“When I retire, I hope it will be me saying, ‘I am done playing,’ instead of someone else having to tell me”. Dupreeh about age, fatherhood, and a dream to become a pilotExclusive

Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen stands as a monumental figure in Counter-Strike history, having competed in an unprecedented 19 Majors while securing 5 championship titles. At 31 years old with recent fatherhood in 2023, he faces inevitable retirement questions that commonly surface in esports. Our conversation took place during BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024, where he shared profound insights about his evolving career trajectory.

— You’ve played with zonic as a coach for more than six years in different teams. What makes you such a long-lasting combo?

— Our connection extends beyond professional boundaries into genuine friendship, while sharing identical strategic approaches to competitive play. The separation during my Vitality benching period was purely tactical, not personal as many speculated. Reuniting under his guidance has revitalized my career, allowing me to compete at levels that continue to bring satisfaction rather than pursuing alternative career paths.

— What are the differences between Falcons and your previous teams?

— Snappi’s leadership philosophy contrasts significantly with gla1ve or apEX’s methodologies, requiring adaptation to new strategic frameworks. The transition to CS2 introduces additional complexity, demanding comprehensive adjustment across multiple gameplay dimensions.

Falcons employs more compartmentalized tactical systems compared to Vitality’s fluid, improvisational style. This structured environment suits my strengths perfectly, as I’ve historically excelled within defined systems rather than unstructured scenarios. The future appears promising as we continue developing our collective synergy.

— Now it’s closer to Astralis where you obviously also had a system?

— Absolutely, the Falcons approach evokes strong Astralis memories, potentially reflecting characteristic Danish Counter-Strike methodology emphasizing organization. While Vitality encouraged individual creativity with minimal constraints, Falcons maintains strategic freedom within established parameters.

— Your team is not the youngest one. Could that be a problem because of the limited time to get to the top?

— The age discussion permeates current esports conversations, acknowledging that younger competitors often dedicate extensive training hours without life responsibilities. Our roster includes two fathers, requiring careful time management, yet providing invaluable competitive experience that newer teams lack.

Leveraging this experience requires minimizing tactical errors and executing more precise gameplay. This represents our core competitive advantage, with extensive Major tournament experience distinguishing us from emerging teams.

While statistically older within CS demographics, I maintain that age shouldn’t hinder athletic performance with proper mindset and demonstrable skill. Performance quality ultimately outweighs chronological age in determining competitive viability.

— You mentioned your family. What does it mean to you, and how does missing them affect you?

— Travel provides welcome professional immersion, while returning home enables complete family focus. The initial 48 hours apart prove most challenging before tournament concentration takes over.

I’ve developed effective mental compartmentalization, temporarily “parking” family concerns during competitions before fully re-engaging upon return.

— What does it mean to you?

— Fatherhood represents my life’s greatest accomplishment, providing profound personal meaning despite sleep reduction and priority restructuring. Every parenting moment brings fulfillment despite inherent challenges.

— What was harder for you, to transfer from CS:Source to CS:GO or from CS:GO to CS2?

— Transitioning from Source to CS:GO presented greater adaptation challenges due to smoke mechanics, Molotov introductions, and weapon system overhauls. CS2 maintains core CS:GO mechanics while introducing significant changes like destructible smokes, enhanced peeking capabilities, and altered angle holding strategies. The evolutionary leap between CS:GO and CS2 proves less dramatic than previous generational shifts.

— What do you like and dislike the most in CS2 currently?

— CS2 offers numerous improvements, though persistent bugs remain concerning. Boosting inconsistencies and frequent professional match crashes present serious competitive integrity issues, potentially costing critical rounds. Certain exploits allow positioning between smokes and Molotovs without damage, requiring developer attention. Overall, CS2 represents advancement over CS:GO, though technical issues demand resolution.

— You are the only five-time Major champion in CS. What makes you to still keep going?

— Competition, travel, and team collaboration continue driving my motivation. Observing collective improvement and tournament success provides unparalleled satisfaction. Continuous self-improvement drives my persistence, though determining appropriate retirement timing presents personal challenges.

I aspire to control my career conclusion, hoping to declare “I’m done playing” rather than receiving that decision externally.

— What should happen for you to say enough is enough?

— The decision remains unclear, as achieving a fifth Major initially seemed sufficient, yet the prospect of winning a CS2 Major renews motivation. The ultimate determining factors remain uncertain.

— Are you annoyed by all those questions and comments about retirement?

— Retirement inquiries seem natural given my age and parental status. I’m demonstrating that high-level competition remains feasible under these circumstances, challenging conventional esports career expectations.

— Have you ever thought about what you would do after you finally retire?

— Previously aspiring toward aviation, I maintain piloting ambitions despite extensive travel history. Post-retirement likely involves continued industry involvement, potentially through streaming or eventual coaching roles when family circumstances permit.

The legendary Danish duo of Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen and coach zonic represents one of esports’ most enduring collaborations, spanning multiple organizations over six competitive years. Their success stems from both deep personal friendship and identical strategic approaches to Counter-Strike. Many misinterpreted their professional separation at Vitality as personal conflict, when in reality it was purely tactical restructuring.

What makes their partnership exceptional is the seamless reintegration that followed, allowing Dupreeh to return to competitive play at a level he genuinely enjoys. This demonstrates how professional relationships in esports can withstand roster changes while maintaining mutual respect and effectiveness.

Falcons presents a distinct leadership environment under Snappi, whose gameplay vision differs significantly from previous leaders like gla1ve or apEX. The team operates within clearly defined tactical frameworks rather than the looser, improvisational style Dupreeh experienced at Vitality.

The systematic approach strongly echoes his Astralis days, suggesting a particularly Danish methodology for competitive Counter-Strike. While Falcons maintains strategic flexibility, the foundation remains methodical and predictable—ideal for veteran players who thrive within organized parameters rather than chaotic scenarios.

Despite being one of CS’s older rosters with two fathers on the team, their collective experience becomes a strategic asset. Seasoned competitors naturally minimize fundamental errors and execute more precise gameplay, though this requires conscious effort to leverage effectively against younger opponents.

Becoming a father represents Dupreeh’s most significant life accomplishment, fundamentally reshaping his perspective while enhancing his professional approach. He’s developed sophisticated mental compartmentalization—”parking” family concerns during tournaments while fully engaging upon returning home.

The initial 48 hours apart prove most challenging emotionally, after which tournament focus naturally takes precedence. This balancing act demonstrates that family responsibilities needn’t hinder competitive performance when managed strategically.

Pro Tip: Veteran players transitioning to parenthood should establish clear mental boundaries between competition and family time. Schedule regular video calls during tournaments while designating specific post-event family time to maintain both competitive edge and domestic harmony.

The transition from CS:Source to CS:GO presented substantially greater challenges than the move to CS2. Source veterans faced completely redesigned smoke mechanics, introduction of Molotovs, new weapon systems, and fundamentally altered gameplay dynamics.

Current CS2, while sharing core mechanics with CS:GO, introduces critical changes including destructible smokes, enhanced peeking capabilities, and altered angle-holding strategies.

Common Mistake: Many players underestimate the tactical implications of CS2’s smoke penetration. Unlike CS:GO, these dynamic smoke clouds can be manipulated and cleared, creating new offensive and defensive possibilities that veterans must consciously integrate into their gameplay.

The most pressing current issues involve persistent technical bugs—particularly boosting inconsistencies and tournament-disrupting crashes that cost crucial rounds. Despite these challenges, the overall assessment remains positive regarding CS2’s potential as CS:GO’s superior successor.

As esports’ only five-time Major champion, Dupreeh’s continued motivation stems from his love for competition, team dynamics, and the tangible satisfaction of collective improvement.

His relentless drive creates a personal challenge: determining when sufficient achievement has been reached. Initially believing his fifth Major might satisfy competitive hunger, he now finds motivation in pursuing CS2 Major victory—demonstrating how goalposts shift for elite competitors.

The constant retirement questions, while understandable given his age and parental status, reflect broader industry assumptions about athlete longevity. He consciously demonstrates that high-level competition remains feasible despite life stage changes.

Critical Insight: Professional athletes often struggle with transition timing. Dupreeh emphasizes the importance of self-directed retirement rather than external pressure, maintaining that age becomes irrelevant when athletes possess the right mindset and demonstrable performance capability.

Childhood aspirations of becoming a commercial pilot remain active considerations for Dupreeh’s post-esports career. However, extensive travel requirements create family considerations, given his already substantial lifetime mileage.

Streaming represents one potential pathway, offering self-promotion opportunities while maintaining industry presence. Coaching presents another option, though head coach roles like zonic’s position involve comparable travel demands to his current player responsibilities.

Strategic Planning: Veterans should consider phased retirement approaches—taking temporary breaks before potentially returning in different capacities once family circumstances evolve.

Kair0n-: “The team was in crisis, and nafany felt double responsibility. Because of this, he was losing his temper”
“I am a self-critical person by nature. I often blame myself too much”.

Comparing elite AWPers reveals distinct player archetypes. ZywOo operates in his own competitive tier regarding raw mechanical skill, while dev1ce represents the complete package—MVP-caliber performance combined with in-game leadership capabilities now demonstrating success with Astralis.

SunPayus wisely avoids direct comparison with ZywOo, recognizing their different player profiles. Similarly, Dupreeh doesn’t compare himself to elite riflers like NiKo or donk, instead focusing on his unique team contributions.

Professional Insight: Successful teams require diverse skill sets rather than identical player types. AWPers carry specific responsibilities for impactful kills and round conversion, requiring development as team stars while maintaining role-specific excellence.

Professional Counter-Strike’s demanding schedule requires individual accountability for burnout prevention. Players must recognize when to strategically disengage—taking vacations, scheduling practice breaks, or pursuing non-gaming activities post-sessions.

Many competitors struggle with self-regulation, failing to heed physical and mental signals indicating necessary rest.

The 2025 tournament landscape raises legitimate concerns, with partner team dissolution potentially creating scheduling chaos. However, this may also increase team autonomy regarding tournament selection and participation prioritization.

Health Management Strategy: Organizations share responsibility for player wellness, but ultimate accountability rests with individuals recognizing when strategic withdrawal becomes necessary for sustained performance.

Siuhy on Dust 2: “With our current form as a team, any new map in the pool would be good for us”
“Us and Spirit are two best teams of the tournament. So, I’m excited for our possible match”.

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