Justinas “jL” Lekavicius, one of the rising stars in the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) scene, has officially announced that he will be taking a break from professional play. The announcement comes amid speculation regarding his recent performance and growing mental fatigue following a packed competitive calendar.
In a statement shared on social media, jL explained:
“I’ve been grinding nonstop for the past few years, and I’ve reached a point where I feel mentally and emotionally drained. I love this game and everything it has given me, but I need time to reset, reflect, and come back stronger.”
jL
The 24-year-old Lithuanian rifler has been a prominent figure in the CS2 scene since transitioning from CS:GO, where he built a strong reputation for his aggressive playstyle and clutch potential. After joining a top-tier organization and competing in multiple S-tier tournaments, jL became a key part of his team’s momentum in the early stages of CS2’s competitive era.
However, recent performances saw mixed results both for jL individually and for his team, leading some analysts to speculate about burnout or behind-the-scenes tensions. While jL made no mention of specific team issues, he emphasized that the break is “not permanent” and that he hopes to return “refreshed and ready to compete at the highest level.”
The announcement has drawn widespread support from fans, pros, and content creators across the CS2 community. Many praised jL for prioritizing mental health — a topic that’s becoming more openly discussed in the esports world.
Fellow pro player ropz commented:
“Respect the decision. It takes courage to step back. Take all the time you need, king.”
Ropz
Natus Vincere has officially replaced jL with Drin “makazze” Shaqiri on their active CS2 roster.
Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy (Rifler)
Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen (In-game leader, rifler)
Mihai “iM” Ivan (Rifler)
Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov (AWPer)
Drin “makazze” Shaqiri (Rifler, promoted from NAVI Junior)
Andrii “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy (Coach)
IEM Cologne 2025 will be the first major test for this revamped lineup. NAVI will start in Stage 2 beginning July 26