Streamer Zaur "Cooman" Shakhmurzaev shared his excitement about returning to streaming Dota 2 after a long hiatus. He expressed a renewed passion for playing the MOBA game following his break.
"I missed it so much, and I'm really happy to be back streaming. I’ve had such a good break from Dota that now I have a burning desire to play it. Every day I wake up wanting to play. It’s a great feeling. It reminds me of the old days when I would wake up and immediately start playing. Now it’s the same, just with different goals," Cooman said.
"Now, I play just for myself. Before, my goal was to improve professionally, and that wasn't always enjoyable. It’s nice to play when you realize you can just do it for fun. I didn’t play Dota for two months, didn’t read the patch notes, and after 40 pub games, I feel like I’m playing better than many pro players who grind 10-20 matches a day. That feels really good," he added.
Zaur "Cooman" Shakhmurzaev hasn’t been with a regular team since May 2022. His last team was Team Empire. Cooman explained that he took a break to recover his mental and psychological well-being. In 2024, he played with the mixed team Echpo4mak at the "Games of the Future," finishing in last place and earning $15,000.
In mid-June 2024, Shakhmurzaev officially retired from his career as a professional player. He decided to focus on streaming and playing Dota 2 for enjoyment.