One of the most recognizable players in Counter-Strike history, Håvard “rain” Nygaard, has shared a deeply personal and heartwarming announcement — his family has welcomed their second child. Posting on Instagram, rain shared a touching photo holding the newborn, simply captioned:
“❤️ raindrop number two.”
The post instantly resonated across the community. Thousands of fans, fellow pros, and esports figures flooded the comments with congratulations and heartfelt messages, confirming what many already knew — rain is not just a Major champion, but a man who earns respect both in and outside the server.
Second child for the Nygaard family: another symbolic “raindrop”
For rain and his Ukrainian wife Sonya, this is their second child. Their first daughter was born back in February 2023, and rain lovingly referred to her as his “raindrop” — a symbolic nickname that plays on his in-game alias. Now, the newborn automatically becomes “raindrop number two” — the second little drop in Håvard’s life.
The siblings are just over a year apart in age. As early as May 5, just weeks ahead of IEM Dallas 2025, rain took to Twitter to clarify why he might not be competing:
“My amazing wife is 39 weeks pregnant and about to pop out another raindrop any day now, so I need to be home to take care of the family!”
With this statement, rain made it clear: behind all the trophies, LANs, and highlight reels, he’s also a father — and that role is equally important.
The tournament rain missed: FaZe without him at IEM Dallas 2025
Rain officially skipped IEM Dallas 2025, one of the last major LANs before the summer break. His absence left FaZe Clan without its most experienced player — a core member of the lineup since 2016, with over eight years of continuous dedication to the org. This isn’t the first time FaZe has had to adapt to rain’s temporary absence, as he’s stepped away before for personal reasons. Yet each time, the void is felt. Rain isn’t just a consistent rifler — he’s a mental leader, a calm anchor who stabilizes the team when it matters most.
Rain is expected to return for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where FaZe will compete in early July. That gives him enough time to focus on family before fully committing back to competitive form.
Community reaction: warmth, love, and respect
The news sparked an outpouring of joy across the CS2 scene. In addition to the flood of well-wishes from fans, some of the most iconic names in esports chimed in with their support:
- pashaBiceps: “All the best for you guys 💪❤️”
- Banks (FaZe host and insider): “2/5…3 more for the team! Wishing health and happiness to you all ❤️”
- kennyS: “Baby howie”
- FaZe Clan: “❤️❤️❤️”
Even stars like s1mple, olofmeister, gla1ve, Twistzz, broky, and many others left their likes and hearts — a rare moment of unity in the highly competitive esports world.
Particularly touching was the reaction from the Ukrainian community, who celebrated the news with genuine warmth — especially since rain’s wife, Sonya, is Ukrainian. Prominent local outlets were quick to share the update:
“In the rain family — a new arrival. Håvard and his Ukrainian wife Sonya have welcomed their second child!”
rain: a role model beyond the game
Rain remains one of the few elite-level players who manage not just a career, but also a healthy, thriving family life. In a world where schedules, travel, and performance pressure dominate, he’s a rare example of balance and maturity. He’s the last remaining member of the FaZe roster that won the PGL Major Antwerp 2022, still wearing the FaZe jersey to this day. And despite brief pauses from play, his status remains untouchable — both as a competitor and as a person.
In a competitive scene where headlines often revolve around roster changes, patches, and drama, this kind of moment feels like a breath of fresh air. Rain reminded us that being a champion isn’t just about winning maps — it’s about making grown-up choices, caring for loved ones, and setting priorities where they truly matter.
Congratulations to the Nygaard family on the birth of their second “raindrop”.
Wishing them health, happiness — and maybe a few more trophies along the way.
