Freakazoid, Zellsis, other CSGO pros leave for Valorant esports

The esports landscape is witnessing a significant talent migration as established Counter-Strike: Global Offensive professionals pivot toward Riot Games’ emerging tactical shooter, Valorant. This trend represents one of the most notable cross-game transitions in competitive gaming history.

“Sometimes life says out with the old and gotta go with the new. I’m quitting CS and going to be playing Valorant,” veteran player Ryan “freakazoid” Abadir announced, signaling a strategic career shift that reflects broader industry patterns.

The 27-year-old CSGO competitor brings a decade of professional experience to his new venture. His journey exemplifies how veteran players can leverage existing skills while embracing new competitive opportunities.

However, he now aims to conquer Valorant’s competitive ecosystem, despite Riot Games having not yet disclosed comprehensive tournament structures or detailed competitive roadmaps.

Sometimes life says out with the old and gotta go with the new. I’m quitting cs and going to be playing Valorant. I can’t wait to be apart of the team that competes at worlds or whatever it’s called for it and fucking shit up against teams world wide. LETS GO

— Ryan Abadir (@FreakazoidA)May 10, 2020

“I can’t wait to be a part of the team that competes at worlds, or whatever it’s called, and fuck shit up against teams world-wide,” freakazoid emphasized in his social media declaration.

CSGO Pros Have Sights Set on Valorant

Freakazoid represents just one prominent example in a growing wave of CSGO talent exploring Valorant opportunities. His career trajectory demonstrates the evolving nature of professional gaming careers.

During his peak competitive period in 2015, he collaborated with legendary figures Mike “shroud” Grzesiek and Jordan “n0thing” Gilbert on the Cloud9 roster. Their collective achievements helped establish freakazoid as a fan-favorite competitor with significant community recognition.

Subsequent engagements with Echo Fox, Ghost Gaming, and eUnited showcased his adaptability, though these later teams couldn’t replicate the championship-level success of his Cloud9 tenure. Despite varying team performances, he maintained relevance and influence within the competitive community.

Professional gamers transitioning between titles face several critical considerations: adapting to new game mechanics, building audience continuity, and navigating different competitive ecosystems. Understanding these factors is crucial for appreciating the complexity of such career moves.

Shortly following freakazoid’s retirement announcement, Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro revealed similar competitive intentions for Valorant.

“I will be playing Valorant from now on. This decision took some time for me to make, but I hope it holds nothing but the best for the future,” Zellsis communicated through an extended social media platform.

Zellsis attributed his departure from Counter-Strike to persistent difficulties securing stable team placements. These challenges were exacerbated by recent global events and the CSGO competitive scene’s increasingly difficult economic conditions for mid-tier professional competitors.

He highlighted the scarcity of organizational support and infrastructure for competitors operating outside the elite tournament circuit. This reality underscores systemic issues within esports ecosystems that emerging titles like Valorant might address differently.

“I want to thank all my fans that have supported me, from the start, to now. I’ve been playing CS for a while and hope that you guys will continue to support me in my next steps into Valorant,” Zellsis concluded his announcement.

just no org love in CS, will miss competing though.

— Jordan Montemurro (@Zellsis)May 10, 2020

Leonardo “Laski” Arroyo additionally published an extended social media statement echoing similar sentiments to fellow CSGO professionals making the transition.

Despite engaging with Counter-Strike since childhood, beginning at age ten, Laski declared that Valorant has “reignited my desire to compete” at the highest level.

“I’ve been playing Valorant nonstop since the release of the beta,” he explained. “I’ll always love [CSGO], but it’s time for something new,” Laski commented regarding his competitive priorities.

Laski informed his community that his streaming activities would continue unchanged and that he would maintain intensive practice sessions on Twitch while pursuing Valorant team opportunities.

Earlier in the month, Jacob “kaboose” MacDonald also declared his shift to Valorant. He formally concluded his competitive CSGO career on May 6, despite Counter-Strike representing a fundamental part of his identity since early childhood.

“I was competing since the age of 12,” kaboose shared in his extended social media post. “Shout outs to everyone I’ve met over the years online or at the 27 LAN events I attended over my career, and to all the organizations who made competing possible for me. I hope to see you guys in the servers in Valorant!”

Valorant has drawn consistent comparisons to CSGO since its initial launch, primarily due to shared emphasis on mechanical precision, recognizable map design philosophies, and core gameplay loops. Despite incorporating character-specific abilities, established CSGO streamers and professionals have demonstrated immediate proficiency within Valorant’s closed beta environment.

This rapid adaptation likely prepares competitors for when Riot Games unveils formalized competitive structures and tournament formats. The strategic timing of these transitions suggests calculated career management rather than impulsive decisions.

Common transition mistakes include underestimating ability learning curves, failing to maintain audience engagement during the switch, and misjudging the timeline for competitive infrastructure development.

For players considering similar moves between competitive titles, key preparation steps involve: analyzing transferable skills, researching the new game’s competitive landscape, and developing content transition strategies. Understanding these dynamics provides valuable insights into the evolving nature of professional gaming careers.

As the esports industry matures, such cross-title migrations may become increasingly common, reflecting broader patterns seen in traditional sports where athletes sometimes transition between related disciplines.

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