Streamer Zaur "Cooman" Shakhmurzaev reflected on returning to the Dota 2 pro scene. The esports athlete doesn't even see himself in the role of a coach.
"I considered returning to the pro scene when The International 2023 was ending. I was pondering what I truly wanted. [...] It's very difficult for me; I'm passionate about other things and real life in general, but to play Dota professionally, you have to commit fully and play only it. I play for two weeks, grind it out, then disappear again, unable to decide what I want. By the end of TI, I was unsure if I wanted to play. I decided not to, so it's better not to expect me there.
[Would you like to try coaching?] I never thought about it. Even if someone came to me and offered a significant sum, I couldn't do it. I can't engage in something I don't enjoy, even if I'm paid or it's beneficial. That won't result in any quality work." - Zaur "Cooman" Shakhmurzaev
Shakhmurzaev hasn't played official matches since May 2022. His last team was Team Empire. Cooman explained his break as a need for mental and emotional recovery. Since then, he has only participated in amateur tournaments and focused on streaming.
Previously, Cooman discussed the level of toxicity depending on the Dota 2 rank. In his opinion, there are bad players at any rank.