William “RUSH” Wierzba has announced the end of his professional Counter-Strike career, concluding nearly 13 years as a player. The American, who won a Major with Cloud9 and lifted multiple trophies with OpTic Gaming, shared the news on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. At the same time, RUSH made it clear that he’s not saying goodbye to the game entirely — his next chapter will be as a coach.
Career Timeline
RUSH began his professional journey in 2012 and joined Monomaniac eSports a year later. Over the course of almost 13 years, he played for a variety of teams, but reached his greatest heights with OpTic Gaming and Cloud9.
While part of OpTic from 2016 to 2017, RUSH won multiple notable events:
- ELEAGUE Road to Vegas
- Americas Minor Championship – Cologne 2016
- Northern Arena 2016 – Montreal
- ELEAGUE Season 2
- ECS Season 2 – Finals
From 2017 to 2019, he represented Cloud9, with whom he won the ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018, one of the most prestigious titles in CS history. His achievements with the team also include titles at DreamHack Open Denver 2017 and iBUYPOWER Masters 2017.
RUSH’s last major victory came in 2020, when he helped Complexity secure the trophy at BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 European Finals.
In total, RUSH earned over $640,000 in prize money during his playing career.
Community Reaction
Many players and notable figures in the CS scene reacted to RUSH’s retirement.
Peter “stanislaw” Jarguz, Wildcard player and former OpTic teammate, wrote:
“You’ve had quite the career, Will. It was a pleasure playing with you throughout the years. Thank you for your part in the OpTic era. Good luck to you!”
Renowned host James Banks shared:
“Enjoy the UNC era Rush, you have a lot to be proud of.”
Glorinsz, captain of AkimboES, commented:
“You had a phenomenal career Will, you should be extremely proud of that, wish you nothing but the best old friend.”
Paytyn, player for BLUEJAYS, reflected:
“My favorite teammate ever, hopefully we can reunite again one day. Goodluck out there old man.”
Coaching Career
RUSH revealed that he intends to stay in the CS scene as a coach. With his vast experience on the top tier — including winning a Major — he brings invaluable insights and leadership to any team.
Given his background with OpTic, Cloud9, and Complexity, RUSH is a natural fit for North American lineups as a strategic or mental coach. Alternatively, he could join European academies or international mixed rosters, where veteran guidance and player development are in high demand.
