Virtus.pro sign mir on long-term contract

The 27-year-old will debut for the organization on July 8.

Virtus.pro have announced the surprise addition of Nikolay "⁠mir⁠" Bityukov to their roster. The organization added that the 27-year-old rifler signed a long-term contract with them on July 1 and that he will play his first match for the team in Buenos Aires on Saturday, replacing David "⁠n0rb3r7⁠" Danielyan who will miss the event due to injury.

mir previously plied his trade for Entropiq and Spirit, mustering stellar individual performances on both teams. On the former, he averaged a 1.16 rating, 1.27 impact, and 0.80 KPR over 86 maps, and on the latter he posted a 1.20 rating, 1.25 impact, and 0.77 KPR over 513 maps.

mir will debut for Virtus.pro on July 8

Widely considered one of the best members of both teams, mir's absence from the top-tier of Counter-Strike has been puzzling. CIS insider Alexey "⁠OverDrive⁠" Birukov previously stated after mir was transfer-listed from Spirit that he was "one of the most difficult teammates of any team," adding that he had a vision for the game and wanted to play his way, but no further information emerged after that.

The Russian rifler arrives on Virtus.pro as their sixth player signing, with the team's long-term roster situation currently unknown. He is set to replace n0rb3r7 in the team's FiReLEAGUE Battle 2023 against 9z as the 22-year-old will miss out due to injury, with the Russian organization adding that they would announce their roster formation for subsequent tournaments at a later date.

The move comes as somewhat of a surprise as Virtus.pro were not linked to any changes in the off-season and recently won ESL Challenger Katowice. This isn't the first time that n0rb3r7's position in the lineup has been in flux, however, as he previously was replaced by Aleksandr "⁠KaiR0N-⁠" Anashkin at the end of 2022 before making a surprise return to the roster mid-RMR for the BLAST.tv Paris Major.

“During the test games with mir, who signed a long-term contract with the club on July 1st, he proved to be the best candidate for the team in terms of his in-game role and personal skill," Virtus.pro CEO Nikolai Petrossian said in a statement.

"In addition, he immediately found a common language with his teammates. Nikolay is a very experienced player, and the coaching staff and I are confident that he will be able to play his best game and realize his full potential with Virtus.pro.

"We planned to announce mir's arrival a bit later, but David's injury forced us to speed up. The more interesting for the audience will be the clash in Argentina."

Virtus.pro now have:

Russia Dzhami "⁠Jame⁠" Ali
Kazakhstan Alexey "⁠Qikert⁠" Golubev
Russia Evgenii "⁠FL1T⁠" Lebedev
Russia Petr "⁠fame⁠" Bolyshev
Russia David "⁠n0rb3r7⁠" Danielyan
Russia Nikolay "⁠mir⁠" Bityukov

Kazakhstan Dastan "⁠dastan⁠" Akbayev (coach)

Russia Alexey 'OverDrive' Birukov
Alexey 'OverDrive' Birukov
Age:
37
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
0.68
Maps played:
133
KPR:
0.46
DPR:
0.73
Russia David 'n0rb3r7' Danielyan
David 'n0rb3r7' Danielyan
Age:
22
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.04
Maps played:
1141
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.69
Russia Petr 'fame' Bolyshev
Petr 'fame' Bolyshev
Age:
20
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.06
Maps played:
610
KPR:
0.72
DPR:
0.66
Russia Dzhami 'Jame' Ali
Dzhami 'Jame' Ali
Age:
24
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.13
Maps played:
1281
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.55
Russia Aleksandr 'KaiR0N-' Anashkin
Aleksandr 'KaiR0N-' Anashkin
Age:
19
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.05
Maps played:
272
KPR:
0.76
DPR:
0.72
Russia Nikolay 'mir' Bityukov
Nikolay 'mir' Bityukov
Age:
27
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.10
Maps played:
1062
KPR:
0.76
DPR:
0.66
Kazakhstan Alexey 'Qikert' Golubev
Alexey 'Qikert' Golubev
Age:
24
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.03
Maps played:
1361
KPR:
0.69
DPR:
0.64
Russia Evgenii 'FL1T' Lebedev
Evgenii 'FL1T' Lebedev
Age:
22
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.08
Maps played:
1341
KPR:
0.73
DPR:
0.65
#1
 | 
Europe mistermr
interesting
2023-07-05 18:41
16 replies
long term in csgo means 6m tops
2023-07-05 18:44
6 replies
Furia would like to disagree...
2023-07-05 18:51
3 replies
+1
2023-07-05 20:52
2 replies
"n0rb3r7, who is forced to miss the trip due to an injury" Suuuure, thats why you signed mir in a long-term contract
2023-07-06 02:12
1 reply
I think they took the opportunity to put another more promising player in his place...
2023-07-06 15:18
#52
 | 
Europe @elgrucho
so what about the 4 year furia contracts?
2023-07-05 18:51
1 reply
#73
 | 
Brazil ZerongBr
5 years actually, they did it in 2019
2023-07-05 19:10
#81
togs | 
Brazil hfdjk
"replacing David "⁠n0rb3r7⁠" Danielyan who will miss the event due to injury". How can you get injured as a f*cking video game player.
2023-07-05 19:16
8 replies
guardian, konfig, hooxi etc
2023-07-05 19:18
3 replies
olofmeister
2023-07-05 23:34
1 reply
Olofmeister didn't get injured, it was more of a chronic diseases iirc. It is persisting till this day, I spoke about it with olof himself during his stream.
2023-07-06 03:46
K0nfig
2023-07-06 06:55
your wrists & fingers are prone to injury when all you do is strain them edit carpal tunnel for example, parkinsons etc
2023-07-05 19:31
2 replies
#106
 | 
African Union fgxnNn
or just an injury not related to mouse and keyboard, like in gym or just a fall outside
2023-07-05 19:43
1 reply
yeah true, like #82 said
2023-07-05 19:44
you can break your arm doing anything else but it still means youre gonna have to recover. theyre not saying he got injured while playing.
2023-07-05 19:50
#2
 | 
Estonia ropzera
Pog Regards
2023-07-05 18:42
3 replies
#38
 | 
Costa Rica YeAreGods
0/8
2023-07-05 18:47
0/8
2023-07-05 18:56
Lol
2023-07-05 20:52
#3
 | 
India ga7axy
Nani?
2023-07-05 18:42
long term?? WOW
2023-07-05 18:42
huh
2023-07-05 18:42
#6
 | 
Finland AliSabid
damn
2023-07-05 18:42
POG
2023-07-05 18:42
6 replies
qikert finally getting removed
2023-07-05 18:42
5 replies
It's norbert
2023-07-05 18:43
4 replies
Norbert broke his arm and he will recover for 3 weeks, after that Norbert should comeback and he will play instead of qikert ( I think that it should work that way, but since it’s vp and they do some dumb shit it may not work like that)
2023-07-05 18:48
1 reply
doesn’t qikert play anchor roles? mir plays rotator
2023-07-06 09:11
sadge he did good in katowice
2023-07-05 18:51
1 reply
its qikert
2023-07-05 19:19
Toxic
2023-07-05 18:42
5 replies
Any proofs?
2023-07-05 18:57
4 replies
Literally read the article
2023-07-05 20:24
3 replies
>overdrive LOL, okay He is really far from the most truthful source of information (in everything except roster changes)
2023-07-06 20:23
2 replies
go off sis!!
2023-07-07 09:17
1 reply
What?
2023-07-08 17:19
#9
 | 
Ukraine garen
mir is so old he won't be relevant in a few months
2023-07-05 18:42
9 replies
#56
 | 
Poland moistu
this guy can frag better than most 20 year olds
2023-07-05 18:55
2 replies
#58
 | 
Ukraine garen
not for long probably
2023-07-05 18:56
Also has worse mental than most 12 year olds
2023-07-05 23:35
he is 27, wtf are you on about
2023-07-05 19:31
5 replies
#134
 | 
Ukraine garen
cs pros retire at that age
2023-07-05 20:33
4 replies
delusional
2023-07-05 20:33
1 reply
#136
 | 
Ukraine garen
we'll see
2023-07-05 20:35
#199
gxx- | 
France naveJ
Age isn’t relevant in video games, if he is motivated to win he will be good, the only thing that matters is the mental, all pros retire because they won everything at that age, but pros that are skilled but never had the chance to have a tier 1 team can still be very motivated
2023-07-06 15:59
What? They don't
2023-07-06 16:13
Most likely replacing qikert
2023-07-05 18:42
5 replies
Norbert.
2023-07-05 18:42
4 replies
no, he’s just replacing Norbert for the one event in Argentina, I’m pretty sure all the leakers said qikert was gone even before Katowice.
2023-07-05 18:44
3 replies
bro has bones fractures and you say “for the one event”
2023-07-05 18:48
2 replies
n0rb3r7 himself said that it's 3 weeks and i dont know if during those 3 weeks there is more than 1 event for vp
2023-07-05 18:58
They aren’t playing cologne
2023-07-05 20:10
#11
 | 
Denmark Polakva
unexpected
2023-07-05 18:42
Due to n0rb3r7's injury, mir has been signed on a long term contact.
2023-07-05 18:42
wait what the
2023-07-05 18:42
wtf
2023-07-05 18:42
Hope he can find good footing in the team because he hasn't played in t1 for long time. GOodluck mir
2023-07-05 18:42
#18
 | 
Russia Reph
wtf unexpected
2023-07-05 18:42
if mir is really that toxic and VP had chemistry problems before then this team wont last half the upcoming season
2023-07-05 18:42
9 replies
He is not toxic lol He's shy and sometimes headstrong, but not toxic
2023-07-05 18:50
8 replies
why is literally everyone else saying otherwise?
2023-07-05 19:02
5 replies
Because some youtuber shithead recorded a faceit match where mir did not communicate, and the 13 y.o. audience of that youtuber instantly started this shit without any real reason Also overdrive (not the best source when it comes to anything except roster info) wrote that mir is stubborn in his view of the game and decisions (which is not equal to being toxic)
2023-07-05 19:13
3 replies
He wrote that according to Spirit staff he was by far the worst person to work with
2023-07-05 23:37
1 reply
Lol no I've seen that post, there was no such statements
2023-07-05 23:52
ty 4 clearing it up although i see how being too stubborn could create a toxic team environment
2023-07-06 07:56
#80
 | 
Russia mr_c
everyone else is eu/na hltv users?
2023-07-05 19:15
+1 guy said that he wants to play his own way to chopper one time and now half the community thinks he is toxic. i dont even remember who revealed it to the public.
2023-07-05 19:22
1 reply
Overdrive and rachelr
2023-07-05 19:24
WHAT
2023-07-05 18:42
what a clownfiesta i'm sure this 27 y.o. young talent will fit into lineup
2023-07-05 18:44
11 replies
#46
 | 
United States ka0nashi
Mir averaged a 1.20 rating on spirit and a 1.16 rating on Entropiq, and this was less than a year ago. He still has the skill, the issue was the mentality and he could be a lil toxic.
2023-07-05 18:48
2 replies
And Entropiq went from top10-15 to tier3 after signing him.
2023-07-13 13:32
1 reply
#217
 | 
United States ka0nashi
Because they overhauled their roster completely, that team had forester, nickleback and El1an who was in form at the time. Once Entropiq went international was when they dropped to T3.
2023-07-13 15:43
29yo jr still grinding so why not
2023-07-05 18:49
#55
 | 
China Aksi
I'll take 30 years old mir over 20 years old krasnal every day of the week
2023-07-05 18:53
norbert broke his hand, mir is just a subtitle
2023-07-05 19:00
5 replies
long term contract hello. he is qikert replacement
2023-07-05 19:22
4 replies
god i hope so replacing norbert would be fatal mistake
2023-07-08 19:15
3 replies
yes it was confirmed by the "insiders". norbert will stay, he is a "glue" guy of the team.
2023-07-08 19:22
2 replies
insiders meaning like overdrive?
2023-07-08 19:22
1 reply
yes and some others
2023-07-08 19:23
Very well written article
2023-07-05 18:44
good signing
2023-07-05 18:44
#26
 | 
France Uexo
unexpected, if he's still as good it's a very good pickup
2023-07-05 18:44
#28
 | 
Seychelles kinley377
noice
2023-07-05 18:44
#29
donk | 
Brazil kantzz
REALLY UNEXPECTED
2023-07-05 18:44
#30
 | 
France Diodele
jesusWHAT? finally mir found new home
2023-07-05 18:45
#31
 | 
Indonesia ArT1F4cT
wtf
2023-07-05 18:45
Smart. About time VP management did something.
2023-07-05 18:45
10 replies
yeah it's not like they didn't have to find a replacement for a Norbert with a broken arm
2023-07-05 18:47
9 replies
Its not so🤣
2023-07-05 20:12
4 replies
it... is so he is listed as a substitute
2023-07-05 20:13
3 replies
Tournament listening > management statement or how is your brain working? Everyone expect you seem to understand it hehe
2023-07-06 09:58
2 replies
your broken english makes me weep
2023-07-06 10:00
1 reply
weep is free
2023-07-08 01:05
yes but from what leakers are saying, it seems that he's just replacing norbert for one event, and after norbert returns he is replacing qikert on a permanent basis.
2023-07-05 20:15
3 replies
Yes.
2023-07-05 20:20
its a big pickup and one of the best moves so far made this season. If he's still at that high level he'll be a monster on the server
2023-07-05 22:53
1 reply
agreed. huge boost to VP; they needed someone to replace BOT qikert. norbert does fine playing the bitch roles, the fourth player should also be able to frag out.
2023-07-06 01:44
Beast
2023-07-05 18:46
#34
 | 
Russia Praeter
i hope he's gonna be given a good role, Mir has always been one of the most impressive Russian players, but unfortunately has never been able to reach the top level, this new roster seems so perspective
2023-07-05 18:46
very detailed report on this
2023-07-05 18:47
POGGERS
2023-07-05 18:47
L
2023-07-05 18:47
He still has spirit jersey on pic and he played for entropiq 1 year kek
2023-07-05 18:47
#40
 | 
Egypt BomberMan_
damn I hope he doesnt get kicked or bench even tho he has always been a great rifler over all these years. Maybe this is the guy who can take VP back to top form.
2023-07-05 18:47
Bot
2023-07-05 18:48
If Mir actually manages to work on a team for once this could be sick
2023-07-05 18:48
This guy deserved to get picked up by a tier 1 team ever since he left Spirit, I'm happy for him and excited to see how he'll look in tier 1 again. This came out of nowhere lmao, i don't think even overdrive leaked this Respect to VP for giving him a chance
2023-07-05 18:52
#48
 | 
Denmark Polakva
Vega Squadron Power
2023-07-05 18:49
#53
ropz | 
Slovakia nvrn06
he looks like a devil's assistant img-cdn.hltv.org/playerbodyshot/Kx7DA8F5..
2023-07-05 18:51
2 replies
looks like he is saying: 'ready to punish these sinners in ur name my lord'
2023-07-05 19:02
He looks like he drank since 12
2023-07-05 19:26
Nice. Lets go
2023-07-05 18:56
Hope he replace Qikert Qikert is a good selfless player, but can't keep the tier1 lvl of quality anymore
2023-07-05 18:59
1 reply
Bruh just let him do his previous roles and everything will be ok
2023-07-05 19:26
#64
 | 
Croatia KraljBrk
So -qikert when major winner norbert is healthy?
2023-07-05 19:00
RIP VP. Why sign this toxic bot?
2023-07-05 19:01
1 reply
OMFG another one Who tf said that mir is toxic?
2023-07-05 19:31
Where interz
2023-07-05 19:02
3 replies
They said he couldn't get kills
2023-07-05 19:05
1 reply
Where?
2023-07-05 19:48
Betboom team
2023-07-05 19:25
mir! Thank you VP, maybe, this time, is his chance to be on the great team. Hope he stays!
2023-07-05 19:05
n0rb3r7 injury lol
2023-07-05 19:08
-qikert +MİR = VP TOP 3
2023-07-05 19:08
"injury" lol they just want to kick poor norbert so bad
2023-07-05 19:11
2 replies
he broke left hand and a few fingers on right hand - he literally posted a video on tg
2023-07-05 20:07
1 reply
they beat him :/
2023-07-05 23:34
weird to see him on a team again
2023-07-05 19:11
- norbert good sign
2023-07-05 19:12
1 reply
flights to Aruba too expensive in july
2023-07-06 15:35
POGGGGGGGGGGGGG
2023-07-05 19:13
#79
 | 
Sweden Vrede
Sadge injury
2023-07-05 19:14
unexpected W, hope norbert gets well soon
2023-07-05 19:18
naxuja on nuzen
2023-07-05 19:20
boring team
2023-07-05 19:24
Really good signing tho
2023-07-05 19:25
#93
 | 
Armenia VirtusNo
wow damn didnt see that comin
2023-07-05 19:26
+n0rb3r7 -n0rb3r7 VP taking him for a mug
2023-07-05 19:31
jame cant handle him and he will cry to manager again
2023-07-05 19:32
HLTV calling VP a Russian org? Haven't we established they are Armenian now.
2023-07-05 19:34
2 replies
It all was just a bait so VP can represent themselves in eSports They still have russian sponsors, so is founder/ceo. Also they still pay taxes to Russia since their merch is officially sells in Russia. Thy have headquater in Russia and in Armenia.
2023-07-05 19:40
#108
 | 
Armenia VirtusNo
its like n0rb3r7 hes armenian but has russian flag, dont ask me how it works IDK either
2023-07-05 19:48
unexpected.
2023-07-05 19:35
I WILL SEE YOU ON SATUDARDAY MIR 😎
2023-07-05 19:36
unexpected, but interesting good luck
2023-07-05 19:36
Thats good gl
2023-07-05 19:41
#110
BzOo | 
France JBzOo
Good please vp -qikert And keep norber7 he is good
2023-07-05 19:48
interesting
2023-07-05 19:50
Rip N0rber7. Hope he finds a new team.
2023-07-05 19:54
4 replies
VP will be it
2023-07-05 20:09
3 replies
Are they canning Qikert?
2023-07-05 20:21
2 replies
yeah
2023-07-05 20:21
1 reply
But he is standing in for Norber7
2023-07-05 20:22
#114
Dosia | 
Russia Rapu
not bad :)
2023-07-05 19:58
Mir is very good if used properly but we know Baiter Jame plays slow boring CS
2023-07-05 20:03
#116
 | 
Latvia DINGUU
good upgrade
2023-07-05 20:03
Finally! I hope he has not lost his form. He was insane in Spirit, should have been in the top 20 at least once and wasn't bad in Entropiq even though they were falling apart
2023-07-05 20:10
THE KING IS BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!
2023-07-05 20:14
I thought n0rb3r7 got replaced again holy shit my heart xd
2023-07-05 20:15
Pooooooog
2023-07-05 20:20
#133
 | 
Russia Lessix
deserved, gl !
2023-07-05 20:27
great player, i thought he quit.
2023-07-05 20:40
N0rb3r7 come back and replace qikert, W team
2023-07-05 20:40
finally mir on tier1
2023-07-05 20:43
oh man didnt have mir on the radar at all but he is sick. great signing
2023-07-05 21:05
Terrible move. VP is ruined.
2023-07-05 21:06
Why not Interz?
2023-07-05 21:15
1 reply
Interz is panicking against the top 5 teams
2023-07-06 08:20
Nice, very good.
2023-07-05 21:20
+MİR -qikert = easy TOP 5
2023-07-05 21:22
#148
mir | 
Russia M31F
POG LETS GO!
2023-07-05 22:05
Pog, exciting news
2023-07-05 22:11
3 replies
#152
 | 
Norway Gjellan
Very interesting news indeed, he is such a beast with a lot of firepower
2023-07-05 22:57
2 replies
Yeah mir is really good, big upgrade for this VP roster
2023-07-06 02:48
1 reply
#186
 | 
Norway Gjellan
He is such a undervalued/underrated player in the CIS scene.
2023-07-06 11:31
#150
mir | 
Russia altmus
wow, lets go M1r
2023-07-05 22:44
Now kick kickert for mir
2023-07-06 01:12
My new favourite team!!! VP! I'm happy one of my very favourite players come back on a relevant team. Now I really look forward to it.. VP, awesome move from you
2023-07-06 01:33
#164
 | 
Scotland Ludax
So glad Sam Rockwell finally got signed
2023-07-06 02:01
Surprised that teams are still interested - mir played for only 4 months in the last 20!
2023-07-06 02:12
Nice! Mir is back baby
2023-07-06 02:34
#169
 | 
France AnsiPansi
i wondeer what really happened with kaiRON, he mustve screwed up big time for them to get dumped by VP
2023-07-06 03:24
I still remember him in Boston 2018 five years ago, he used to be very impressive player, but tbh I think this VP roster is dead and nothing can save it from tier 3.
2023-07-06 03:51
VP is going to be top 5 for sure. Jame goat will make this team work with added firepower from Mir.
2023-07-06 03:52
Listen Mir is a solid aimer but his team play held him back. He’s always been sort of selfish/focused on personal stats. If James can make him a team oriented player this could work out but I have my doubts
2023-07-06 06:32
m
2023-07-06 06:36
+MİR = EZ TOP 5
2023-07-06 08:21
#183
 | 
Russia mshkoda
Unexpected, good luck
2023-07-06 10:04
Ez for mir
2023-07-06 10:04
-qikert or riot
2023-07-06 12:29
2 replies
heard Timor-Leste just swore in a new Prime Minister. Xanana Gusmao. Hopefully they Timor-Leste can get ASEAN membership now
2023-07-06 15:37
1 reply
a time to be alive in timor-leste😎
2023-07-06 20:20
#190
 | 
Pakistan LoOuU2
Surprising but glad to see Mir getting another shot! Mechanic wise he was always one of CIS' finest
2023-07-06 14:24
Kairon vibes
2023-07-06 15:52
finally mir comes
2023-07-06 16:34
#212
 | 
North America raysist
Finally! I hope he has not lost his form. He was insane in Spirit, should have been in the top 20 at least once and wasn't bad in Entropiq even though they were falling apart
2023-07-09 01:08
+rep god player mir
2023-07-10 00:29
Russians with guns...somehow that sounds wrong.....
2023-07-10 23:04
#216
donk | 
South America baruj
HLTV took my permission to publish due to inactivity, so I come to leave my thoughts here. if VP took out n0rb3r7, then he took out KaiR0N-, now he's testing with mir, maybe signing electroNic would be a good idea, just imagine. It seems to me that the C9 thing is not getting anywhere and VP +electroNic is like a wet dream. Obviously, if electroNic gives up being IGL, otherwise he can go play AURORA.
2023-07-13 15:24
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