Leonardo “leo_drk” Oliveira has been officially benched from BESTIA’s starting lineup, ending his brief stint with the Argentine organization just a month after joining. The 25-year-old Brazilian now enters free agency once again, following what appears to be an unexpected and unresolved split.
The departure, announced Friday by BESTIA through a short statement on their official channels, did not include any public reasoning or internal details. However, Oliveira addressed the situation himself via social media, expressing his dissatisfaction with how the matter was handled. He hinted at internal team structure issues, suggesting that the environment within BESTIA didn’t support collaboration or long-term development for players. According to him, the limited ability to contribute and grow within the team ultimately led to the decision.
The situation is particularly jarring considering Oliveira had only recently left Swingers, a Brazilian project he believed had strong potential, to join BESTIA in what was viewed as a step forward in his competitive career. In his statement, he admitted regret over how his exit from Swingers had impacted his former teammates — especially since his new venture in Argentina ended so quickly and, from his perspective, without clear justification.
Prior to this brief chapter with BESTIA, leo_drk had been active in various South American and international squads. He made a name for himself in previous years as a sharp rifler with solid LAN experience, including notable runs with teams like MIBR and Sharks. His reputation for bringing firepower and flexibility to mid-tier rosters made him a compelling pickup for BESTIA, especially as the team aims to remain competitive in South American CS.
The timing of his departure creates logistical pressure for BESTIA, who are currently participating in the ESL Challenger League and preparing for a critical stretch of qualifiers. In the next two weeks, they’re set to compete in both the PGL Astana Regional Closed Qualifier and FiReLEAGUE Buenos Aires — two key events that could significantly influence their trajectory this season. With those tournaments on the horizon, BESTIA is expected to announce a replacement soon in order to maintain momentum and roster stability.
As for leo_drk, the search begins once again for a new team — one that can offer not only the structure he’s looking for but the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a long-term project. Given his experience and skill set, he’s unlikely to remain a free agent for long, especially with multiple South American squads undergoing roster changes ahead of the Major circuit.
