North American esports organisation 100 Thieves has signed Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard as part of its official entry into Counter-Strike 2, following the Norwegian rifler’s nine-year tenure with FaZe Clan.
Revealed in an announcement video on X (formerly Twitter), the organisation showcased a levitating crown descending onto Rain’s head, followed by the tagline ‘HIS REIGN IS HERE’ — with ‘reign’ crossed out to read ‘RAIN IS HERE.’
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The post was met with enthusiasm across the scene, with Ninjas in Pyjamas responding with a ‘Return of the King’ screenshot and creator and 100 Thieves co-owner Jack ‘CouRage’ Dunlop adding: “So excited for the future!”
Rain departs FaZe after one of the longest continuous runs with a single organisation in Counter-Strike history. During his tenure, he lifted some of the most prestigious trophies in both Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2.
His recent top placements include first-place finishes at the CS Asia Championships 2023, Thunderpick World Championship 2023, and ESL Pro League Season 17, as well as a million-dollar Intel Grand Slam victory in March 2023. He was also part of FaZe’s Major-winning roster at PGL Major Antwerp 2022.
In 2025, FaZe posted mixed results, with top-four finishes at events such as PGL Bucharest 2025 and ESL Pro League Season 22, but inconsistent performances elsewhere, including 9th-16th placements at the Esports World Cup and multiple BLAST qualifiers.
While 100 Thieves has not yet confirmed the rest of its roster, Rain’s experience — spanning more than a decade of tier-one competition — positions him as a foundational signing for the project.
100 Thieves’ Counter-Strike Return
100 Thieves previously fielded Counter-Strike rosters in both Counter-Strike: Global Offensive eras, but exited the esport in 2020, citing uncertainty around the competitive ecosystem.
Its return — backed by new leadership and a veteran anchor in Rain — marks its first major build in CS2. The organisation has not yet released details on its competitive debut or when a full roster announcement is expected.
The signing comes one day after 100 Thieves appointed Sean ‘sgares’ Gares, Head of FPS, and Graham ‘messioso’ Pitt, Head of CS Operations, to spearhead its Counter-Strike 2 division.
Rain’s arrival will be the organisation’s centrepiece move as it re-enters the esport under the 100 Thieves Roobet banner — a multi-year partnership that also expands the organisation’s footprint into Europe.
Source: https://esportsinsider.com/
