Jimpphat Officially Joins Aurora CS2

Aurora Gaming is undergoing a massive roster rebrand. After releasing many of its core players, the org has signed a new coach, and now former MOUZ star Jimpphat is joining the mix. Here’s everything to know.

Jimphhat is Joining Aurora Gaming CS2

Counter-Strike player Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo left German team MOUZ on July 2, 2026. Just a day later, European org Aurora Gaming announced that he will join its core roster.

In an X.com post announcing the move, Aurora CS2 told opponents: “Good luck. You’re going to need it.“ The team also stated, “Welcome to Aurora, Jimpphat! Young, talented, and hungry for glory. With him on our side, we are certain that a bright future lies ahead.”The post has since gained over 300,000 views.

Jimpphat is widely considered one of Counter-Strike’s young prodigies, alongside peers like donk. He began playing professionally in 2019 when he was twelve, and at nineteen, he has already participated in four Majors. In 2024, he also became one of the youngest players ever to rank in HLTV’s top 20 at seventeen.

MOUZ was Jimpphat’s home for over two years. He was a member of the team’s core roster for most of his time there, becoming an international presence. While with the org, Jimpphat won two ESL Pro League Season events (18 and 19), in addition to the PGL Cluj Napoca 2025 first-place trophy.

Jimpphat Reacts

Jimpphat has now humorously changed his X.com bio to “Baiter for @AuroraCS2_GG.” He also altered his account name to reflect the new affiliation, and is now “AURORA Jimpphat.”

The young pro made an additional post celebrating the transfer. He said he is “Happy for the opportunity to represent a new organization and this team […] Excited to see what the future holds for us!“

What Does This Mean for Aurora Gaming?

Jimpphat is the second Aurora CS2 acquisition announced on July 3rd. The organization has also acquired Ashley “ashhh” Battye as its new coach, sparking plenty of discussion among fans. Overall, the team is undergoing a massive roster rebrand, replacing many of its long-standing core members.

In just a week, Aurora has benched former coach Fabre, announced MAJ3R’s retirement, and benched core player soulfly. The changes are controversial in the community, since Aurora has a large Turkish fanbase and is known for its ‘Turkish Six’ roster. After the recent changes, only three of Aurora’s main Turkish members remain. Some netizens have expressed disappointment that Aurora is shifting away from its roots. Others are optimistic that the switch-ups will bring necessary improvements and remain committed to supporting the three OG players remaining.

Aurora Gaming is probably working to elevate its roster’s performance with a few big tournaments coming up. Once BLAST Bounty 2026 wraps, the Esports World Cup 2026 is right around the corner. That tournament carries a huge $2 million prize pool, with $600,000 going to whichever team takes first place. Aurora Gaming has a spot in the field, and with that kind of money on the line, they’ll need to bring their best form to compete. All that said, it can be extremely risky to make transfers in the midst of a competitive season, no matter how talented the players are.

Stay tuned for more Counter-Strike esports news.