Drin "makazze" Shaqiri is just 18 years old, but he’s already turning heads in Counter-Strike 2. He comes from Kosovo, a small country where esports is starting to grow. Even though he’s young, a lot of people are talking about him. He became popular very quickly. His journey has been exciting, but also a little messy. Not everything has been smooth.

Early beginnings in Counter-Strike

Makazze grew up in Kosovo. He found Counter-Strike as a teenager and quickly got hooked. Like many young players, he spent hours on FACEIT. It’s a platform where players test their skills in ranked matches. He played non-stop. His sharp aim and aggressive style made him stand out. Other players started to notice him. So did scouts. By the end of 2022, he was only 15. But he was already playing in smaller tournaments. He joined teams like M1X and KS. He wasn’t just good – he was special. His potential was clear. It didn’t take long before NAVI Junior picked him up.

The match-fixing accusations

Three years ago, makazze and his team, BNE AC, were accused of cheating and match-fixing – known in the scene as “322.” Back in 2022, some people claimed the team was only playing to make easy money and then disappear. At the time, most saw them as unknown players trying to farm cash.

One of the players, Karim “mugiwara” Shelgorn from Kazakhstan, was later banned for cheating. This made the situation worse and brought more attention to the team. After that, the buzz died down. No further punishments were handed out, and the story faded from the spotlight.

Joining NAVI Junior

In 2024, makazze officially joined NAVI Junior, a big step in his career. The team, led by coach András “coolio” Fercsák, focused on growing young talent, and makazze fit in perfectly. He quickly became their best player, helping the team win several Tier-2 tournaments. With his help, NAVI Junior reached the top 30 in Valve’s Regional Standings – a big deal for an academy team.

With support from NAVI, makazze sharpened his skills. He played with other rising stars like Aulon “Krabeni” Fazlija and Džiugas "dziugss" Steponavičius, learning how to combine his fast-paced style with team coordination. His strong showings at events like YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025 and Thunderpick World Championship 2025 EU Series 1 showed he could handle pressure and deliver.

Overcoming the controversy

The controversy could’ve ended his career early, but makazze pushed harder. He trained even more and focused on proving himself through performance. NAVI Junior gave him a strong and supportive place to grow. In 2025, he showed what he was made of – leading his team to a streak of wins, often beating older, more experienced teams. By mid-2025, he topped the FACEIT ELO charts, beating even well-known pros. In the last six months, he posted a 6.5 rating, becoming one of the top players at the Tier-2 level.

Promotion to NAVI’s main roster

In June 2025, NAVI made a big move by adding makazze to their main CS2 lineup. The main squad had a rough season and needed a change, even though 2024 had been strong. They saw makazze as the bold, young talent who could turn things around. His promotion sent a clear message: NAVI was ready to take risks and rely on raw talent and aggression.

But this change brought challenges. Makazze plays a similar role to Mihai “iM” Ivan, one of NAVI’s key players. Both are strong entry fraggers who like to take early fights and open up rounds. This raised questions: Who would makazze replace? Coach Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi said the roster decisions were hard, and no single player was to blame for the team’s problems. So far, NAVI hasn’t said who might be stepping down.

Makazze’s first match with the main squad will be at IEM Cologne in July 2025 – a top-tier event where the best teams compete. He’ll need to balance his fast, aggressive playstyle with NAVI’s more structured system. If he can make it work, he might give NAVI a fresh edge and help redefine how they play.

A career just getting started

Makazze’s story shows the ups and downs of esports. The match-fixing rumors tested him, but his talent and hard work kept him moving forward. Now, on NAVI’s top team, he has a chance to prove himself on the world stage. His journey isn’t just about getting through the drama – it’s about rising in spite of it. As he heads into his biggest test yet, the CS2 world will be watching to see how far he can go.