MIBR benches Saffee amid ongoing struggles in CS2

    MIBR has announced the benching of AWPer Rafael 'Saffee' Costa from its CS2 roster, marking the team's second change since the post-BLAST.tv Austin Major player break.

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    Saffee joined MIBR in June 2023 after spending a year and a half with FURIA, and quickly became a key figure in the squad.

    During his time with the organisation, he helped deliver significant results, including titles at ESL Challenger Melbourne and the RES Latin American Series, as well as a top-four finish at ESL Pro League Season 20.

    He also represented MIBR on the biggest stages, with appearances at both the Perfect World Shanghai Major and the Austin Major.

    However, the team has struggled to maintain consistency in recent months. Despite adding Nicollas 'nicks' Polonio in July 2024, MIBR's results have faltered, with a top-12 placement at FISSURE Playground 1 and early exits from IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty Season 2.

    The poor run has prompted the organisation to take action in a bid to remain competitive.

    MIBR confirmed it is actively searching for a replacement to keep the team within the top 32 of the Valve Regional Standings, a crucial benchmark for maintaining international relevance.

    Saffee's next steps remain unclear. While his benching signals a fresh direction for MIBR, the experienced AWPer has yet to reveal whether he intends to explore opportunities with other organisations or remain within the fold.