Rigon “⁠rigoN⁠” Gashi, the Swiss rifler, will officially enter free agency on January 1, 2025, as his six-month tenure with BIG comes to an end.

During his time with BIG, rigoN faced challenges integrating his distinctive playstyle into the German team’s structure. Having joined from Bad News Eagles, rigoN’s aggressive approach brought a unique dynamic to the roster. “He had a very aggressive style that wasn’t exactly what we needed, but at times it added an exciting spark,” Johannes “⁠tabseN⁠” Wodarz remarked in an HLTV interview shortly after rigoN signed with the team.

At the RMR in Shanghai months later, Jon “⁠JDC⁠” de Castro commented on rigoN’s efforts to adapt to the team’s system, acknowledging his attempts to balance his personal flair with the team’s strategies. Despite these efforts, the fit ultimately proved incompatible.

Even with the difficulties in synergy, BIG achieved a respectable top-16 finish at the Shanghai Major. Along the way, they secured victories against Passion UA, Virtus.pro, and Complexity. However, their journey ended in the Elimination Stage, where they fell to stronger teams like HEROIC, G2, and paiN.

Outside of their Major success, BIG’s results in the latter half of 2024 were less promising. The team failed to progress beyond the group stage or play-in phase in all major events. Their lone bright spot came in the ESL Challenger Atlanta, where they reached the final but lost to FlyQuest.

Reflecting on his departure, rigoN expressed gratitude and optimism as he bid farewell, describing his time with the team as an intense and unforgettable journey filled with highs and lows that helped him grow both personally and professionally. While the experience didn’t yield the results he had hoped for, he appreciated the memorable moments, the unwavering support from the team and fans, and the opportunities he was given. Looking ahead, he shared his determination to start a new chapter, promising to come back stronger, more refined, and ready to demonstrate his true potential.

BIG’s current roster now stands as:

  • Johannes “⁠tabseN⁠” Wodarz (Germany)
  • Florian “⁠syrsoN⁠” Rische (Germany)
  • Jon “⁠JDC⁠” de Castro (Germany)
  • Karim “⁠Krimbo⁠” Moussa (Germany)
  • Alexander “⁠kakafu⁠” Szymanczyk (Austria, coach).