Team Spirit entered 2025 with high hopes after winning the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024. With the world’s best rifler, Danil "donk" Kryshkovets, and a top AWPer, Dmitriy "sh1ro" Sokolov, they aimed to dominate. However, despite grabbing two trophies – BLAST Bounty and PGL Astana – their season fell short. A lackluster BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 playoff run, inconsistent performances, and roster questions mark this year as a failure.
Two trophies, but not enough
Spirit won two events in 2025, but neither proved their dominance:
- BLAST Bounty: As the season’s first event, BLAST Bounty caught many teams unprepared. Spirit capitalized, beating Eternal Fire 3-1 in the final. However, the event’s early timing and uneven competition.
- PGL Astana: Played in Kazakhstan, close to Spirit’s base, this felt like a home tournament. They beat Astralis in the final, but the field lacked top teams like Vitality or Falcons, who skipped it, making the win less impressive.
These trophies kept Spirit’s cabinet growing, but for a team with donk and sh1ro, two secondary titles didn’t match their goal of Major glory or consistent Tier-1 success. Their 2025 season, with no other finals, felt underwhelming compared to rivals like Vitality, who won six events.
Failed Major campaign
As Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 champions, Spirit were expected to shine at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. Instead, they barely scraped by, exiting in the quarterfinals – a poor result for a defending champion. Their Stage 3 run (3-0) looked strong, beating paiN, Lynn Vision, and NAVI. But these opponents were weaker – paiN and Lynn Vision were underdogs, and NAVI were slumping. In the playoffs, MOUZ outplayed them 2-1.
After the loss, IGL Leonid "chopper" Vishnyakov was unsure about roster changes, saying, “I don’t know. All of this in Spirit do it from CEO and coach. Maybe. I don’t know.” His uncertainty hints at internal doubts, as Spirit’s playoff exit showed they couldn’t compete with top teams when it mattered. For a squad aiming to repeat as Major champions, this was a clear failure.
Magixx’s mediocre season
Rifler Boris “magixx” Vorobiev has been a weak link for Spirit. In 2024, he nearly lost his spot due to inconsistent play. His standout showing at Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, especially in the final (8.2 rating), saved him. But in 2025, magixx slipped back to mediocrity, posting a 5.9 rating across the season. His lack of impact makes him the prime candidate for replacement.
Young anchor Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia also faces scrutiny. His 6.0 rating at Austin Major was okay, but his inconsistency in key moments raises doubts about his future. Spirit’s reliance on donk and sh1ro can’t continue if magixx and zont1x don’t step up.
Missed opportunity with kyousuke
Spirit’s lack of individual firepower could have been fixed by Maksim "kyousuke" Lukin, a rising star who is expected to be transferred to Falcons in the next season. Known as a donk-like prodigy from Spirit Academy, kyousuke would’ve been a perfect fit to replace magixx. His ability to trade kills and open rounds could’ve eased the burden on donk, giving Spirit the extra punch they needed against teams like MOUZ or Vitality. Losing kyousuke to Falcons is a missed chance, as Spirit now scrambles to find players who can match his spark.
Potential newcomers: tN1R and zweih
- tN1R: This rifler from HEROIC made waves at Austin Major. His bold entries and consistancy could replace magixx, adding firepower alongside donk.
zweih: A breakout player from Nemiga showed his potential this year. If zont1x falters, zweih could challenge sh1ro or shift to a hybrid role.
Both players’ Major appearances and individual skill make them realistic options for Spirit, who need fresh talent to stay competitive. Their youth and hunger could revive Spirit’s roster, but signing them would require bold moves from the CEO and coach.
Conclusion
Spirit’s 2025 season was a disappointment, despite trophies at BLAST Bounty and PGL Astana. These wins, against unprepared or weaker teams, didn’t match their goal of Major glory. Their early exit at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, coupled with magixx’s poor form and doubts about zont1x, showed their limits. Missing Kyousuke’s transfer was a blow, but talents like tN1R and zweih offer hope for a roster shake-up.
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