We’re counting down the top five times esports retirements brought a tear to our eye — from Bjergsen to Pengu. We hope you have some tissues on hand because this is going to be an emotional rollercoaster.
Number 5: Karma
Coming in at number five is the conclusion of Karma’s 10 year career. 2020 was a tough year for competitive Call of Duty but nothing shocked the community more than the retirement of it’s GOAT, Karma. The three-time Champs winner announced his exit back in June 2020 on Twitter and it’s safe to say it was truly the end of an era.
What’s devastating about this one is the fact Karma was still a top-tier player with a lot left in the tank. His retirement had nothing to do with a career decline but because he had simply lost the desire to play the game he once loved.
But the legacy he left behind won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Number 4: Zeus
At number four, we have the Counter-Strike Legend who taught us the importance of never giving up.
On the surface, there’s nothing massively noteworthy about BLAST Pro Series: Moscow 2019 except that it was Zeus’ last ever tournament. After devoting 20 years of his life to Counter-Strike, the Major-winning in-game leader decided in September 2019 that it was finally time to step away from the game.
Zeus was the type of guy who led by example. After being benched by Na’vi back in 2016, he posted a very ballsy tweet, saying “I’m not going to give up before I win a motherf–king Major”. And one year later, he did. Winning the 2017 Krakow Major with Gambit.
Whatever your opinion was of him as a player, Zeus was larger than life, a talent who will be sorely missed.
Number 3: Pengu
At number three, we say goodbye to the face of Rainbow Six.
Now this one really came out of nowhere and is a huge loss for the Siege community. The most decorated Rainbow Six player of all time, Pengu announced his retirement in March 2021.
The 23-year-old spent five years in the pro scene and won pretty much everything there is to win. And we mean he literally won everything. One Six Invitational title is pretty impressive but he did it back-to-back.
But now Pengu has decided to shift his focus on streaming and content creation instead. It’s safe to say that Rainbow Six esports will not be the same without him.
Number 2: Bjergsen
At number two, we have the TSM Bjergsen Announcement. Honestly, for this one we’re tempted to play you the entirety of the video that was uploaded onto TSM’s YouTube Channel on the 24th of October 2020, but we don’t think you want to see us cry for four minutes and 41 seconds, so here’s just a taste of the video that broke the hearts of millions of League of Legends fans, including ours.
Bjergsen wasn’t just any League of Legends player, he became synonymous with the LCS and TSM over the years. And even though he is still very much active in the scene as a coach, the impact he’s had on North American LoL will never be forgotten.
Want to see the rest? Watch the video above and head over to our YouTube channel.
