Health Issues Force Team Spirit Out of IEM Melbourne 2025

Via HLTV, Team Spirit has officially decided to withdraw from the Intel Extreme Master Melbourne 2025 tournament, scheduled to begin in six days. This decision was made due to concerns about the players’ health, which is reportedly not in optimal condition.

The Russian-based CS2 team initially announced their withdrawal on April 11 without providing a clear reason. However, they recently submitted a clarification to HLTV regarding the team’s circumstances.

“We had every intention to play in Melbourne, but health issues unfortunately came in the way and made us decline. This is very unfortunate, but health always comes first,” Team Spirit to HLTV.

Their slot will now be filled by Complexity, who holds the highest Valve Regional Standing and has already met the visa requirements for Australia. Valve extended invitations to other teams—including FURIA, Astralis, Wildcard, and Heroic—to replace Spirit. However, none were able to fulfill the necessary requirements within the given timeframe.

Despite entering IEM Melbourne under special circumstances, Complexity remains a formidable contender. Their recent semifinal performance at PGL Bucharest 2025 demonstrated their ability to compete with the aggressive playstyles of top-tier teams. Over the past three years, they have also solidified their reputation as a highly respected organization in the North American scene.

Team Spirit is not the first to withdraw from IEM Melbourne 2025. Previously, Aurora (formerly known as Eternal Fire) relinquished their slot without specifying a reason. Their position was ultimately taken by Portugal-based SAW.