Oleksandr Zinchenko, widely known as a talented footballer for Arsenal, has recently ventured into the world of professional Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), showcasing his versatile skills beyond the football field.
Zinchenko’s CS2 Journey Begins
At 26, Zinchenko, who excels as a left-back or midfielder for Arsenal, seized an unexpected opportunity to make his professional CS2 debut. His first match was with Passion UA, a team he owns, where he started his CS2 career with a victory in a best-of-three series.
Rate the debut of this young up-and-coming CS2 star 😇 pic.twitter.com/yO7cA2o4XX
— PassionUA.gg (@PassionuaGG) December 6, 2023
From Football Field to CS2 Arena
United21 Season 9, an online CS2 tournament featuring 16 European teams, served as the platform for Zinchenko’s debut. The tournament, focusing on academy and emerging teams, offers a $5,000 prize pool.
Passion UA, Zinchenko’s investment since August 2023, faced a critical match against ILLYRIANS on December 6th. The stakes were high – win for survival, or lose and face elimination.
ZINCHENKO RISES UP AND WE GET THE W ❤️🔥❤️🔥
GG WP @illyrians_cs 🤝 pic.twitter.com/gQHbfKqHx8
— PassionUA.gg (@PassionuaGG) December 6, 2023
A Debut Like No Other
An unforeseen internet issue prevented Passion UA player Eduard “zeRRoFIX” Petrovskyi from participating, leading to Zinchenko stepping in as a substitute. This marked a surprising twist, as the footballer debuted in professional CS2 under challenging circumstances.
Performance Breakdown
Despite being a newcomer to the professional CS2 scene, Zinchenko, playing as ‘zina17’, delivered a commendable performance. Passion UA secured a win on Ancient (13-6) and Anubis (13-9), although faced a setback on Inferno (3-13). Zinchenko’s individual performance across the maps was noteworthy:
- Ancient: KDA | 9/14/3
- Inferno: KDA | 6/13/-
- Anubis: KDA | 6/18/-
A Star’s Transition to Gaming
Previously, Zinchenko participated in a charity CS match to support Ukraine during the Russian invasion, playing alongside CS legends like Yegor “markeloff” Markelov. His investment in Passion UA reflects his passion for gaming and his aim to foster esports growth in Ukraine.
Who taught @marat2kCSGO to defend like that? 😏🤔
Inferno goes in our pocket with a score of 13:10 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/R82rhzrMgM
— PassionUA.gg (@PassionuaGG) December 10, 2023
A New Realm for Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s transition from a football star to a CS2 player exemplifies his multifaceted talent and dedication. His successful debut in the CS2 world with Passion UA underlines his commitment to both his sporting career and the esports community.