During IEM Katowice 2025, we had the chance to ask some of the top Counter-Strike 2 players a few fun questions. Instead of talking about tactics and competition, we focused on their personal preferences—favorite in-game knives, football clubs, and even pets. Their answers offer a unique look into their lives outside of esports.

The Perfect Knife – Which One Do the Pros Prefer?

Every CS2 player has a dream knife, and for these pros, the choice is all about style and rarity. Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak believes the Butterfly Ruby is the best knife in the game, praising its sleek look and high value. Rafael "saffee" Costa, on the other hand, already owns a Butterfly Knife Gamma Doppler, though he isn’t sure if it’s Phase 1 or 2. He loves its cyan tint, calling it one of the most beautiful skins available.

I have a Butterfly Knife Gamma Doppler, Phase 2 or 1—I’m not sure. It has a cyan tint, and I love it.

Martin "stavn" Lund prefers something more aggressive—the M9 Bayonet Crimson Web, a classic red-and-black knife that has been popular for years. Rodrigo "biguzera" Bittencourt, however, prefers a Stiletto Slaughter, appreciating its sharp design and smaller size. Ali "Wicadia" Haydar Yalçın’s dream knife is an M9 Bayonet Gamma Doppler Emerald, one of the rarest and most expensive skins in the game. Meanwhile, Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski keeps things simple, saying that he prefers the default Karambit, proving that sometimes, the original design is the best.

A New Case or a New Operation?

When asked if they would rather see a new operation or a new case, most players agreed that operations are more exciting. Ultimate immediately picked an operation, saying it adds more variety and gameplay elements to CS2. Saffee agreed, mentioning that he played many operations in CS:GO and enjoyed them. Biguzera and Wicadia also voted for an operation, saying they bring new missions, maps, and challenges, making the game more engaging. EliGE shared a similar opinion, stating that there are already enough cases in the game.

The only exception was Stavn, who said he would prefer a new case. While most players enjoy the extra content that comes with an operation, he believes that new skins are always exciting and refreshing for the game.

Have Pros Played Past Operations?

While operations are widely popular, not all players have experience with them. Ultimate admitted that he never played them but had heard many good things from others. Biguzera said he participated but only for fun, without focusing too much on completing missions.

Wicadia, on the other hand, played a lot of operations and had a great time doing so. EliGE had a mixed opinion—he enjoyed the early operations in CS:GO but felt the later ones became repetitive and less exciting.

I played the early ones, but the later ones got boring.

Which Football Clubs Do the Pros Support?

Football is another passion for many players, and some of them follow the sport closely. Ultimate and Stavn are both fans of Barcelona, a club known for its legendary players and rich history.

For Biguzera, football is all about Flamengo, one of Brazil’s most popular teams. Wicadia, meanwhile, supports Galatasaray, one of Turkey’s most successful clubs.

Saffee is a proud supporter of São Paulo, a Brazilian club with an impressive international record. He pointed out that their last major title was in 2005, comparing their journey to his own team’s—both have a great history but are still searching for their next big victory.

Yes, I support São Paulo. They won a lot internationally, but their last big title was in 2005. In a way, that’s similar to us—big history, looking for another major win.

However, not all CS2 pros follow football. EliGE admitted that he doesn’t watch the sport at all, proving that not every player shares the same interests.

Do the Pros Have Pets?

Beyond the game and football, we also asked the players about their pets. Saffee doesn’t have one yet but hopes to own a pet someday, as he loves both dogs and cats.

Stavn enjoys spending time with his family’s dog, saying that he has always loved animals. Biguzera doesn’t have a pet, but that’s because he has two daughters and a busy home life. However, if he were to get one, he would choose a dog.

I don’t have one because I have two daughters and a lot of responsibilities. But if I had to choose, I’d prefer a dog.

Wicadia is a cat owner and proudly mentioned that he enjoys having one at home. Meanwhile, EliGE has a golden retriever named Bailey, describing her as adorable and a perfect companion.

While CS2 is their profession, these pro players have their own unique preferences and hobbies outside of the game. Whether it’s their dream knife, their favorite football team, or their love for pets, their answers show a personal side that fans rarely get to see. It’s always fun to learn more about the personalities behind the players who entertain millions on the server.