As the brief esports off-season draws to a close, teams are recalibrating and preparing for the demanding second half of the year. Among them is Team Spirit, the formidable CS2 squad, whose captain, Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov, has provided insight into their immediate plans: the grind has officially resumed, with a sharp focus on the prestigious IEM Cologne 2025.
In a recent update shared via his personal channel, chopper confirmed that the team has begun its preparatory phase. This initial period, he noted, involved theoretical sessions. While the exact curriculum wasn`t detailed, it`s reasonable to infer these days were crucial for strategic planning and, perhaps more importantly, integrating the team`s newest member into their established system.
“We`ve started training little by little,” chopper stated, detailing the progression. “Currently, we`ve had theoretical days. We`re telling everything to Vanka [zweih] and so on. Today, we`ll start scrimming and slowly preparing for Cologne and the three tournaments that follow.” This indicates a structured ramp-up, moving from whiteboard discussions and tactical reviews to practical, in-game execution against opponents.
Adapting and Improving
The latter half of the year presents a critical juncture for Team Spirit. Their performance in the first half culminated in a 5th-8th place finish at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. While a respectable showing, it evidently prompted introspection and strategic adjustments within the organization.
Significantly, the team underwent a roster change following the Major. Boris “magixx” Vorobiev departed the active lineup, making way for Ivan “zweih” Gogin. This substitution marks a new chapter for Team Spirit, and the current training block is paramount for the five players to build synergy and coherence before facing top-tier competition.
Chopper`s comments underscore the team`s commitment to learning from past performances. “We will train and try [to work hard], correcting all the moments that were in the past season,” he affirmed. “In principle, we`ve made conclusions about what needs to be done, so I think everything will be alright.” This suggests a thorough post-mortem of their previous season`s matches and strategies, aiming to eliminate weaknesses and capitalize on strengths.
The revamped Team Spirit roster is set to make its official debut on LAN at IEM Cologne 2025 towards the end of July. Often dubbed the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike,” Cologne is a high-pressure environment and an immediate test of the new lineup`s potential and the effectiveness of their current training efforts. The performance there will set the tone for their campaign across the subsequent three tournaments chopper mentioned, making this preparatory period arguably one of the most important of their year.
Finley Holt