The Journey of "nitr0" in eSports: Rise, Retirement, and Farewell

In eSports, many talented players have become legends through their exceptional gaming skills. One such legend is “nitr0.” However, it was announced that Nick Cannellan retired from competitive CS:GO and left Team Liquid after the Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2023. He shared this news on Twitter, surprising the gaming community.

In this article, you will learn about his journey in esports and why he left the team and retired from professional esports.

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Nick “nitr0” Cannellan’s Journey in eSports

The story of “nitr0” as a player for Team Liquid began back in 2015 when Team Liquid entered the world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive by signing a young team called “Chill Guys” consisting of adreN, daps, FugLy, NAF, and nitr0.

The team, including “nitr0,” competed in tournaments for almost a year. Still, they achieved significant success on July 10, 2016, when they secured 2nd place at the ESL One: Cologne 2016, earning a prize of $150,000. From there, Team Liquid participated in many tournaments but mostly secured 4th or 5th place during 2016-2017.

Their true success story began with the ESL Pro League Season 7, where they showcased impressive gameplay and continued to perform well in subsequent tournaments:

• The Esports Championship Series Season 5 – 2nd place ($120,000)
• The ELEAGUE CS:GO Premier 2018 – 2nd place ($200,000)
• The ESL Pro League Season 8 – 2nd place ($100,000)

With each tournament, the team grew stronger, improved their gameplay, and gained more confidence. The turning point for Team Liquid came with their 1st place finish at the Intel Extreme Masters XIV. Following this victory, the team was powerful. They went on to win the DreamHack Masters Dallas 2019, the ESL Pro League Season 9, and needed one more victory to claim the prestigious Intel Grand Slam award and $1,000,000.

They managed to do it. Their triumph came at ESL One: Cologne 2019, earning $125,000 and capturing the most coveted prize in CS:GO, the Intel Grand Slam. Although Team Liquid continued to perform well, this period was their most memorable and successful.

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Reasons for Concluding the Career and Saying Goodbye to Team Liquid

The legendary player of Team Liquid has expressed his intention to leave professional CS:GO. On May 27, Nick Cannellan, the captain of Team Liquid, shared a post on his Twitter page, briefly discussing his journey as a professional player and his current challenges.

The main message conveyed his desire for a more peaceful and family-oriented life. Additionally, “nitr0” mentioned that he would continue streaming CS:GO and Valorant on his Twitch account to stay connected with his fans.

My next chapter! pic.twitter.com/ab54BByWtE

— M80 nitr0 (@nitr0) May 26, 2023

Nitr0 has been a member of Team Liquid since January 2015. In the summer of 2020, he took a break and briefly switched to Valorant, but he returned to CS:GO in January 2022. Nick achieved remarkable success throughout his time with the team, winning multiple tournaments and even securing the prestigious Intel Grand Slam title.

As a tribute to this legendary player, ESL Counter-Strike bid farewell to him on their Twitter page, sharing a thematic video.

Thank you, @nitr0 🇺🇸

O CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN 🥹#IEM pic.twitter.com/2BQYiU18gq

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 31, 2023

After the completion of IEM Dallas 2023, it was already known that Nick would be leaving the professional esports scene. However, no one knew exactly how his last match as a player would unfold. His final match was between Liquid and FaZe in the Lower Bracket Semifinal. Right after the match, Nick Cannellan gave a short interview, which can be viewed in this tweet.

It's been a hell of a ride @nitr0.

Thanks for everything you have done for Counter-Strike and the North American scene.

Make sure to follow 👉👉 https://t.co/YVSBEMFa9S 👈👈#IEM pic.twitter.com/mQAxeJP03V

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 31, 2023

Also, in an interview with Dust2.Us, Nick said, “I am retiring from CS:GO, but I am open to considering options in other games. If I receive offers, I will evaluate them. After the tournament, I will start streaming because I don’t know what else I can do now. I am not ready to actively search for another team in CS:GO. I will be streaming Valorant and CS 2 when it comes out. Let’s see how everything unfolds.”

After completing the IEM Dallas 2023, Nick wrote a message to his team and fans.

Last game on the big stage, was super fun. Glad I got to enjoy it with some old teammates too! GG’s thanks to all the fans in Dallas. Made it special ❤️

— M80 nitr0 (@nitr0) June 4, 2023

To Wrap Up!

Eventually, our beloved game’s legends fade from the professional stage. However, that doesn’t signify their disappearance, as thanks to tournament organizers who frequently host show matches, we will undoubtedly witness Nick on the grand stage. There are still many tournaments ahead, and with the upcoming release of CS2, new legends may already be emerging and delivering us the most thrilling emotions!

So stay in the center of the action with us and read our blog!