Change is brewing in the NAVI camp. Today, the Ukrainian powerhouse has officially promoted 18-year-old Drin “makazze” Shaqiri from NAVI Junior to the main Counter-Strike 2 roster, in a long-anticipated move following months of performance concerns.
The organization hasn’t disclosed who makazze will be replacing, leaving fans and analysts speculating. The only clue? His positional overlap with Mihai “iM” Ivan on T-side space-taking duties suggests a high-impact shift might be incoming.
makazze’s Rise: From Academy Star to First-Team Hope
makazze has been on everyone’s radar. With a stellar 1.19 rating over the past 12 months, he was the brightest star in NAVI Junior’s top-30 rise on Valve’s Regional Standings. His relentless hyper-aggressive style (89 Opening Score, 87 Entrying Score) made him the prime candidate when NAVI hinted at roster changes after a disappointing first half of 2025.
Despite their 2024 Team of the Year status, NAVI failed to reach a single grand final this season. Head coach Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy made it clear post-Austin Major that while change was coming, no single player could shoulder the blame:
“We all play good at some point, and we all make mistakes at some point, so we’re all kind of equal,” B1ad3 said. “Even if we remove somebody, it won’t be something like, ‘This guy sucks and he let us down.'”
Academy Shake-Up: NAVI Junior on the Market
Alongside makazze’s promotion, NAVI confirmed reports that they are seeking buyers for the rest of the NAVI Junior squad — a group that includes dem0n, Krabeni, cmtry, dziugss, and coach coolio. The organization explained the decision in a statement:
“The limitations of the CS ecosystem do not allow the academy team to further develop under the NAVI tag.”
Still, NAVI isn’t exiting the junior scene altogether. They revealed plans to begin scouting and rebuilding a new academy team in the near future.
What’s Next?
makazze’s inclusion marks a bold pivot for NAVI — but it’s only half the story. Until the name of the outgoing player is revealed, speculation will swirl. One thing’s certain: NAVI is entering the second half of 2025 with fire in their eyes and a young gun leading the charge.