Alex "Mauisnake" Ellenburg, a Counter-Strike 2 analyst, suggested that Leonid "chopper" Vishnyakov’s position in Team Spirit might come under scrutiny after the squad’s performance at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Ellenburg shared his thoughts on the social platform X, pointing to lineup discussions sparked by Spirit’s showing at the event.
One option raised in the conversation was replacing chopper with former in-game leader Boombl4. Ellenburg cautioned that while Boombl4 has a history of leading teams, recent performances with BetBoom Team revealed an irregular attacking approach that looks rough around the edges. He also noted that the active, fake-heavy style Team Spirit prefers resembles the way Boombl4 operated in Natus Vincere when working with coach B1ad3.
Beyond tactics, Ellenburg emphasized another possible asset Boombl4 might bring: the ability to defuse tense moments with encouraging words and a charismatic presence. People who have worked with him often point to his strong personality and his capacity to keep the squad calm during pressure situations, which can be valuable in close matches.
Despite considering the Boombl4 option, Mauisnake made clear he personally would not pursue replacing chopper right now. As he put it, "Boombl4 is still not worth the risk. The fact is chopper will have a secure place in the lineup while other Russian IGLs look equally or more inconsistent, because chopper has already shown he can handle the role in the past. Even if he has off moments, the alternatives look considerably worse." He added that, between available choices, he would prefer bringing back zont1x rather than inserting zweih into the roster.
On the competition side, Team Spirit began their run at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 from the third stage. The team advanced to the playoffs without dropping a single series, defeated Team Falcons in the quarterfinals, but fell to Team Vitality in the semifinals, finishing the event in a shared 3–4 placement.