AURA Parted Ways With Its Counter Strike Roster After a Payment Dispute Between Zhenn and Coach Warden
The organisation paid coach Matthew Warden Dickens directly to settle the disagreement before releasing the team, which will now look for a new home for ESEA Season 59.
North American organisation AURA has parted ways with its Counter-Strike roster following a payment dispute between player Shawn "Zhenn" Knapp and coach Matthew "Warden" Dickens, Dust2.us reported on 21 September 2026.
According to the report, the split took place on 17 September. Zhenn had been paying Warden out of his own pocket to coach the team but became dissatisfied with the quality and frequency of the coaching during the first two months.
The team agreed to keep Warden until the end of August but withheld the final half-month of payment, arguing that he had done little work while the squad prepared for and attended FRAG Midwest: St. Louis, despite Zhenn having verbally committed to paying for the whole month. AURA stepped in and paid Warden directly to resolve the matter.
The organisation then released the team, judging that the dispute had damaged the squad's reputation. Dust2.us reported that the parties were broadly satisfied with the outcome.
The roster of Zhenn, KeWOZe, shoosT, Margod and Xtasyyy will now look for a new organisation to represent ahead of ESEA Season 59, the next season of the North American online league in which the players intend to compete.