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FUT Esports is trialing Álvaro “SunPayus” García in Counter-Strike 2, targeting the Spanish AWPer as a potential upgrade to its roster ahead of a competitive stretch in the second half of 2026.
The 27-year-old was benched by G2 Esports around June 25 after the team’s 5th-8th place finish at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. Now he’s being tested by a Turkish squad that has been quietly climbing the CS2 ranks since entering the scene in 2025.
What’s driving the move
According to French insider Sébastien “KRL” Perez, FUT has identified SunPayus as its primary target to replace Ukrainian AWPer Mykyta “cmtry” Samolotova. Reports from late June named SunPayus as the top candidate for the position.
The numbers tell a clear story about why. SunPayus posted a 1.05 rating across 131 maps in 2026, a solid benchmark for any AWPer at the tier-one level. Cmtry, by comparison, managed a 0.99 rating over 115 maps in the same period.
SunPayus also brings something cmtry can’t match on a résumé: experience at the absolute top of the game. His time with G2 Esports included exposure to Major-level competition and the pressure that comes with it. Career prize earnings in the range of $396K to $406K reflect years of competing at the highest stakes.
FUT’s broader roster overhaul
The SunPayus trial doesn’t exist in isolation. Rifler Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç completed a move from HEROIC to FUT on July 7, 2026, adding another experienced piece to the roster. The Turkish organization, currently ranked approximately 11th in Valve’s CS2 standings, appears to be making a deliberate push to break into the top ten.
Founded around 2017, FUT didn’t make waves in Counter-Strike until relatively recently. Their prominent entry into CS2 in 2025 signaled ambition. FUT is pulling from established tier-one teams rather than developing unknown talent, a strategy that can accelerate results but comes with its own risks around chemistry and role conflicts when integrating players from different systems.
The SunPayus factor
SunPayus, born on November 19, 1998, is at a crossroads in his career. Getting benched by G2 after a Major is the kind of professional setback that can go one of two ways: a reset that leads to renewed motivation, or a slide into relevance limbo.
FUT offers him a starting AWP role with a team on the rise, rather than sitting on G2’s bench. SunPayus would be joining a predominantly Turkish roster, which could present communication challenges. CS2 at the professional level demands split-second callouts and system execution, and language barriers can erode performance in high-pressure situations.
What to watch
As of early September 2026, no official announcement has been made by either FUT Esports or SunPayus regarding the move. The trial period is exactly that: a test, not a commitment.
If the deal goes through, FUT would field a roster with two significant additions from the summer window in xfl0ud and SunPayus.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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