PERPLEXITY have been signed by the Benelux organisation NXT for the upcoming UKIC finals and EPIC.LAN 45. This marks a brief break in the roster’s search for backing after the team has been without a home for the last six months.
PERPLEXITY have been at the top of the UK scene for some time now, with the core’s dominance stretching all the way back to the beginning of 2024 with Verdant. The long-standing trio of Tom “arTisT” Clarke, Mason “Vacancy” Haines, and Matas “Extinct” Strumila have not lost a UK LAN final since the UKIC Season 0 Division 1 Finals. Totalling 7 LAN trophies as a roster since that loss, they will be aiming to replicate that success under their new banner of NXT.
Whilst yet to win anything under the name PERPLEXITY, the ALASKA roster, which had four of the five same names, won both EPIC.LAN 44 and UKIC season 5. French AWPer remi “Diviiii” departed the roster at the same time the roster left Verdant. This paved the way for Jamie “Tree60” Callan to join and for arTisT to return to the big green. Then, when Callum “Girafffe” Jones stepped down from the roster, Jacob “Rezst” Hemming took his place to be part of the five that NXT has signed.
arTisT: “If I am going to quit I will be happy with what I have done, 99% of people can’t say that.”
Speaking to UKCSGO in the past, arTisTÂ mentioned that it’s been hard finding an organisation despite being the undisputed best UK team, even just finding support to go to one event hasn’t yielded any success till now.
The deal with NXT is only short-term, however. The quintet will be back on the hunt for an organisation after the upcoming iteration of EPIC.LAN as NXT have only signed arTisTÂ and co on a short-term basis, specifically to represent the organisation at UKIC season six finals and EPIC.LAN 45. Notably, NXT is not paying their new Counter-Strike roster, only providing the support required to attend the team’s upcoming LAN events.
UKCSGO reached out to NXT’s esports director, Alagesia, for why the Benelux organisation picked up a UK CS roster and their expectations for the future.
We have been active in the UK scene prior with a Rocket League roster going to Insomnia in 2023 and more recently we’ve represented one of the best teams in the UK in Valorant. For us it’s always been important to develop grassroots talent and give them the tools needed to shine.
Combine that with our increasing interest to continue expanding towards games that have a high competitive interest, it was a no brainer for us to pick up this roster and expand into CS specifically when the opportunity presented itself. We’re looking forward to a long and successful journey in CS2 and are planning to make one hell of a first impression with this roster, starting with UKIC Finals and EPIC.LAN 45.
After signing PERPLEXITY, NXT are:
Tom “arTisT” Clarke
Mason “Vacancy” Haines
Matas “Extinct” Strumila
Jacob “Rezst” Hemming
Jamie “Tree60” Callan
🛬 Time to announce our arrival in a totally new game – presenting our entry into Counter-Strike:@ARTISTCS2@ExtinctCS2@Vacancycs@rezstcs@Tree__cs
🟠⚪ These lads will represent the NXT colours at @UKICircuit and @EPICLAN pic.twitter.com/KOzYMWx5W0
— NXT (@GONXTGG) June 14, 2025
