SportsBetExpert has made Ian "motm" Hardy's return to their competitive lineup official, marking the end of his temporary stand-in status.
The 26-year-old rifler originally joined SBE from Marsborne back in May but departed just one month later to pursue a job opportunity outside of esports. His absence proved short-lived as he returned in July to temporarily replace Derek "dare" Brown on the roster.
Speaking with Dust2.us during FRAG Midwest: St. Louis, Hardy opened up about his initial decision to step away from competitive play. He explained that financial considerations drove his departure, stating he needed to make more money at the time. However, his passion for professional Counter-Strike ultimately brought him back, as he realized the financial struggles of competing in North American CS were worth it given his love for the game.
Hardy's performance at FRAG Midwest validated his return, as he posted an impressive 1.21 rating across 16 maps, landing him among the event's top 10 highest-rated players. SportsBetExpert finished as runners-up to LAG, collecting 187 VRS points for their second-place showing.
The confirmed SportsBetExpert roster now features Jaxon "Peeping" Cornwell, Kevin "consti" Yi, Gage "Infinite" Green, Shane "shane" Dressler, and Hardy, with Brennan "Aureo" O'Connell serving as head coach.
