logo
Menu
CS2
CS2
CyberSport News
Posted 2024-12-20
1803

FlyQuest Benches aliStair After Shanghai Major Failure

Muhammad Shahrayar Sheikh is a news writer at cyber-sport.io who covers the latest news in the Counter-Strike 2 sphere. Amongst the many games he grew up playing, Counter-Strike 1.6 was...
3 min read
On December 20th 2024, FlyQuest announced that they would be benching their AWPer Alistair "⁠aliStair⁠" Johnston. This constitutes the first-ever roster change to come to the Oceanic team since they joined the North American organization in March 2024. Now, it’s expected that the team will step into the international market to look for new replacements.
Tweet Share on Facebook Copy link Send via Email
22 Bet

The roster change makes sense after FlyQuest’s failure at the Shanghai Major given their early exit from the Opening Stage. Even though they got off to a great start, winning both their best-of-one games on day 1 against Complexity and BIG, they lost back to back best-of-three series against Liquid, paiN and MIBR.


 

aliStair’s track record on the team

aliStair has helped FlyQuest bring home on trophy, specifically ESL Challenger Atlanta where the team triumphed over BIG. "The boys are always pushing me forward, not putting me down or blaming me for anything. I'm glad that today I could show a good performance for them," he said at the time. Everyone around aliStair, including himself, have been very appreciative of his time at the roster. 

For instance, FlyQuest President and Chief Gaming Officer Christopher "PapaSmithy" Smith said following the benching announcement: "Alistair has shown incredible drive to become the best version of himself during his time at FlyQuest. I have never met a competitor more singularly focused on improving both in and out of game routines in the pursuit of winning. Without Ali’s heroics, we would not have become the first Australian team to win an international tournament since 2017 at DreamHack Atlanta, nor would we have been able to return to the Major after the heartbreak of Copenhagen. While we are choosing to go in a different direction today, Alistair will forever be an important part of FlyQuest CS2 history, and we wish him the absolute best of luck in his next steps."

FlyQuest Benches aliStair After Shanghai Major Failure

The Australian also took the X (formerly Twitter) to reflect on the year: “This year will definitely go down as the toughest year I’ve ever faced in CS. Not making the first major of CS2 and going through a slump strengthened me and made me search for answers to rebuild and get better. I truly believe exiting this year, I have the best mentality I’ve ever had and a better outlook on how I should approach competition. This is not the end for me in Counter Strike and I’m grateful for my time with the gents I’ve got to play and grow with.”

Tweet Share on Facebook Copy link Send via Email
Muhammad Shahrayar Sheikh

More articles

How To Bhop in CS2?
No matter how you play CS2, learning the bhop will significantly help you beat your opponents. This dynamic movement technique will help players traverse the battlefield with skill, agility, and great speed. This guide will help you to really maximize bunny hopping in CS2.
April 07, 2025
Best CS2 Players – Who Are They?
Best CS2 Players – Who Are They?
November 08, 2024
KeyDrop Daily Case Guide - How to Unlock Your Free Case ([year])
KeyDrop Daily Case Guide - How to Unlock Your Free Case (2026)
January 28, 2026
Top 10 CS2 Workshop Maps in 2026

Playing on the same maps in CS2 all the time can get boring very quickly. You go on the same maps provided by Valve, and you already know every little corner there and every strategy other players use to win. This is why the community tried to make the universe more fun and attractive. The Steam Workshop gives you more options to explore with your friends. Maps can let you relax and take a break from the competitive scene, explore, or just help you train to prepare you for more challenges. If you have never done this before, perhaps you don’t know what CS2 workshop maps to choose. This article will present ten cool options to banish boredom and give you top experiences with the game.

November 11, 2024
Rainbet Withdrawal Guide: Crypto Cashout, KYC, Limits & Common Problems (2026)

Withdrawing funds from an online gambling platform can be straightforward if you know the steps, especially when dealing with cryptocurrency. This Rainbet withdrawal guide walks you through the process, explains verification requirements, and highlights common issues users may face.

Make sure to check Rainbet’s latest policies before making a withdrawal, as processing times, limits, and available methods can change.

June 05, 2026
How Many People Are Playing CS2? - CS2 Player Count in [year]?
How Many People Are Playing CS2? - CS2 Player Count in 2026?
October 30, 2024
Rainbet Withdrawal Guide: Crypto Cashout, KYC, Limits & Common Problems ([year])
Rainbet Withdrawal Guide: Crypto Cashout, KYC, Limits & Common Problems (2026)
June 05, 2026
How Many People Are Playing CS2? - CS2 Player Count in [year]?
How Many People Are Playing CS2? - CS2 Player Count in 2026?
October 30, 2024