BIG’s academy roster has gone through major changes, as the organization officially revealed a refreshed lineup with new players and a new head coach. The goal of this rebuild is to create a more competitive development team that can consistently challenge in tier-two events and qualification tournaments.
The announcement comes at an important moment, as BIG Academy are preparing for several key competitions, including regional leagues and international qualifiers that could open the door to higher-level events.
BIG Academy have added two new players to the roster: Anton “doni” Savienkov and Denys “tripex17” Haponov. Both players previously competed for Wildcard Academy, where they showed strong individual and team performances.
During his time with Wildcard Academy, doni played nearly five months and maintained a rating of around 1.04, proving himself as a reliable rifler. Meanwhile, tripex17 not only played well individually but also acted as the in-game leader, guiding his team to multiple titles in United21 League Season 32. His leadership experience is expected to help stabilize BIG Academy in high-pressure matches.
Alongside the player changes, BIG Academy have appointed Timo “Spiidi” Richter as their new head coach. This is his first full-time coaching role after a long and respected playing career.
Spiidi competed at seven Major tournaments as a professional player and was known for his experience and calm approach in big matches. After retiring at the end of 2023, he briefly worked as a performance coach for Sprout before the organization closed its operations. Now, he will focus on guiding young talent, building structure, and improving discipline within BIG Academy.
With these changes, BIG Academy now feature a more international lineup than in previous seasons. The roster includes players from Germany, Ukraine, and other parts of Europe. Core members such as prosus, w1dow, and JBOEN remain part of the team and provide continuity and experience, while the new additions bring fresh energy and different playstyles.
This mix of backgrounds is expected to help the team become more flexible and adaptable, especially when facing opponents from different regions and tactical schools.
The revamped roster has already started competing together. BIG Academy recently reached the lower-bracket final of United21 League Season 43, showing that the changes are already producing results.
They also successfully made it through the open qualifier to reach the IEM Rio 2026 Closed Qualifier, which is a major opportunity for the academy squad to test themselves against stronger opposition. In their opening match of the closed qualifier, they are set to face FUT, a challenging opponent that will quickly show how ready the new lineup really is.
These roster moves underline BIG’s long-term commitment to developing young players who could one day join the main BIG lineup or find success in other top teams. The academy system is designed not just to win matches, but to teach players professional habits, teamwork, and mental strength.
With new leadership from Spiidi and promising additions in doni and tripex17, BIG Academy are clearly aiming to become one of the strongest academy teams in Europe. The coming months will show whether this revamped roster can turn potential into consistent results.
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