Passion UA Announces Oleksii "Topa" Topchiienko as New In-Game Leader

Passion UA has officially welcomed Oleksii "Topa" Topchiienko to their roster. The 25-year-old will take on the role of in-game leader (IGL), replacing Rodion "fear" Smyk, who recently departed the team to pursue opportunities at a higher competitive level.

Topa's Journey to Passion UA

Topa has been a prominent figure in the lower-tier CS:GO scene since 2018, building his career through various teams and academy rosters. He began with Windigo Academy and later joined NAVI Junior, before transitioning to different lineups during 2021-2022. One of his standout moments was participating in the IEM Rio 2022 RMR with FANTASY.

Most recently, Topa represented IKLA, where he played alongside notable teammates such as Michał "MICHU" Müller and Jonas "Lekr0" Olofsson. His year-long tenure with IKLA ended at the start of 2024 when the organization ceased operations, leaving him to search for a new team. After nearly a year, he now finds a home with Passion UA, joining during a time of significant restructuring for the squad.

Passion UA’s Overhaul and Future Plans

The addition of Topa comes amid an ongoing rebuild of the team. Passion UA is still seeking their fifth player following Vsevolod "s-chilla" Shchurov's decision to take a break from competitive play due to the demanding schedule maintained throughout the year.

Topa expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating on X (formerly Twitter):"Being able to represent Ukraine is deeply meaningful to me, and I'll give my all to live up to this opportunity. I'm grateful for this chance and excited to show what we can achieve together."

Current Passion UA Roster

• Dmytro "jambo" Semera (Ukraine)
• Nikita "jackasmo" Skyba (Ukraine)
• Eduard "zeRRoFIX" Petrovskyi (Ukraine)
• Oleksii "Topa" Topchiienko (Ukraine)

Coach: Mikhaylo "Kane" Blagin (Ukraine)

Looking Ahead

With the addition of Topa as their new IGL and a seasoned coach in Mikhaylo "Kane" Blagin, Passion UA aims to solidify their roster and compete at a higher level. Fans eagerly await news of their fifth player and the team’s performance in upcoming tournaments, as the Ukrainian squad strives to make an impact on the international stage.