Natus Vincere benches star – seen as too great a risk

Team captain Kirill „Boombl4“ Mikhaylov is benched from Navi: „Is a high risk for the club's reputation.“ Natus Vincere benches iconic team captain Kirill „boombl4“ Mikhailov. This was confirmed by the organization in a press release yesterday.

In the press release, the organization writes that Navi excludes boombl4 from the active five as he is considered a high risk to the club's reputation. The organization is also careful to point out that the decision is not based on the player's performance in-game.

We’re ready to announce the changes in NAVI #CSGO roaster.

📰: https://t.co/jAcRKPj3A9#navination pic.twitter.com/nozBXHXuo7

— NAVI (@natusvincere) May 28, 2022

Many speculate that the reason is largely due to boombl4's ex-wife's views on Russia and Ukraine's war situation which were shared on Instagram with tributes to Russia.

CS legend and teammate Oleksandr „s1mple“ Kostyliev pays tribute to boombl4 on his Twitter and expresses his sadness about the decision.

„This is how the world works, I want to thank you boombl4 for everything you have done, without you not a single player in our team would have achieved any of the achievements we experienced together in happiness and sorrow. Good luck and maybe one day we'll play together again,“ s1mple writes.

This is how this world works, i want to thank you @Boombl4CS for everything you have done, without you, not a single player of our team has achieved all the achievements that we experienced together in joy and sorrow, good luck and maybe one day we will play together again

— Sasha (@s1mpleO) May 28, 2022

Further news about the Navi Five will be revealed at a later date, according to the organisation.