful launch with their first match win against 3DMAX. Between game-to-game adjustments, roster chemistry carryovers, and early success, they’ve positioned themselves as a team to watch in ESL Pro League Season 22.
This acquisition represents a significant step forward for the Ukrainian core, providing them with additional resources to compete at the highest level. The move mirrors how other organizations like FaZe Clan CS2 and G2 CS2 have built competitive rosters through strategic acquisitions.
What’s Next for Team Next Level CS2
TNL qualified for ESL Pro League Season 22 main event. This marks their entry into elite competition, where they’ll face top-tier opponents.
The team’s trajectory shows consistent improvement. With kane’s leadership experience guiding the organization and a young, hungry roster, TNL has the foundation to push into tier-one territory.
For fans looking to support Ukrainian CS2, TNL represents one of the brightest prospects alongside teams like Aurora CS2 in the Eastern European scene.
Conclusion
Team Next Level CS2 has proven themselves as legitimate contenders in the European tier-two scene. Their youthful roster, strong map pool on Ancient and Mirage, and experienced leadership under kane create a solid foundation for future success.
Whether you’re betting on matches, following the competitive scene, or just looking for exciting CS2 to watch, TNL delivers entertaining gameplay with clutch potential.
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