A match-fixing scandal is rocking the CS:GO scene in the CIS region. It implicates several well-known Kazakhstani players, including PGL Major Krakow winner Abay ‘HObbit’ Khasenov, who is currently playing for Cloud9.
Rustam ‘5TRYK#R’ Älımqūlov has not had the most glittering career in Counter-Strike. In fact, to call him a journeyman would be somewhat generous. Since 2015, the Kazakhstani national has swapped in and out of playing and coaching, at one time even enjoying a run of 18 months at the Russian organisation ForZe. Currently he finds himself without work at the age of 31, a greybeard in esports player terms, and with the current geopolitical situation in the region where he would most likely ply his trade, his prospects were looking bleak.
Yet it wasn’t always like this. 5TRYK#R used to rub shoulders with some of the best players his country had produced and that is no small boast. Kazakhstan has always punched well above its weight when it comes to producing Counter-Strike talent. However, according to him at least, it would be this promising start that would effectively end his career before it had a chance to begin.
At the end of 2015, 5TRYK#R created a team called PARTY with the aim of qualifying for a CS:GO Major through their regional qualifiers. The roster featured two players that would go on to enjoy success at the highest level of the sport, namely Bektiyar ‘fitch’ Baqytov and Abay ‘HObbit’ Khasenov. The former would go on to play for the likes of...
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