aFUT Esports have officially signed Álvaro “SunPayus” García as their new Counter-Strike 2 AWPer. The Spanish veteran joins after leaving G2 Esports, while Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov has been moved to FUT’s bench.
The transfer had been reported for several weeks before FUT confirmed the move on October 1. SunPayus now has around three weeks to prepare with his new teammates before PGL Masters Bucharest begins on October 24.
SunPayus Takes Over FUT’s AWP
SunPayus immediately becomes FUT’s primary AWPer and brings considerably more Tier 1 experience to a relatively young lineup.
The 27-year-old had been inactive since G2 moved him to the bench during the summer break. Artem “r1nkle” Moroz replaced him in G2’s starting roster, leaving SunPayus without official matches following the Cologne Major.
FUT’s new lineup is:
- Dmytro “dem0n” Myroshnychenko
- Aulon “Krabeni” Fazlija
- Džiugas “dziugss” Steponavičius
- Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç
- Álvaro “SunPayus” García
- András “coolio” Fercsák as coach
The move gives FUT a more traditional dedicated sniper while also adding a player with experience in high-pressure international events.
FUT Add Experience to a Young Core
SunPayus has spent much of his career competing at the highest level of Counter-Strike.
He previously represented Movistar Riders and ENCE before joining G2 in July 2025. During his time with G2, the organization won BLAST Open London 2025, although the roster struggled to consistently reproduce that level across later events.
SunPayus finished his active G2 period with a solid statistical record but eventually lost his place when the team decided it needed a more aggressive AWPer.
His value to FUT may extend beyond pure AWPing.
SunPayus also brings secondary calling experience that could give FUT another voice during difficult mid-round situations.
That could be particularly useful around Krabeni and the younger members of the roster as FUT continue developing their tactical structure.
cmtry Moves to FUT Bench
The signing comes at the expense of cmtry, who has now been moved out of the active lineup.
The Russian AWPer originally developed through NAVI Youth and NAVI Junior before becoming part of the core acquired by FUT in August 2025.
His biggest achievement with the team came at PGL Bucharest in April 2026. FUT won the event and cmtry claimed his first career MVP award after producing a 1.24 tournament rating.
His performance across the rest of the season was less consistent.
The key developments are:
- cmtry moves from FUT’s starting lineup to the bench
- SunPayus becomes the new primary AWPer
- lauNX also remains on FUT’s bench
- coolio continues as head coach
The change represents the first alteration to the main NAVI academy core acquired by FUT.
FUT Continue Reshaping Their CS2 Project
FUT entered Counter-Strike in 2025 and have steadily modified the roster since then.
xfl0ud joined from HEROIC in July 2026, replacing lauNX in the starting lineup. SunPayus now becomes the organization’s second major external signing since establishing the current core.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Rifler | dem0n |
| IGL | Krabeni |
| Rifler | dziugss |
| Rifler | xfl0ud |
| AWPer | SunPayus |
| Coach | coolio |
The organization had reportedly considered several alternatives before completing the SunPayus deal.
Other AWPers linked with FUT included sl3nd and flayy, but the organization ultimately selected the former G2 sniper.
PGL Masters Bucharest Becomes First Test
SunPayus is expected to make his FUT debut at PGL Masters Bucharest, which runs from October 24 to 31.
The location provides an unusual connection to the player he replaces.
Bucharest was where cmtry produced his best tournament performance of 2026 and helped FUT claim one of its biggest trophies. SunPayus will now begin his own FUT career in the same city.
The three-week preparation period should give the roster some opportunity to adjust roles, communication and map plans before official competition.
However, integrating a new AWPer can affect significantly more than individual positions. Utility setups, opening protocols and mid-round calls may all need adjustments.
SunPayus Gets Another Tier 1 Opportunity
The transfer also gives SunPayus a rapid route back into active competition.
He spent roughly three months on G2’s bench before officially leaving the organization on September 29. Only two days later, FUT confirmed him as their new player.
At 27, SunPayus becomes one of the most experienced members of the roster.
His previous international experience could be valuable for a FUT squad that has already shown it can challenge major opponents but is still looking for greater consistency across top-level events.
Assessment
FUT’s decision to replace cmtry is notable because the young AWPer had already demonstrated a high ceiling with his MVP performance in Bucharest.
His inconsistency across the rest of 2026, however, appears to have convinced the organization that a change was necessary.
SunPayus offers a different profile. He brings years of Tier 1 experience, a more established AWPing style and additional tactical input from previous teams.
The transfer does not guarantee an immediate improvement. FUT must integrate a dedicated AWPer into a roster built around a younger core, and SunPayus has not played an official match for several months.
PGL Masters Bucharest will provide the first indication of whether the change gives FUT the additional consistency and experience they are looking for.
