North American esports organisation 100 Thieves has signed Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard as a part of its official entry into Counter-Strike 2, following the Norwegian rifler’s nine-year tenure with FaZe Clan.
Revealed in an announcement video on X (previously Twitter), the organisation showcased a levitating crown descending onto Rain’s head, adopted by the tagline ‘HIS REIGN IS HERE’ — with ‘reign’ crossed out to learn ‘RAIN IS HERE.’
Rain departs FaZe after one of many longest steady runs with a single organisation in Counter-Strike historical past. Throughout his tenure, he lifted among the most prestigious trophies in each Counter-Strike: World Offensive and Counter-Strike 2.
His latest prime placements embrace first-place finishes on the CS Asia Championships 2023, Thunderpick World Championship 2023, and ESL Professional League Season 17, in addition to a million-dollar Intel Grand Slam victory in March 2023. He was additionally a part of FaZe’s Main-winning roster at PGL Main Antwerp 2022.
In 2025, FaZe posted blended outcomes, with top-four finishes at occasions comparable to PGL Bucharest 2025 and ESL Professional League Season 22, however inconsistent performances elsewhere, together with Ninth-Sixteenth placements on the Esports World Cup and a number of BLAST qualifiers.
Whereas 100 Thieves has not but confirmed the remainder of its roster, Rain’s expertise — spanning greater than a decade of tier-one competitors — positions him as a foundational signing for the challenge.
100 Thieves’ Counter-Strike Return
100 Thieves beforehand fielded Counter-Strike rosters in each Counter-Strike: World Offensive eras, however exited the esport in 2020, citing uncertainty across the aggressive ecosystem.
Its return — backed by new management and a veteran anchor in Rain — marks its first main construct in CS2. The organisation has not but launched particulars on its aggressive debut or when a full roster announcement is anticipated.
Rain’s arrival would be the organisation’s centrepiece transfer because it re-enters the esport beneath the 100 Thieves Roobet banner — a multi-year partnership that additionally expands the organisation’s footprint into Europe.
