TL;DR
- daps departs Gen.G citing burnout and team direction disagreements after 3-4 months consideration
- Gen.G peaked at #12 global ranking under daps but struggled through summer tournaments
- Organization now competes directly with Cloud9 for limited North American CSGO talent
- daps will finish ESL Pro League while Gen.G searches for replacement
- Potential Valorant transition looms as CSGO pros explore new opportunities
Gen.G’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team undergoes significant leadership change as Damian “daps” Steele announces his departure from the in-game leader position via social media channels.
The professional player utilized Twitlonger to elaborate that his exit stems from combined factors of competitive burnout and internal disagreements regarding the squad’s strategic direction moving forward.
Moving on from Gen.Ghttps://t.co/O7dG3eJ2y7
Will still finish out EPL with the team until they find a 5th or standin
— daps (@daps)
September 11, 2020
Professional esports athletes frequently experience burnout due to intense practice schedules and constant tournament pressure. daps revealed he contemplated this career move for approximately three to four months, indicating the decision wasn’t made impulsively but rather through careful consideration of his competitive future.
That deliberation period coincides with Gen.G’s challenging performance stretch during late May’s BLAST Showdown, where the team suffered defeats against both 100 Thieves and Cloud9 – organizations that themselves faced competitive struggles throughout the summer season.
Under daps’ strategic guidance, Gen.G achieved remarkable competitive ascent, reaching their peak global ranking position at number twelve on June 8. This rapid improvement demonstrated the team’s potential when operating with cohesive leadership and clear tactical direction.
Following their impressive runner-up finish at CS Summit 6 North America, the squad encountered performance inconsistencies during subsequent summer circuit events. The team placed seventh at ESL One Cologne and currently maintains a split record in the ongoing ESL Pro League Season 12, highlighting the volatility that often accompanies roster transitions.
Damien was a huge part of our growth as Gen.G started our CSGO journey. We are lucky to have worked with him and wish him the best in the future.
We are actively trying out players to join Gen.G. If you are a CSGO Pro interested in winning, DM me or email us at [email protected]
— Stanz (@NathanStanz)
September 11, 2020
The timing presents significant challenges for Gen.G’s recruitment efforts. The organization now directly competes with North American counterpart Cloud9, which recently initiated its own comprehensive roster rebuild by appointing former professional player and caster Henry “HenryG” Greer as general manager.
This creates a competitive landscape for securing top-tier CSGO talent, as both organizations target the same limited pool of available professional players. Teams often struggle during simultaneous rebuilding phases, as available talent becomes scarce and negotiation leverage diminishes.
Common mistakes during roster transitions include rushing recruitment decisions, overpaying for available players, and failing to properly evaluate team chemistry fit. Organizations should prioritize thorough tryout processes and consider both established professionals and emerging talent to build balanced rosters.
daps maintains commitment to compete with Gen.G throughout the ongoing ESL Pro League until the organization secures his replacement. This transitional approach provides stability during the search process while allowing the outgoing leader to maintain professional relationships.
Regarding his competitive future, daps expressed openness to various opportunities while acknowledging potential transitions beyond Counter-Strike. Many former CSGO professionals have recently explored competitive opportunities in Valorant, suggesting daps might follow similar career evolution paths.
“As for the future, I still love CS and would ideally like to IGL [for] a team I feel is the right fit for me, but if moving on as a player or leaving CS is the route I have to take, then I will cross that bridge when I know more,” daps stated, indicating careful consideration of his next competitive chapter.
Advanced optimization for organizations facing similar transitions includes implementing structured tryout processes, establishing clear role definitions for new recruits, and maintaining transparent communication with existing roster members throughout the transition period.
Action Checklist
- Establish clear team direction and strategic identity before beginning recruitment
- Evaluate both established professionals and emerging talent for balanced roster construction
- Maintain transparent communication with current roster members throughout transition
- Develop contingency plans for extended recruitment periods or unexpected candidate withdrawals
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Daps out at Gen.G, will finish with team at ESL Pro League Gen.G faces Cloud9 in CSGO talent war after daps departure, creating competitive roster scramble