M80 has benched Ethan “Reck” Serrano after two years on its CS2 roster, following a disappointing Austin Major run. HexT is expected to replace him ahead of Fragadelphia 19 as the team eyes a spot at the StarLadder Budapest Major.
North American Counter-Strike 2 team M80 has officially benched longtime rifler Ethan ‘reck’ Serrano, bringing an end to his two-year run on the starting lineup. The move follows the team’s underwhelming performance at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, where M80 failed to advance past Stage 2, finishing within the top 22 but falling short of expectations.
Reck joined M80 in July 2023 and quickly became an integral part of the team’s rise through the North American CS2 ranks. Prior to that, he briefly played for the South African organization ATK, which disbanded just two months into his stint. Since then, Reck has contributed to several regional triumphs with M80, including the Ace North American Masters Spring 2025 title and a notable win over NRG during Season 48 of the ESL Challenger League in late 2024, a victory that helped M80 establish itself as one of NA’s most promising rosters.
However, the team’s international results haven’t mirrored its domestic success. The recent Austin Major disappointment seems to have triggered a reshuffle in the M80 camp, echoing changes seen across the North American CS2 scene. M80 now joins other NA organizations like Wildcard, which recently revamped its roster with the signings of Sebastian ‘fr3nd’ Kuśmierz and Jaxo ‘Peeping’ Cornwell in preparation for the season’s second half.
HexT to Replace Reck in Starting Lineup
According to a report from Dust2.us, M80 has selected Jadan ‘HexT’ Postma, a former NRG standout, to fill Reck’s position on the starting lineup. HexT brings valuable experience from his time on top-tier rosters and is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to M80’s tactical core. His debut with the team is scheduled for Fragadelphia 19, which kicks off on July 17th, 2025, and features a $35,000 (~£25,671) prize pool.
This tournament will serve as a critical litmus test for M80’s revamped lineup, especially as they aim to climb the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). Currently ranked 47th, M80 is just outside the top 32; a vital threshold for teams looking to qualify for major international events.
Road to the StarLadder Budapest Major
With a new roster in place, M80 is now setting its sights on the StarLadder Budapest Major, scheduled for November 2025. Valve recently announced the regional invite allocations, with the Americas receiving additional slots, one in Stage 1 and two more in Stages 2 and 3, increasing the region’s chances of deeper representation.
For M80, a strong finish to the year could propel them into major contention. Whether HexT’s addition proves to be the missing piece remains to be seen, but fans and analysts alike will be watching Fragadelphia 19 closely to gauge the new lineup’s chemistry and potential.
With Reck still on the bench, his next move is also uncertain, though his past performances suggest he’ll remain a sought-after player in the North American CS2 ecosystem.
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