This announcement comes as a shock, especially considering Passion UA’s impressive run at the Shanghai Major. After securing their spot by defeating powerhouses such as Virtus.pro, Team Spirit, and Astralis in European RMR B at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024. However, they narrowly missed advancing past the Opening Stage, falling to BIG and HEROIC. Despite their elimination, the team still managed to secure an impressive 6th place in the regional qualifier.
The entire roster, including s-chilla, was reported to have signed new contracts with Passion UA that would keep them with the organization until 2027. However, the CEO of Passion UA stated that they wouldn’t prevent any player from leaving for a bigger team, particularly since their impressive performance in the European RMR caught the attention of several top-tier teams like fnatic.
What did s-chilla say?
In a farewell video titled ‘THANK YOU, S-CHILLA: HIS STORY, DECISION, AND FAREWELL’ published by Passion UA, s-chilla shared his thoughts on his decision to step away from competitive gaming. “It wasn’t spontaneous, but it didn’t take too long either. I think back to last summer when we were playing in tournaments, and I realized the routine of it all wasn’t something I enjoyed. From May to August, I felt I didn’t want to continue living this way. I wanted to try something different. I don’t know yet if it will be a good or bad decision in the long run, but I just want to try.”
“Gradually, during games and tournaments, I started getting signals that this wasn’t working for me anymore. It’s not that it was anyone’s fault; we all gave our best. But I think I’m just the kind of person who doesn’t thrive in such a routine,” he added.
At the end, s-chilla appreciated the support he and his team received at Passion UA: “I really want to thank all the fans, everyone who supports us. You have no idea how much strength it gives us, how much motivation it gives us throughout our entire journey.”
