SK Gaming have removed Frej 'kHRYSTAL' Sjöström and replaced him with ex-fnatic man Rasmus 'GuX' Ståhl. The new recruit will be in action tomorrow at the charity event since Jimmy 'allen' Allen is unable to attend to illness.

The Counter-Strike team's coach, Anton Budak, explained the roster change:



SK Gaming
Johan 'face' Klasson
Dennis 'walle' Wallenberg
Robert 'RobbaN' Dahlström
Jimmy 'allen' Allen
Rasmus 'GuX' Ståhl


GuX told SK-gaming.com about the move and his expected role within his new team:

What are your reasons for and thoughts on joining SK Gaming?

Well I've always liked to play for SK gaming because of their history as a team and when I started playing competitevly the obvious "idols" were the players in SK gaming... so it's a big factor for joining SK it's the feeling you always had when you thought about having yourself there playing in SK.

How did this move come about and what was the situation with H2k like?

Well I was contacted by Anton Budak, the coach behind SK gaming, and then
everything just happened pretty fast. Well the situation with H2K there was no situation I just got contacted by SK and then I had a choice to make.

With the success and popularity the 2009 fnatic lineup had it was a surprise to many to see you departing from it. There were sentiments expressed that perhaps you didn't have as much time to play tournamnents anymore but it would seem that is not the case now as you're joining SK. With the confusion surrounding that move what can you say?

Well it's a little complicated, I don't wanna get into it that much but I had some real life stuff to take care of. That's in the past now. Now I'm back gaming full time!

You impressed a lot of people during your time in fnatic due to the versatility of your play: combining entry fragging with backup play and also closing out rounds in clutch situations. Do you see yourself playing the same role within SK or is there something different in mind?

I think I'm gonna have the same role in SK as I had in fnatic. I believe I just take whatever role they give me as in fnatic. It usually works out best.

In fnatic you had the chance to play this SK team twice deep in tournaments back in october. What did you think of that SK team and do you see any weaknesses or areas they needed to strengthen that you feel you can help with?

Well I always thought SK was a very strong team especially tactics wise but also I believe they had a hard time adapting to the differentials of other teams, which I hope I can help them with. And also I hope that some of my gameplay will help improve the SK team as I usually try to be the player to open it all up and make it easier for my teammates and that usually makes a big difference.

The SK-fnatic rivalry has been around some time now, ever since the NiP players moved to SK and transferred the NiP-fnatic rivalry. You were on the fnatic end of things in 2009 and got the best of SK throughout nearly all of the year. Are you looking forward to playing that rivalry out again but from the SK side of things now? Do you like the idea of going up against fnatic with all the insights you have on their style of play?

Haha well yeah it's going to be really fun to be on the other side of everything I remember all the trash talking versus SK it's gonna be fun to get it going the other way. About the insight I don't think I have any of that as they have threat in their team now and he's probably gonna help them change a lot of things. So I think we will just play our game and make the best of it.

Any final thoughts you'd like to add?

Yeah well I'd like to say hi to all the SK fans and hope they wish the team all the best of luck for the future events to come!


kHRYSTAL became a member of SK Gaming in late September of 2009 when he was brought in, with face, from H2k as an injection of new blood into the lineup. Ironically GuX was most recently seen playing in H2k. During his time in SK kHRYSTAL helped the team win IEM IV Chengdu, IEF, Arbalet Cup Europe and the recent IOL finals, as well as place 3rd at IEM IV Dubai.

After joining fnatic in early 2009 GuX quickly became a superstar as his team rolled through so many of the year's tournaments. With him in the lineup they won IEM III Global Finals, ESWC Masters Cheonan, Kode5, e-Stars Seoul and IEM IV Dubai. He also collected a WCG silver medal during his time with the team who established themselves as one of the greatest lineups of all time.

Shortly after the disappointment of the team's second round playoff elimination at DreamHack Winter GuX departed from the lineup and was eventually replaced by threat. He resurfaced recently to join up with H2k for the IOL finals, but their campaign yielded no success.

(Photograph copyright of ESL)