HAVU Bench Sm1llee, Set To Rebuild Around Aerial And XseveN

Republished By Plato

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Joona “⁠Sm1llee⁠” Holmström was benched by HAVU after seven months with the team, the organization announced on Tuesday. Similar to Olli “⁠sLowi⁠” Pitkänen and Otto “⁠ottoNd⁠” Sihvo‘s situations, the 19-year-old is set to become a free agent following the expiration of his contract on July 31.

The benching leaves HAVU with a lineup consisting of just Jani “⁠Aerial⁠” Jussila and Sami “⁠xseveN⁠” Laasanen, with the organization stating that the new roster will be centered around the Finnish duo.

Sm1llee will become a free agent in August (image courtesy of HAVU)

This is the fourth change in HAVU‘s lineup since May, with the squad seeing the departure of Taneli “⁠disturbed⁠” Veikkola, sLowi, and ottoNd in the last three months following a difficult 2022 for the Finnish squad.

Sm1llee joined HAVU in the middle of January on a free transfer alongside ottoNd, finalizing the lineup ahead of the new season. In the six months spent with the organization, the young rifler averaged a 0.98 rating across all events, with his best performance coming from Pelaajat Series Spring 2022 where he registered a 1.23 rating.

“While going through the rebuild we eventually came to the conclusion that Sm1llee won’t be part of the new lineup,” read HAVU‘s farewell statement. “He moves to the bench with a contract expiring on July 31st when he will become a free agent,” it continued.

HAVU have stated that their new lineup is set to be announced once the final details are settled and will debut at Assembly Summer 2022. The Finnish LAN will take place in early August, and will see eight teams of mostly Finnish and Nordic cores competing for a €15,000 prize pool.

HAVU are now just: