Ivan “zweih” Gogin isn’t just the latest addition to Team Spirit — he’s the embodiment of a dream fulfilled. At just 17, the young Russian rifler has completed his rapid ascent from the depths of the FACEIT ladder and tier-2 Counter-Strike to one of the world’s most prestigious teams. His journey is not just about raw talent, but about resilience, sacrifice, and the courage to chase an opportunity when others would have settled.
After shining at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 — his first-ever Major appearance — zweih caught the attention of the entire CS2 community. Just weeks later, on July 7, he signed with Team Spirit, a move that not only marks the next chapter in his career but also the realization of a personal goal. Now, with IEM Cologne 2025 on the horizon, the pressure is higher than ever: will zweih seize his moment on the biggest stage or fade under the spotlight?
The journey: from FACEIT grinder to Major contender
Zweih’s story began in 2022 when he started playing competitively in the CIS scene, but his relationship with Counter-Strike stretches back much further. He reached Global Elite after just two months of play and began grinding FACEIT at the age of 11. By 14, he famously clutched a 1v5 against Into the Breach in open qualifiers for the Antwerp Major — a glimpse of the composure and sharpness that would later define his style.
In the following years, he hopped between several teams and faced numerous setbacks. He was close to joining HOTU Academy, but the deal fell through. Spirit Academy passed on him due to lack of experience, and he turned down offers from FORZE, VP.Prodigy, and Insilio, citing poor contract conditions and limited growth opportunities. Unlike many young players desperate for any offer, zweih showed patience — a rare maturity for his age.
Everything changed when he noticed an opening in Nemiga’s roster. Taking matters into his own hands, he reached out directly to the coach. Three days later, he was signed. With Nemiga, zweih made his first significant impact on the professional scene, culminating in his breakout at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where he delivered standout performances with ratings of 1.21 and 1.28 in two stages.
Balancing esports with school proved impossible, and with his parents’ blessing, he left his studies to focus entirely on his gaming career. His father, Ivan Ivanovich, has been his biggest supporter — not just emotionally but as a genuine follower of the scene, recording heartfelt congratulations after each big win and standing by him through career uncertainties. Zweih’s journey is not just individual; it’s a family story of belief, persistence, and eventual triumph.
Even moments of good fortune seem to follow him. During his first Major, he unboxed a rare Paracord Knife | Waves just hours after making his debut — a symbolic nod to the years of effort it took to reach that point.
Playstyle
Zweih is a rifler whose style combines caution with sharp, well-timed aggression. Unlike many young aimers who rely solely on mechanical skill, zweih’s strength lies in his decision-making and ability to hold his nerve under pressure.
He feels most comfortable on Mirage — his most played map with over 986 matches on FACEIT — where his understanding of angles, timings, and rotations allows him to create impact on both T and CT sides. Conversely, Inferno is his least played map, both historically and in team environments like Nemiga and Spirit, which may require adjustment as he steps into tier-1.
On defense, zweih’s positioning often differs from the player he’s replacing, magixx. For example, on Dust2 he prefers playing B site, while magixx held A and long; on Ancient, zweih plays mid rather than B site. These differences highlight the challenge Spirit faces in integrating him without compromising the system.
Statistically, his average HLTV rating sits around 1.10 across all matches, but crucially, he consistently outperforms those numbers on the big stage. His Major debut is the clearest example: against top-tier opponents, he remained calm, efficient, and impactful — the hallmarks of a player with true tier-1 potential.
Zweih’s game is built on more than just aim. His background in other sports like swimming and taekwondo shines through in his discipline and focus. He plays with a blend of patience and explosiveness that suggests, with the right guidance, he could evolve into one of the scene’s most reliable riflers.
How zweih could influence donk and Team Spirit
One of the most intriguing aspects of zweih’s arrival at Team Spirit is how it might affect the team’s standout player, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets. As Spirit’s undisputed superstar, donk has carried much of the team’s firepower and highlight plays over the past year. With zweih stepping in, there’s potential for some of that burden to be shared.
Zweih’s more measured, calculated playstyle could complement donk’s explosive, high-risk approach, giving Spirit greater tactical flexibility and reducing predictability in their executions. If the duo develops synergy, Spirit could boast one of the deadliest rifling pairs in CS2 — a combination of donk’s raw aggression and zweih’s cool-headed impact. Their ability to coexist and thrive will be a key storyline to follow as the team heads into IEM Cologne 2025 and beyond.
Achievements
In just a few years, zweih has built an impressive list of achievements across multiple tiers of competition. His biggest success came at the RES Regional Champions in October 2024, where he helped Nemiga claim first place and secure a $150,000 prize — a breakthrough moment that marked his arrival on the international radar.
At the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, zweih made his Major debut, reaching the Top 16 and earning recognition for his calm and impactful performances under pressure.
Other key results in his career include:
- 1st place at RES European Series #5 ($50,000)
- 1st place at HellCup #10 ($26,000)
- 2nd place at HellCup #11 ($10,000)
- 2nd place at ESL Challenger League Season 48: Europe ($12,500)
- 15th–16th at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 ($15,000)
- 17th–19th at ESL Pro League Season 21 ($6,500)
Zweih also played dozens of qualifiers and smaller tournaments, gradually climbing from C-Tier events to the international spotlight. His consistent improvement and ability to step up in high-pressure matches make him one of the most promising young talents in CS2.
Inventory: status, style, and statement
Zweih owns one of the most valuable inventories among young CS2 pros, with a total market value exceeding $24,000. His collection reflects not only his success but also his personality — bold, aggressive, and full of character.
Some of the highlights of his inventory include:
- M4A4 | Howl (Factory New)
- M4A1-S | Blue Phosphor with four cadiaN (Foil) London 2018 stickers
- StatTrak™ AK-47 | Neon Rider with zweih (Holo) Austin 2025 stickers
- Tec-9 | Whiteout (Factory New) with rare LGB eSports (Holo) Katowice 2015 stickers
- Pandora’s Box Gloves and Specialist Gloves Fade
- A selection of high-tier knives and rare medals
The inventory is built around vibrant colors and premium skins, with an emphasis on standout designs like Neon Rider and Howl — a perfect match for zweih’s flashy, confident in-game style. His use of exclusive stickers, including his own name from Austin Major 2025, adds a personal touch that few players can replicate.
For zweih, skins are more than cosmetics — they’re part of his identity and a psychological edge on the server.
Settings
Zweih uses a high-performance setup designed for consistency and sharp reaction times. His gear includes a ZOWIE XL2540 monitor, Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 Black mouse, Wooting 80HE Black keyboard, HyperX Cloud Alpha S headset, and a VAXEE PA Zygen mousepad — a minimalist but effective setup trusted by many pros.
His mouse settings prioritize smooth aim and quick micro-adjustments:
- DPI: 800
- In-game sensitivity: 1.288
- eDPI: 1030.4
- Polling rate: 1000 Hz
- Zoom sensitivity: 1.0
Zweih’s video settings are optimized for stable FPS and maximum clarity:
- Resolution: 1280×960
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (Stretched)
- Brightness: 80%
Advanced settings:
- Boost Player Contrast: Enabled
- V-Sync: Disabled
- NVIDIA Reflex: Enabled
- Multisampling Anti-Aliasing: 4x MSAA
- Global Shadow Quality: Very High
- Model/Texture Detail: Low
- Texture Filtering: Bilinear
- Particle Detail: Low
- Ambient Occlusion: Disabled
- HDR: Quality
His viewmodel is clean and compact for clear visibility:
- FOV: 68
- Offset X: 2.5
- Offset Y: -2
- Offset Z: -1.5
- Preset: 2
Monitor settings are tuned for FPS games:
- Black eQualizer: 20
- Color Vibrance: 10
- Brightness: 80%
- Contrast: 60
- Sharpness: 7
- AMA: High
These settings show zweih’s focus on fundamentals: no distractions, maximum responsiveness, and reliable vision — all crucial for a rifler’s success at the top level.
What’s next for zweih
Zweih’s next challenge will be his biggest yet: making his debut for Team Spirit at IEM Cologne 2025, one of the most prestigious tournaments in Counter-Strike. For a 17-year-old who only recently stepped into the spotlight, this event marks a true test of his ability to perform under the intense pressure of tier-1 LAN.
All eyes will be on how he adapts — not just to the level of opponents, but to the structure, pace, and expectations that come with playing alongside some of the world’s best. For Spirit, it’s a calculated investment in young talent. For zweih, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove that his rise is no accident.
Whether he cements himself as a future star or faces the growing pains of top-level competition, one thing is certain: zweih’s story is only beginning, and the CS2 world will be watching closely.
