Aurora has confirmed that Denis “deko” Zhukov, their 23-year-old AWPer, has taken a break from professional competition, resulting in his move to the inactive roster. The organization has supported his decision, emphasizing that the door remains open for his return whenever he feels ready.
This announcement comes shortly after Aurora’s early exit from the Perfect World Shanghai Major RMR, where the team managed just one victory, defeating B8, but suffered losses against Eternal Fire, Spirit, and 9 Pandas, finishing with a 1-3 record. deko has been a part of Aurora since November 2023, joining alongside former coach Dmitry “hooch” Bogdanov after leaving 1WIN.
During his year with Aurora, deko consistently performed strongly, maintaining a 1.15 rating. His contributions were instrumental in the team’s victories at the Skyesports Grand Slam and Skyesports Masters and securing second place at ESL Challenger Melbourne and third at MESA Nomadic Masters Spring. Reflecting on his tenure, Aurora acknowledged his pivotal role and the challenges he faced, describing him as a team legend and expressing gratitude for his contributions.
Aurora’s statement revealed that the decision to place deko on the inactive roster was mutual, shaped by discussions about his aspirations and future. The organization stated that while his contract is effectively frozen, they fully support his participation in media tournaments and will celebrate his successes as their own. They clarified that deko continues to represent Aurora and remains an integral part of their extended family.
The current active roster for Aurora includes Timur “clax” Sabirov, Viktor “Lack1” Boldyrev, Aleksandr “KENSI” Gurkin, and Evgeny “Norwi” Ermolin, with Stepan “brain” Sivoronov serving as coach. Although deko has stepped back, the organization has left the door wide open for his potential return to the competitive stage.
