Astralis secure best result in five years at PGL Astana 2025

Wait, are Astralis actually back? Like, for real this time? It seems it may be so, after the Danes managed to lock in a Grand Final berth at PGL Astana 2025. In doing so, Astralis have made good on their hot start to life under HooXi, offering hope that the organization can still be a competing force while staying true to their Danish roots.

Astralis make first Tier 1 LAN Final since 2019

Once the most dominant team in Counter-Strike, it’s hard to believe that Astralis haven’t been a Tier 1 LAN Final since 2019. Believe it or not, it’s true: the BLAST Pro Series Global 2019, which they won against Team Liquid in December 2019. In the years since, Astralis have become the masters of their own demise, reduced to Semi-Final runs at best, and frequently bombing out early at worst. A laughing stock, experts of grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory. At PGL Astana 2025, Astralis have been able to rewrite the narrative, securing the organization’s best result in years, regardless of whatever happens in tomorrow’s Final.

It’s hard not to give a lot of the credit to HooXi, who has transformed the Astralis’ fortunes seemingly overnight. The Katowice and Cologne-winning IGL is on for an all-time redemption arc at PGL Astana, having spent almost a year rotting away on the bench. His calling hasn’t missed a beat, and individually, he arguably looks better than he ever did on G2. He has improved the players around him to the point where he has even helped stavn play well in the Playoffs. Something must have changed.

It would be a little unfair to credit it all to HooXi’s performance, though. This is a true team effort, with Astralis finally living up to the potential we have always known they have. Perhaps most impressive of all is Staehr, who has frequently been a shining light for Astralis even in its darkest days of late. Even he has leveled up under HooXi, his 1.43 rating and 53:32 Kill/Death ratio a huge reason the team are able to celebrate their spot in the Grand Final.

Will HooXi stay on Astralis after PGL Astana 2025?

When HooXi’s presence for Astralis at PGL Astana 2025 was confirmed, it was supposed to be a one-tournament thing. Rumors of the organization’s financial problems rumbled, and even now, it threatens to overshadow the team’s achievements on the server should more come of it post-Astana. As with anything like this, it’s all very hush-hush until any concrete developments move forward, with the next couple of months likely substantial in its future.

Even if Astralis go on to win PGL Astana in tomorrow’s Grand Final, it’s difficult to imagine the team being in a position to offer HooXi any sort of long-term contract because of the financial situation they allegedly find themselves in. Yet, even if 2nd place is all he can lead the team to, how can the team really walk away from the IGL who has taken them to their best result in five years at his first attempt?