Kazakh esports player Dauren "AdreN" Kystaubayev has been contemplating a return to the professional Counter-Strike scene. In an interview with eScoreNews, Kystaubayev stated that he is currently not prepared to compete at the tier-2/3 level, and doubts that a tier-1 team would be interested in him. He mentioned that he might explore opportunities as a coach.
"I haven't officially retired. However, given the situation, I'm not ready to play at tier-2 or tier-3 levels. I'm only ready for tier 1, but who would take me? The question remains open. There's a chance, but I don't want to officially announce my retirement. Perhaps I could still play in some tournaments, and it wouldn't look good if I retired officially."
Even now, AdreN has not fully decided what he wants to pursue. He expressed a desire to develop in media and analytics but is unsure if he will spend most of the next ten years in these fields. He is also considering becoming a tournament organiser or a coach. While a return to professional play is possible, he acknowledges it is a slim chance, requiring everything to align perfectly.
AdreN also shared that he is contemplating starting his esports organisation. He is currently searching for sponsors and partners.
"I've been thinking about this for the last month or so, considering the opportunities to create my organisation or team. I have experience and understanding of how to work with teams and players. I know what players need from an organisation. So, I'm starting to consider this. Right now, I'm looking for partners and sponsors. I have some players in mind that I would like to bring into the team, but it will all depend on the budget. I can't fully support a team on my own at the moment, so everything depends on whether I can find sponsors."
AdreN's last team was K23, which he left in 2021. Since 2022, he has been involved in the management of the Kazakh club AVANGAR, which he represented as a player in 2019. Throughout his Counter-Strike professional career, he has earned $443,000 in prize money.