European esports organisation Alliance has signed Liam ‘MaiL09‘ Tügel to its Counter-Strike 2 roster on a season-long loan from Metizport.
The 16-year-old Swedish rifler will debut for the organisation at the first United 21 x Esplay Challenge taking place from January 23rd to 25th, 2026.
Keep Reading
- 16-year-old Counter-Strike 2 player scores highest ELO in FACEIT history
- Alliance secures Gamdom deal for CS2 and Apex Legends
- CS2 update brings sweeping Anubis changes and MP7 buff
Announced on January 22nd, MaiL09 joins Alliance to fill the gap left by Alex ‘poiii‘ Nyholm Sundgren, who joined 100 Thieves in late 2025. In December 2025, Metizport benched MaiL09, with the organisation citing team structure and role requirements behind the decision.
MaiL09 is one of Counter-Strike’s top young prospects. In November 2025, the rifler scored the highest FACEIT ELO in the platform’s history, breaking the previous record set by Team Spirit’s Danil ‘donk‘ Kryshkovets.
“We have a strong and positive partnership with Alliance, and we believe this environment will be ideal for MaiL09’s continued growth,” wrote Metizport on social media. “This move is seen as an important step in his development, allowing him to gain valuable experience at a high competitive level.”
Currently ranked 42nd in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), a strong start to 2026 could result in Alliance climbing the ranks as attention turns towards qualification for the IEM Cologne Major taking place in June.
United 21 x Esplay Challenge Details
The first United 21 x Esplay Challenge event of 2026 features 15 teams from across Europe and Australia competing for a share of a $10,000 (~£7,454) prize pool. Notable names include BIG, Johnny Speeds, and the Australian side of SemperFi Esports. Notably, Metizport is also competing.
Teams are split into four groups, with the top two advancing to a single-elimination bracket. Before the Grand Final, the event includes a third-place match, providing teams with an opportunity to earn more VRS points.
For MaiL09, the event is another chance to gain valuable LAN experience as he continues to attract the attention of the community as one of the most exciting young prospects in the world.
Source: https://esportsinsider.com/2026/01/alliance-mail09-metizport-loan-cs2
