Jimpphat signs for Aurora, ash becomes head coach

Aurora have turned the page on their all-Turkish lineup with a pair of high-profile additions. Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo, formerly of MOUZ, joins the active roster while Ashley “ash” Battye steps in as the new head coach. The moves, announced on 4 July, signal a clear pivot toward an international mix after a string of departures reshaped the squad over the preceding week.

Jimpphat’s stint at MOUZ spanned over four years, starting in the NXT academy in May 2022 before graduating to the main team in July 2023. During his time with the senior side, he lifted trophies at ESL Pro League 18, ESL Pro League 19, BB Dacha Belgrade, and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025. He also cracked the HLTV Top 20 in 2024, slotting in at 17th. Despite that pedigree, his numbers tailed off toward the end—he managed just a 1.04 rating across his last 16 months before being benched in April alongside Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin.

Ash returns to the dugout after burnout break

Ash’s appointment fills the vacancy left by Sezgin “Fabre” Kalaycı, who departed earlier in the week. The British coach last worked with GamerLegion, famously guiding them to the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 final against all odds. He kept that roster competitive across five Majors despite constant roster turnover as top players moved to wealthier organisations. He stepped away in October 2025, citing mental fatigue and a need to reset. In early 2026, he told HLTV he wanted another shot at winning silverware with elite talent.

Aurora’s core loses its IGL and support

This week’s exits began with Fabre’s departure, followed by Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli announcing a career break on 2 July. The 33-year-old IGL, who had led the Turkish core since its Eternal Fire days, said fatherhood and family commitments drove his decision. Aurora stated he will remain with the organisation in a different role. A day later, Caner “soulfly” Kesici was benched after six months in the supportive slots, managing a 1.01 rating during his tenure.

• Jimpphat won two EPL titles, BB Dacha, and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 while at MOUZ’s main roster.
• Ash led GamerLegion to the Paris Major grand final in 2023 and built rosters that consistently outpunched their weight class.
• Jimpphat’s rating dropped to 1.04 in the 16 months before his benching, down from a career average of 1.10.
• Aurora now holds three players from the original Turkish core: Wicadia, XANTARES, and woxic. At least two more international signings are expected.

What the new setup means for Aurora’s ambitions

Jimpphat gives Aurora a young, proven rifler who can play multiple positions across the map, though his recent slump suggests he needs a system that plays to his strengths. Ash, by contrast, has a track record of building systems around available pieces—he turned unheralded players into Major contenders with GamerLegion. If he can replicate that formula with a mix of Turkish firepower and international recruits, Aurora could regain the form that brought them a second-place finish at EWC 2025 and a trophy at PGL Bucharest 2025.

The remaining question is who fills the IGL void left by MAJ3R. Reports have linked former Falcons captain Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski to the organisation, but nothing is confirmed. The next moves will define whether this restarted project can challenge at the highest level or if it stalls without a clear tactical leader. Aurora’s new-look roster is unlikely to debut before the end of the player break, giving ash time to install his system.

Jimpphat and ash arrive at a moment of reinvention for the Turkish organisation. The next announcement will show whether that reinvention leans on a veteran strategist or a different profile. Either way, Aurora is no longer the same team that won Bucharest five months ago.