DaZeD quits competitive CS:GO three months after being unbanned

Sam “DaZeD” Marine has decided to step back from competitive CS:GO, just three months after being unbanned by tournament organizers ESL and DreamHack. DaZeD was one of four players on the former iBUYPOWER roster who were banned for matchfixing in 2015. DaZeD is leaving Gx, his North American ESEA Premier team. The player cited the lost skill in the two years since he last competed, and a lack of drive to practice and compete. He’ll be replaced on the roster by Shawn “witmer” Taylor–a player that DaZeD called “the gatekeeper of Premier” because of his impressive performances in the semi-pro league. Related: Swag, DaZeD, and azk to join forces following ESL unban

“I think [Gx will] be better off without me,” the former in-game leader said in a YouTube video. “My heart was never really in [competing].” Gx’s roster for the remainder of season 26 of the Mountain Dew League now consists of witmer, Braxton “swag” Pierce, Kevin “AZK” Lariviere, Michael “dapr” Gulino, and Matt “Pollo” Wilson. Swag and AZK are the last two former iBP players on the Gx roster, after AZK quit competitive Overwatch to join this team under DaZeD’s leadership. Gx currently sits in fifth place in the 23-team League. Josh “steel” Nissan, another of his former iBP teammates, had little sympathy for his former teammate. Steel accused DaZeD of trying to “coast by” and cash in on the skill of his teammates.

DaZeD will be returning to being a full-time content creator on YouTube and Twitch, resuming the career path he started while banned from competing.