CS:GO's Kjaerbye announces his retirement: “This is the time to look for new horizons”

CS:GO pro, Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye has retired from professional gaming, the player has announced via Twitter.

Thank you CS 💙 for all the opportunities & memories you have given me! pic.twitter.com/nFdpT4LqMp

— KJAERBYE (@KjaerbyeCS) June 30, 2021

The Dane says that he no longer feels the desire to compete at the highest level. "It is with a heavy heart, I am writing this, but as of right now, I have no longer the hunger and determination it requires to compete on top level", we can read in the statement.

The move has taken many by surprise as Kjaerbye is only 23 years old. Although, despite that young age, the player has achieved much in CS:GO. His biggest achievement undoubtedly being his victory at ELEAGUE Major 2017 with Astralis as an 18-year-old. He also received the MVP award for the tournament.

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In spite of retiring from professional play, Kjaerbye says that he might come back in one form or another. “This is the time for me to look for new horizons and opportunities. Future work can be both inside and outside the game. Time will tell,” wrote Kjaerbye.

The past few years weren’t easy for the Dane. After an unsuccessful time at North, he joined FaZe Clan in the middle of 2020 but success was fleeting with just victory at IEM New York Europe 2020 of note. By the end of the year, he was on the bench and later on join his former teammates in a team known as HYENAS, but which failed to make an impact.