Former professional CS2 player Denis “deko” Zhukov recently addressed the suggestion that his lack of high achievements in the competitive scene was primarily due to laziness. Zhukov shared his thoughts on this topic during an appearance on the “CYBERKITCHEN” show, available on the BetBoom Esports YouTube channel.
Zhukov stated that attributing his results solely to laziness is “probably an incorrect statement.” He elaborated, explaining that his career was significantly influenced by “making wrong choices” at times and encountering “bad timing.” As an example, he mentioned situations where he was contacted by other teams about potential moves the day *after* he had already committed to re-signing a contract with his current organization.
Addressing a specific query about a potential opportunity with the team OG, Deko clarified that their communication was regarding playing as a substitute for a specific tournament. While a full invitation might have become possible after that, he explained he ultimately didn`t pursue it because he initially missed the message and, crucially, lacked the necessary visa at the time, which he couldn`t obtain within a week.
When asked if a series of incorrect decisions might have been the main factor, Deko admitted that “at one point” in his career he *did* become lazy. However, he drew a strong contrast with the early phase of his professional journey. He emphasized that during the first two years, particularly the initial four months after he started gaining recognition, he was “absolutely not lazy.” He recounted training individually “probably without a single day off” during this period, even when his teammates were socializing or taking breaks.
Denis Zhukov began competing in CS tournaments in 2017. Throughout his career, he played for notable teams including Quantum Bellator Fire, EXTREMUM, 1WIN, and Aurora Gaming, accumulating approximately $164,000 in prize money. In November 2024, Zhukov announced his decision to move to inactivity.
Finley Holt