European esports organisation Alliance has signed Liam ‘MaiL09‘ Tügel to its Counter-Strike 2 roster on a season-long mortgage from Metizport.
The 16-year-old Swedish rifler will debut for the organisation on the first United 21 x Esplay Problem going down from January twenty third to twenty fifth, 2026.
Introduced on January twenty second, MaiL09 joins Alliance to fill the hole left by Alex ‘poiii‘ Nyholm Sundgren, who joined 100 Thieves in late 2025. In December 2025, Metizport benched MaiL09, with the organisation citing group construction and position necessities behind the choice.
“We now have a powerful and optimistic partnership with Alliance, and we consider this surroundings might be very best for MaiL09’s continued progress,” wrote Metizport on social media. “This transfer is seen as an necessary step in his improvement, permitting him to achieve precious expertise at a excessive aggressive degree.”
Presently ranked forty second within the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), a powerful begin to 2026 may lead to Alliance climbing the ranks as consideration turns in direction of qualification for the IEM Cologne Main going down in June.
United 21 x Esplay Problem Particulars
The primary United 21 x Esplay Problem occasion of 2026 options 15 groups from throughout Europe and Australia competing for a share of a $10,000 (~£7,454) prize pool. Notable names embody BIG, Johnny Speeds, and the Australian aspect of SemperFi Esports. Notably, Metizport can be competing.
Groups are break up into 4 teams, with the highest two advancing to a single-elimination bracket. Earlier than the Grand Ultimate, the occasion features a third-place match, offering groups with a possibility to earn extra VRS factors.
For MaiL09, the occasion is one other probability to achieve precious LAN expertise as he continues to draw the eye of the group as one of the crucial thrilling younger prospects on the earth.
