hally: “What I miss most is interacting with the guys in person and being able to help them right then and there.”
Sergei “hally” Shavaev, head coach of Team Spirit’s CS2 roster, spoke in a video on the club’s YouTube channel about his health, the division of responsibilities within the club’s coaching staff, and the challenges of working remotely with the team.
On his health
As for my health, I feel fine. In terms of progress, things have been moving in a positive direction over the last few days, though not as quickly as I’d like. So, unfortunately, the chances of me making it to the arena aren’t very high.
On remote work
I’ve had experience with remote work before, so adapting to it now is much easier. Our preparation for matches hasn’t changed fundamentally—we still analyze our opponents, prepare game plans, and work on correcting mistakes. The only difference is that part of the process takes place online, so discipline, clear communication, and well-structured workflows are especially important.
On watching matches online
It’s not easy to watch matches online because you know you can’t influence the game in the moment or help the guys. Especially in tough matches, like the one against 9z to advance from the group stage.
On My Daily Routine
Every evening, I’m given a schedule for the next day, which I follow. On average, it takes two to four hours; the rest of the time I spend with the guys. I have a laptop, and my work is tailored as much as possible to allow me to complete my tasks efficiently.
On the coaching staff’s responsibilities
As the project manager and head coach, I’m responsible for the team’s strategic development, make key decisions, and oversee all major processes. As for a number of in-game tasks—especially those that require constant attention to the finer points and details in CS—Dima [S0tF1k. — Ed.] plays a major role here. Over the course of our collaboration, we’ve been able to build excellent mutual understanding both within the server and beyond. This is very important to me because, when it comes to the team’s development and gameplay, we’re largely on the same page. I’d also like to single out Dima as a specialist: he pays close attention to details, has a good feel for the game and the players, and takes on a significant portion of the in-game work. Thanks to this, many things have become more efficient. This is of great value to me because now I’m not alone in making many decisions. This division of roles allows me to focus more on the project’s development, working with players, and the team’s long-term goals, while still maintaining a high level of attention to gameplay aspects.
The things I miss most when I’m away from the team
It’s an unusual feeling because, after Astana, we started preparing for the major tournament together with the guys. In my opinion, we went into the tournament in optimal form—in terms of gameplay, individual performance, and mental readiness. What I miss most is interacting with the guys in person and being able to help them in the heat of the moment. I also miss sharing both the positive and the sad moments with them. I really miss that and hope to reunite with them as soon as possible.
In the first part of the video, Team Spirit rifler Danil “donk” Kryshkovets reflected on changes in his collaboration with the “Dragons’” coaching staff at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, highlighted the drawbacks of online collaboration, and discussed how to practice more effectively in deathmatch mode.
Photo by Igor Bezborodov, GRID.
