17-year-old Team Spirit rookie Ivan “zweih” Gogin has already played his first official matches with the team and is now preparing for the biggest challenge of his career — his debut on the legendary LANXESS Arena stage. Spirit breezed through Stage 2 without a single loss, defeating HEROIC, Aurora, and MOUZ, and now await the winner of the Natus Vincere – The MongolZ quarterfinal in the semifinals.
Adjustment and a new role
For zweih, these three series were not just his first taste of Tier-1 Counter-Strike but also a period of major transition. He stepped into the shoes of Boris “magixx” Vorobiev, swapping his familiar lurk role for that of entry-fragger — the first man in, creating space for donk and sh1ro.
I’m not thinking as much about my aim right now as I am about what I need to do in a new team. That’s something that only comes with time and experience. I just need to play more games to think faster — and then I’ll play much better individually, he says.
How zweih integrated into Spirit at IEM Cologne
While the numbers (an average rating of 0.92 over three matches) might look modest, they don’t tell the full story. Zweih played his role as a “supportive entry” — not for highlights, but for results.
Against HEROIC (2:0) he repeatedly went in first under chopper’s flashes on Ancient and Nuke, often dying, but cracking open the defense for donk (1.35) and sh1ro (1.55) to clean up. This “dirty work” was vital in helping Spirit stage a comeback on Ancient and keep control on Nuke.
The series against Aurora (2:0) was his toughest — he lost several crucial duels and had no flashy moments. But his disciplined, low-risk play helped Spirit maintain control and close out the series without dropping a map, denying Aurora any real chance to respond.
In the clash with MOUZ (2:1), we saw both sides: on Mirage, he struggled to handle the aggression of xertioN and Spinx, but on the deciding Overpass, it was zweih who delivered several key entry frags in the opening rounds, relieving the pressure and kickstarting Spirit’s dominance in the final map (13:6).
Zweih wasn’t the star of the show — that role belonged to donk and sh1ro — but he was the quiet “engine” that kept the Spirit system running smoothly.
Playing alongside donk and the dream of the stage
Playing with donk isn’t just an advantage — it’s an inspiration.
When you have a teammate who can take out the entire enemy team with an AK and the other four barely need to do anything — that’s a great option. [laughs] Playing with donk always makes things easier, zweih jokes.
But his biggest challenge is still ahead — stepping onto the LANXESS Arena stage.
This is my first time in the arena. I’ve already played at the Major and ESL Pro League, but this will be my first time in front of so many people. I’m really excited. Ijust want to show my best and not feel the pressure, stay inside the game at all times, and give everything I’ve got.
Just a year ago, he was watching IEM Cologne streams thinking: “I want to play there.” Today, he’s in the playoffs — and one step away from the biggest stage of his life.
Community Reaction
Zweih’s comments and performances quickly became a talking point on HLTV forums — and the fanbase is split.
- birko_bird: “Finally a Spirit player who doesn’t try to farm aura.”
- Pala26 replied: “He’s new, give him time, I’m sure zontix will teach him a thing or two.”
- FicklePissoire: “God… We’re about to witness an even lower rating.”
Others showed support:
- grxL: “Give it ur best kid.”
- suki | cars: “Based king.”
And some praised his honesty:
- Jkaem | GAMBLING_ADDICT: “Ah, a 17 year old that can admit he’s excited and happy instead of saying ‘i DoN’T CaRe tBh LiKe i DoN’T CaRe tBh’ — how refreshing!”
What’s Next?
IEM Cologne 2025 could be the turning point that makes zweih a true Tier-1 player. He isn’t putting up crazy stats yet, but he’s already giving Spirit exactly what they need — discipline, the willingness to go in first, and the courage to shoulder responsibility.
On the LANXESS Arena stage, he’ll get the chance to prove he’s not just a “stand-in rookie,” but a future star for Spirit.
