Chris ‘GeT_RiGhT’ Alesund on Counter-Strike: “I don’t see it as a sport at all”

by

With the year drawing to a close, Monster Energy invited us to the Counter-Strike StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Playoffs in Hungary. Our plans for a relaxing Christmas holiday quickly changed, and we were soon caught up in the excitement and competition of a major esports event.

Eight teams competed in a thrilling Counter-Strike tournament, showcasing incredible skill as they battled for the championship trophy and a $500,000 prize.

Team Spirit’s Danil ‘Donk’ Kryshkovets was a clear star player, performing at a level beyond his eighteen years old. This followed his recognition as the top player of 2024, suggesting a very promising future for him.

In the end, Team Vitality of France won the championship, defeating FaZe Clan 3-1. While FaZe Clan started strong on Nuke, they lost their momentum and were defeated on the following maps: Dust2, Inferno, and Overpass.

Alesund now streams full-time and partners with Monster Energy, taking a break from professional play – though he doesn’t consider himself retired. Having witnessed Counter-Strike’s evolution from the very beginning, we asked him to share his perspective on how the game has changed over the years.

The best example I can think of is the first time I went to a LAN party. A LAN is where around 100 to 200 people get together to play video games, sometimes with a small tournament. It’s competitive, but not as serious or large-scale as a professional tournament.

The StarLadder Major Budapest is being held in the MVM dome, a brand new arena, and this year’s event is different in more ways than just the number of participating players.

Back then, there wasn’t any money awarded for winning competitions, as Alesund remembers. The top prize was often something small, like five or even just two mousepads.

Despite a fantastic career, Alesund often thinks fondly of the past, recalling a time when everyone involved simply enjoyed themselves. He remembers a more relaxed atmosphere, without the strict oversight of officials or administrators focused on enforcing rules and maintaining a certain standard. Back then, it felt like being one of the group, rather than having games closely monitored.

This is quite different from the extensive budget and detailed planning needed for a big event like a StarLadder Major.

Want to see this content?

We can’t display this content because of a security check from Google reCAPTCHA. To see it, please sign out of your Contentpass account.

These days, being a professional athlete means a lot more than just competing. Athletes travel extensively, stay in high-end hotels, and earn significant income, often with sponsorships. They’re essentially brands themselves, requiring them to manage their public image, handle interviews, and maintain peak physical condition through training and healthy eating. Many also work with professionals like mentors, coaches, or therapists to support their overall well-being. It’s a completely different world than it used to be.

Wow, Counter-Strike is just huge right now! I was really curious what Chris thought the future held for the game, but he admitted that even getting to this point was way more than he ever imagined. It’s amazing to think how far it’s come!

Alesund disagrees with the idea of eSports, particularly Counter-Strike, being considered a true sport.

Some people disagree, but I don’t consider it a sport—it’s purely entertainment, like a business.

When asked to clarify, Alesund explained that he believes this approach aligns better with the financial model of esports, and Counter-Strike in particular. He sees it as a category of competition, rather than a sport in its own right.

Alesund recognizes the similarities, noting the connection to the world of sports. However, he points out that many careers in this field are very short-lived. You can be incredibly popular for a brief period – maybe two months – and then quickly become irrelevant, essentially fading into obscurity.

Given the high burnout rate and difficulty of achieving success in esports, Alesund thinks many people are realizing it’s not a sustainable path. There are now so many other opportunities in the digital world – like becoming a successful streamer, YouTuber, or influencer on platforms like TikTok – that offer more appealing options.

Alesund thinks he’d lose in a Counter-Strike 1.6 match against his younger self, even with all his current experience. He explains that when he and other players were younger, they were completely focused on Counter-Strike, dedicating all their time and energy to the game.

Now that he’s older, Alesund isn’t just dealing with slower reflexes. He’s also juggling all the responsibilities of adulthood – things like paying bills, managing insurance, caring for his girlfriend, and even just figuring out work and vacation time.

Alesund points out a unique aspect of gaming compared to traditional sports: it allows players to stay competitive at any age. He believes you won’t necessarily become the weakest player simply due to getting older, explaining that success depends more on adapting to new challenges than on physical ability or age itself.

Want to see this content?

This YouTube video isn’t available while you’re logged into Contentpass. Please sign out of Contentpass to watch it.

You can watch the full interview in the video up top, or head over to the TopMob Gaming YouTube channel to check it out!

We also interviewed Counter-Strike player and streamer Erik Flom, so stay tuned for more CS-related content!

We’re very grateful to Monster Energy for making it possible for us to interview such talented people.

Authors

Cole LukeFreelance Writer
  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2025-12-20 22:05