He was an underdog. A soldier behind the scenes, relegated to a support role in a well-oiled machine, often the least glamorous cog. The one who took the fall so others could shine. MVPs? For the star players. And he saw so many stars pass by. Yet today, he stands alone on the throne.
This is how Dan “apEX” Madesclaire rose from secondary status to become a three-time Major winner and one of the greatest leaders in Counter-Strike history, boasting the most decorated record the game has ever seen.
CS:Source: The Birth of French CS
Let’s go back to the source: Counter-Strike: Source, where he first made a name as “apx”, then “apEX.” At the time, he was a promising talent in the French subtop, dreaming of joining the elite: players like RpK, SmithZz, Ex6TenZ, shox, mateOo, crZ, RegnaM, Shokkk, victorztw, krL, EMSTQD (later known as Happy) and more. These pioneers of the pre-2010 Source era put France on the global CS map.
apEX belonged to the second wave post-2010. He wasn’t hailed as a prodigy like NBK or ScreaM, but he was there: determined, training, talented, with other aspiring top players like Uzzziii and HysokA. What set him apart? Hard work, endurance, and a fierce will to win. Back then, Counter-Strike wasn’t a career; CS:GO didn’t even exist yet.
The Golden Generation
In this context, it’s important to highlight just how far apEX had to come. Yes, he was a promising young player, but one among many in the golden age of French CS. The French scene had never been as stacked as it was in 2010, 2011, and 2012. apEX made his mark but was just one name in the crowd.
The real genius was shox, the prodigy capable of dismantling opponents with effortless brilliance… and his own teams, due to his lack of maturity. He was the X factor of the scene: having shox meant you could win, even against the best. In the third generation after 2012, a new prodigy burst onto the scene: kennyS. While the first and second generations were still fighting, he came out of nowhere with his hyper-aggressive AWPing and otherworldly reflexes. Two superstars were there.
And let’s not forget the heavyweights of the scene between the end of CSS and early CSGO:
- NBK, best player in the world in 2010 during his first year as pro, adaptable to any role.
- RpK, the Tank, seen as perhaps the most skilled CS:S player, a consistent force.
- SmithZz, the legendary AWPer, selfless teammate, cornerstone of every big win in CSS/early CSGO.
- Ex6TenZ, the tactician who brought professionalism, structure, and deep strategic thinking.
- ScreaM, who would rise on CS:GO and show the world he was the headshot machine.
- Happy, the discreet but visionary IGL who would win two Majors.
apEX was surrounded by greatness, but his name wasn’t in bold. Not yet.
Work, work, work
What set Dan apart was his unwavering drive. By 2012, his performances began to turn heads, and he was signed by VeryGames to replace shox and SmithZz, joining forces with Ex6TenZ, RpK, and NBK. It was a dream opportunity, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Results fell short, kennyS burst onto the scene and joined the roster, SmithZz returned, and within six months, apEX was cut. Just as CS:GO was starting to take off, his dream collapsed.
Where many might have stepped back, apEX pushed forward. He turned down the idea of joining a secondary French lineup with shox and chose instead to start from scratch, building his own project. Under his leadership, eXtensive, later LDLC, rose to become one of Europe’s top teams, even beating NiP online before VeryGames managed the feat. He then joined Clan Mystik, a project that looked shaky on paper… and won the ESWC, securing a spot at CS:GO’s first Major. By early 2014, now back with LDLC, he outperformed Titan and, alongside Happy (and KQLY), led the team to the top of the French scene.
Two years in purgatory forged a steel mindset. apEX grew up. He understood his value, proved himself after the VeryGames blow, and became indispensable. Away from the spotlight, he earned his place, not handed to him, but carved out with persistence. From 2014 onward, after two and a half years on CS:Source and two more grinding through CS:GO, apEX established himself as a permanent force in French Counter-Strike.
From Role Player to Playmaker
Being a pillar doesn’t mean being a monument. Yes, apEX became a major player — impactful and aggressive. But stars like NBK, shox, and kennyS still took the limelight: the former built and broke rosters, the second led as needed, the third dominated headlines. apEX remained a reliable core — a locker room man, an elite soldier with a Major title in 2015.
He sensed his moment would come as the French scene declined. That moment arrived with Team Vitality, a major French organization. In October 2018, he took charge of the team and ZywOo, Counter-Strike’s next prodigy. Unknowingly, that transfer made him the face and hope of French CS.
The real turning point came in 2020, amid the COVID‑19 crisis. ALEX left Vitality, and options were limited. apEX and coach XTQZZZ knew the time had come. Dan assumed the IGL role full-time, a position built for him and his fighting spirit. A longtime co-leader, master of utilities, tactician, and strategist, able to recall rounds from 2010 or 2014 like it was happening, his brain was a CS encyclopedia waiting for the right stage.
Last Man Standing
Without apEX, would ZywOo have become the player he is today? The talent would have emerged, but under what conditions? Dan created the environment. He gave structure, patience, and the will to win. He guided, protected, and channeled him. While French CS crumbled around him, apEX became more than an in-game leader — he became Vitality’s cornerstone, even amid criticism, shaky results, and fragility.
In 2023, he captained the Paris Major victory, an iconic moment before a roaring French crowd and massive symbolism. His name is etched in history. In 2024, with a restructured roster guided by his firm hand and vision, he finally won IEM Cologne, a title that had long eluded him.
And in 2025, he claimed IEM Katowice, and his third Major victory at Austin, joining the ranks of a rarefied elite. With this win, apEX became the first player in Counter-Strike history to win two Majors ten years apart, a record that speaks to his extraordinary longevity. With 33 career titles, he holds the most decorated record in Counter-Strike history — more than any other French player, more than global superstars, more than anyone else.
But this legacy wasn’t built on flashes of genius or brief peaks. It was forged in consistency, longevity, and iron will. apEX won Tier-1 titles every year since 2013. Every year. His leadership style may have been debated, but never abandoned. apEX never stopped believing. Never stopped pushing. Never stopped fighting.
Today, he stands alone at the top — not only in titles but in legacy. The last pillar of a golden generation. The soldier elevated to general. Survivor of an era, now the living embodiment of greatness.
