Imperial has decided to part ways with their sniper in the CS2 lineup

Imperial has announced the transfer of Brazilian CS legend Henrique "HEN1" Teles to the bench, a decision that came as a surprise to the player himself. The move to sideline him was made without his consultation.

Reports suggest that former 9z sniper Santino "try" Rigal, who has been on the team's bench since October 2023 due to personal health issues, will step into HEN1's position.

In their latest tournament, the FiReLEAGUE Global Final 2023, Imperial finished in 7-8th place, with HEN1 ending the event with a rating of 5.8, likely prompting his replacement.

Rumours indicate that Santino "try" Rigal has already been announced to play for the team in the ongoing ESL Challenger Season 48 South America, where they are set to face CASE in a BO1 format match. For try, this marks a return after over six months of inactivity.

Following his relegation to the bench, HEN1 tweeted the following statement:

"When I joined Imperial, I made it clear that I wanted to finish my career here. I'm tired of having to find a new team and start over every year. In recent years, I've focused on maintaining my performance at the highest level. Off-field, many people bring up the past, but I assure you that I'm mature, and focused on my career, relationships, and family. Despite ongoing doubts about my work, I wish the best to those who continue to discredit me. I appreciate everything Imperial has done for me this past year, and I feel there's unfinished business between us. Perhaps another time? I'm open to discussions and will strive for new opportunities. I'll reinvent myself, prove myself again, and make you proud."

HEN1's brother, LUCAS1, is currently teamless, and there's speculation about a potential reunion to rise to the top once more. This marks the twelfth occasion the player has been without a team, having represented significant organisations such as Immortals, FURIA, O PLANO, MIBR, GODSENT, Luminosity Gaming, among others.

He shows no signs of slowing down and is prepared for new challenges, potentially shifting roles to mentor younger players as a captain. Many questions remain, and answers will unfold in due course.