Guild Esports Reveals Counter-Strike 2 Roster to Compete in Esports World Cup

London-based, publicly traded organization Guild Esports has announced the formation of a dedicated Counter-Strike 2 roster, branded as the Guild Eagles, to compete in the 2024 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The roster primarily consists of former Bad News Eagles players, including Genc “gxx-” Kolgeci, Flatron “juanflatroo” Halimi, Sener “SENER1” Mahuti, Dionis “sinnopsyy” Budeci, and Rigon “rigoN” Gashi. The team is supported by a coaching staff comprising Kevin “Krystal” Amend, Keiran “KayJay” Playfair, and Jonatan “Devilwalk” Lundberg, with former team manager James Banks serving as a consultant.

The Esports World Cup, formerly known as Games8, is operated by the Esports World Cup Foundation under the leadership of CEO Ralf Reichert. The foundation is governed by a board of executives from various companies rather than being directly owned by the Saudi Esports Federation or the ESL FACEIT Group. While Guild Esports is among the first Western organizations to publicly confirm its participation in the tournament, industry reports indicate that multiple other Western entities have committed to the event without yet making formal public announcements.

This development highlights the ongoing expansion of the international tournament landscape and the strategic positioning of Western esports organizations within high-profile, Saudi-backed competitive events. The move underscores a broader trend of professional teams restructuring or creating specialized rosters to align with the schedules and requirements of major global esports festivals.