Team Spirit’s decision to bench Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov received an emotional follow-up. The former captain shared a long farewell message. In it, he reflected on six years with Spirit. He also thanked the organization, teammates, and fans. Most importantly, he explained why taking a break now feels logical.
Six years that shaped his career
In his message, chopper openly described how important this chapter was:
Thank you all so much for the work we’ve done over the past 6 years. I’ve met and worked with so many amazing people in Spirit, all of whom are super pros in their field and great people.
During this time, Team Spirit grew significantly. The team moved from constant minors and qualifiers to a stable Tier-1 contender. It later won major tournaments and a Major. Chopper stressed that he is proud of his role in that journey:
I managed to achieve a lot in CS and go from being a minor and constant qualifier to a stable Tier 1 team, and I’m really happy to have played a part in that!
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Gratitude to the people behind Spirit
Chopper also focused on the people he worked with over the years. In particular, he highlighted coach Sergey Hally:
I definitely want to thank Sergey Hally for his huge contribution to me, for bringing me back to the game, for the many things he taught me, and for the fact that we became friends over time — that’s the most important thing!
In addition, he thanked former and current teammates. He mentioned several key names from different lineups. According to chopper, this shared path allowed him to achieve what he once only dreamed of in Counter-Strike.
A message to donk
One moment stood out to many fans. Chopper directly addressed Boris “donk,” Team Spirit’s current star:
I especially want to wish Boris good luck — keep going, never give up, and you’ll succeed 100%! Trust the guys around you and everything will be fine!
For many, these words felt symbolic. They looked like a public handover of responsibility. The captain who built the foundation passed it to the player shaping the team’s future.
“A logical conclusion of my path”
Later in the message, chopper explained his benching in clear terms:
So now I think the replacement option is a logical conclusion of my path at the moment.
He admitted that 2025 was difficult. Both professional and personal factors played a role. As a result, his form and the team’s results suffered:
A lot happened this year, and no matter how it sounds, life and various situations influenced my game results and the team’s, so everything is logical.
Because of this, his priority now is simple. He wants to rest and recharge. He does not plan to rush any decisions.
A pause, not a full stop
At the same time, chopper did not close the door on a return. However, he made one thing clear:
It’s New Year’s now, no decisions, and we’ll see each other on streams later… And then we’ll see if it’s worth continuing to play or not.
He ended the message in his usual style. There was humor and warmth toward the organization:
I’ll open a bottle of unfiltered and raise this glass to Team Spirit!!! Hahahaha.
Community reaction
The statement quickly sparked discussion. Many fans expressed respect for chopper’s contribution. Others joked about the length of the post. Still, the core reaction stayed the same. Even critics agreed on one point. Chopper remains one of the key figures in Team Spirit’s rise to Tier-1 status. Whether this break marks the end of his playing career or a new chapter remains unclear. However, his story with Team Spirit is already part of modern Counter-Strike history.
