IKLA was a Ukrainian Counter-Strike organization that grew out of Esports Club Kyiv and spent several years trying to establish itself on the European scene. Founded as EC Kyiv in 2020 and rebranded as IKLA in 2022, the project worked with both Ukrainian talent and experienced European players before shutting down in early 2024.

From EC Kyiv to IKLA

The story of IKLA began before the name itself existed.

In January 2020, Ukrainian esports executive Maksym Bednarskyi founded Esports Club Kyiv, better known as EC Kyiv. Bednarskyi already had significant experience in esports after working with organizations including HellRaisers and Windigo.

EC Kyiv entered Counter-Strike with a predominantly Ukrainian roster. Among the players in its first lineup was future international star Volodymyr «Woro2k» Veletniuk, who would later become known for his performances with Monte.

The initial concept was focused on developing Ukrainian players and gradually moving through the lower levels of European Counter-Strike.

The project survived a difficult period for Ukrainian esports, first dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and then operating after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In October 2022, EC Kyiv entered a new stage of its development.

The organization was officially renamed IKLA, introducing a new logo, visual identity and broader ambitions beyond the domestic Ukrainian scene.

Building a stronger Counter-Strike roster

Following the rebrand, IKLA continued competing primarily in online European tournaments.

The organization went through several roster changes while trying to find a lineup capable of reaching bigger international competitions.

Players such as Dmytro «SENSEi» Shvorak, Vladyslav «Kvem» Korol and Oleksii «Topa» Topchiienko represented the club during different periods.

SENSEi became one of the most productive players associated with IKLA, while Kvem emerged as another Ukrainian prospect who gained wider recognition through the project.

IKLA eventually reached its highest position of No. 45 in the HLTV world ranking.

However, the organization wanted to move beyond being another European tier-two team.

In 2023, IKLA began changing its recruitment strategy.

IKLA goes international

Instead of relying almost exclusively on Ukrainian players, IKLA started building an international lineup.

The organization brought in experienced names from across Europe, including Portuguese rifler Francisco «xicoz» Antunes and Swedish AWPer William «draken» Sundin.

Later, Polish veteran Michał «MICHU» Müller joined the project.

One of the most recognizable signings came in December 2023, when IKLA added Jonas «Lekr0» Olofsson, a former Ninjas in Pyjamas and fnatic player who had competed at the highest level of Counter-Strike.

Polish veteran Mariusz «Loord» Cybulski, a former Major-winning player from the legendary Golden Five era, worked as the team’s coach.

The roster represented IKLA’s most ambitious attempt to break into higher-level European competition.

Its biggest opportunity arrived almost immediately.

One step away from the Major

At the beginning of 2024, IKLA entered qualification for the PGL Major Copenhagen, the first Counter-Strike 2 Major.

The team progressed through the second European open qualifier after defeating opponents including GODSENT, 00NATION, Space and PERA.

That run earned IKLA a place in the European RMR Closed Qualifier.

For an organization that had spent years competing outside the biggest Counter-Strike events, reaching the closed qualifier represented one of the most important opportunities in its history.

IKLA opened the stage with a 13-10 victory over Aurora but then lost 10-13 to Eternal Fire.

A defeat against PERA followed, leaving the Ukrainian organization one series away from elimination.

HEROIC ultimately ended IKLA’s Major campaign with a 2-0 victory.

The team finished the closed qualifier with a 1-3 record and missed the European RMR.

It would become IKLA’s final major attempt to reach the top level of Counter-Strike.

IKLA shuts down

Only days after the Copenhagen Major qualification campaign, the organization announced that it was ceasing operations.

On January 26, 2024, IKLA confirmed that its players had been placed on the transfer list.

CEO Maksym Bednarskyi publicly criticized the state of online Counter-Strike qualifiers, arguing that cheating allegations and the uncertainty surrounding online competition made continued investment difficult to justify.

The organization initially described the decision as a pause and suggested that a return could be considered in 2025 if conditions improved.

The active project, however, came to an end.

IKLA’s final roster included MICHU, Lekr0, Topa, adeX and Kvem, with Loord serving as coach.

A short but notable chapter in Ukrainian Counter-Strike

IKLA never reached a Major or won one of Counter-Strike’s biggest international tournaments.

Its significance instead came from the project it attempted to build.

Starting as EC Kyiv in 2020, the organization provided opportunities to Ukrainian players, survived one of the most difficult periods in the country’s esports history and eventually attempted to transition from a domestic project into an international European team.

Players such as Woro2k and Kvem passed through the organization, while its later rosters brought established names including draken, MICHU and Lekr0 into the project.

The team’s final Major qualification run showed how close IKLA had come to reaching another competitive level, but it also became the final chapter of the organization.

From EC Kyiv’s launch in 2020 to IKLA’s closure in 2024, the project spent four years trying to build another Ukrainian presence in European Counter-Strike.