TaZ Bids Farewell to Competitive Counter-Strike Career

Major-winning player retires after three decades of dedication to the game.

Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas has declared his retirement from competitive Counter-Strike, concluding a distinguished career that began in the early 2000s and spanned two game versions: 1.6 and Global Offensive. The 36-year-old shared his decision on social media, accompanied by a photo displaying numerous winner’s medals earned over the years.

TaZ’s illustrious career, which boasts 23 LAN victories in CS:GO alone, along with four Big Event trophies and a Major won at EMS One Katowice 2014, is paralleled by few. His achievements also include a dozen 1.6 awards, featuring six gold medals from premier tournaments – the most in the game’s history.

TaZ first gained prominence with the Samsung Euro Championship 2005 victory as part of the Polish team, later dubbed the Golden Five. This formidable squad, featuring Filip “NEO” Kubski, Jakub “kuben” Gurczynski, Mariusz “Loord” Cybulski, and Łukasz “LUq” Wnek, reigned supreme in the Counter-Strike scene from 2006 to 2008, securing numerous trophies.

Transitioning to CS:GO in 2012, TaZ joined Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski and Paweł “byali” Bieliński on the UniversalSoldiers team, laying the groundwork for the roster eventually acquired by Virtus.pro. The Polish quintet became a powerhouse in the early Global Offensive era, capturing multiple titles, including Gfinity 3, ESL ESEA Dubai Invitational 2015, and the EMS One Katowice 2014 Major.

Internal disputes within Virtus.pro led to TaZ’s exit in 2018 and the dissolution of the long-standing lineup. Remaining in the Polish scene, TaZ led teams like Kinguin, devils.one, and Aristocracy over the next five years, though achieving only modest success at regional events.

In February, TaZ appeared at the CCT Central Europe Finals with HONORIS, an organization he co-founded with NEO in 2020. This event marked their last offline appearance before ceasing operations.

With a CS:GO Major victory, ten playoff appearances in 12 Majors, and a reputation as “gatekeepers” of Valve-sponsored events, TaZ leaves behind an exceptional legacy in international Counter-Strike tournaments.