Team Liquid CS Benches ultimate

After a lackluster IEM Cologne performance, Team Liquid has announced it is benching core player ultimate. Here’s everything to know about the move.

Team Liquid Has Benched ultimate

On July 9, 2026, Team Liquid announced it has benched AWPer Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak from its main Counter-Strike roster. ultimate, who joined TL in July 2024, has represented the team for nearly two years. The move occurs as the organization ‘shifts its focus to the upcoming season.’

In an X.com post revealing the move, Team Liquid thanked ultimate “for your dedication and the high-energy plays you brought both in and out of the server.” The team also referenced his standout clip at IEM Cologne 2026: “That jumping Deagle shot is forever an iconic moment in Team Liquid CS history.”

ultimate Responds

ultimate responded to the decision on his personal X.com account. The AWPer simply wrote, “Thank you [Team Liquid].”

What Does This Mean for Team Liquid Counter-Strike?

Team Liquid has made a name for itself as a North American esports powerhouse. The region’s Counter-Strike fans rally around it, especially since the EMEA region usually dominates the sport. After TL’s legendary 2019 season, which included first-place prizes in IEM XIV Chicago, DreamHack Masters Dallas, ESL One: Cologne and the ESL Pro League, the org stayed near the top of the world rankings and even hit the number one spot at one point. Keeping that form, though, has proved difficult.

TL’s 2026 performance has not been optimal, and its stats have slumped in the past few years. The org failed to pass Stage 1 of IEM Cologne, winning only two games against BIG and HEROIC. Its performance placed it just barely below the progression cutoff, which particularly stung for fans. This is a notable decline from the stats in IEM Atlanta and IEM Rio, where Liquid also trailed towards the bottom of the leaderboard.

Why exactly is this happening? Instability and inconsistency are key factors. The Team Liquid roster has been constantly changing, with frequent switch-ups making it difficult to build cohesive play. Beyond mechanical issues, the lineup has repeatedly been hit with unexpected events that hinder plans. NAF had to skip IEM Krakow, and EliGe received a temporary VAC ban in Premiere after systems falsely flagged his play in December.

The Team Liquid community appears largely positive about the change. Netizens seem hopeful it could improve the org’s future performance.

Stay tuned for more Counter-Strike esports news.