Team Liquid Signs Jorko Following IEM Cologne Major Elimination

Team Liquid has announced the signing of 17-year-old Bulgarian AWPer Georgi "Jorko" Mitev to its active Counter-Strike roster. The prospect replaces Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak, who has been moved to the bench following the team's competitive struggles and subsequent elimination from the IEM Cologne Major. This roster overhaul introduces a new dynamic for esports betting markets evaluating Liquid's upcoming fixtures.

Key Takeaways

• Georgi "Jorko" Mitev joins the active roster of Team Liquid after spending five months competing with FOKUS.
• Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak transitions to the bench following a string of early tournament exits and inconsistent performances.
• Team Liquid is reportedly targeting Johnny "JT" Theodosiou as a new in-game leader to address poor T-side win rates.

Roster Overhaul After Major Disappointment

The decision to revamp the roster follows a series of dismal results for Team Liquid throughout 2026. The organization suffered several early group stage exits and failures at tier-two LAN events, which saw them tumble down the VRS rankings. After barely securing a spot at the IEM Cologne Major, the team was eliminated in Stage 1 with a 2-3 record. The AWP role has frequently been a pain point across several iterations of the roster, prompting the organization to make another bet on youth to return to its former glory days.

New Dynamics for Betting Markets

Jorko arrives at Team Liquid with a 1.07 rating from his time at FOKUS, where he won the Urban Riga Open Season 3 and narrowly missed the playoffs at PGL Bucharest. Before his stint with FOKUS, the Bulgarian sniper moved in and out of the CPH Wolves roster and competed for MOUZ NXT alongside Oldřich "PR" Nový and Adrian "xelex" Vincze. His tier-one inexperience mirrors the profile of his predecessor, ultimate, who was signed in July 2024 but never managed to find a consistent level during his tenure. For esports betting operators, this change introduces fresh variables when pricing Team Liquid's matches, particularly as the organization looks to improve upon having one of the worst T-side win rates in the entire scene this year.

Further Changes Anticipated

The sweeping changes heading into the second season may not be complete. Team Liquid is reportedly targeting Johnny "JT" Theodosiou as its new in-game leader to rectify their tactical shortcomings. The current active roster now features Keith "NAF" Markovic, Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek, Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski, Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa, and the newly signed Bulgarian player Jorko, operating under head coach Viktor "flashie" Tamás Bea.

Sources: Liquid sign Jorko