One of the most beautiful aspects of Counter-Strike esports is its global reach. During these events players get to experience other cultures and potentially expand their geography knowledge by traveling all over the world to compete on the biggest stages.
So far in Counter-Strike, the Majors were exclusive to North America and Europe as the go to locations. However, that changes with the Perfect World Shanghai Major, giving Asia their first Major event.
In a rich-cultured country like China, it is natural to be amazed and fall in love with the region thanks to its large history and historical places. While some players expressed their liking casually, others etched their name with Chinese letters in their stickers to forever keep it and present it as a gift for the Chinese fans.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the players who included Chinese symbols in their autographs and reveal the meaning behind it.
FURIA Esports
FURIA Esports stood out as the team with the most players incorporating Chinese symbols in their autographs.
- Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato: The Chinese community has nicknamed him “卡神”, which translates to K LORD. According to KSCERATO, the fans often call him this during autograph signings and livestreams. Additionally, he shared that there’s a popular phrase used by Chinese fans when he plays: “你根本拼不过卡斯瑞托”, which roughly means “They have never been able to beat KSCERATO.”
“The Chinese call me ‘卡神’ which means K LORD, and many call me that here, whether signing autographs or livestreaming. Maybe they distorted the size of the letters a little, but I liked it. There’s also a phrase in Chinese they use when I play: ‘你根本拼不过卡斯瑞托,’ which means ‘They have never been able to beat KSCERATO.’” – KSCERATO on X
- Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo: Sticking to his godfather moniker, FalleN’s autograph features the characters “教父”, which directly translate to Godfather.
- Yuri “yuurih” Boian: Yuurih’s sticker includes the characters “尤里”, which is simply a phonetic translation of his name into Chinese.
- Felipe “skullz” Medeiros: Skullz opted for “巨龟”, which translates to Huge Turtle, a playful and unique choice.
- Marcelo “chelo” Cespedes: Chelo is the only member of FURIA who chose not to include Chinese symbols in his sticker.
Natus Vincere
NAVI might have had a disappointing run at the Shanghai Major, but their appreciation for Chinese culture didn’t go unnoticed.
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen: Aleksib’s sticker features the character “李”, a nickname derived from his surname (小李子). Interestingly, it’s also a nod to Leonardo DiCaprio, as Chinese fans think he bears a resemblance to the actor.
- Mihai “iM” Ivan: iM’s sticker, “艾木”, is a straightforward phonetic translation of his name in Chinese.
Team Spirit
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets: Donk’s sticker features the character “火”, which means fire. Donk chose this symbol himself, inspired by its dynamic and powerful meaning—a perfect match for his fiery gameplay style.
- Boris “magixx” Vorobiev: Magixx kept things lighthearted with “小困”, which translates to a bit sleepy—a humorous and relatable touch for fans.
FaZe Clan
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen: Karrigan’s sticker features “馬”, meaning horse. The symbol ties to his Chinese nickname and embodies strength and resilience—traits he’s shown time and again as FaZe Clan’s in-game leader.
Team Liquid
- Marek “YEKINDAR” Galinskis: YEKINDAR’s sticker includes “狂”, which stands for craze or crazy. The character ties to his Chinese nickname “狂哥”, or Crazy Brother, a testament to his wild and aggressive playstyle.
Rare Atom
- Andrew “kaze” Khong: Representing Rare Atom, Kaze’s sticker features “风”, the traditional Chinese character for wind. It’s a poetic nod to his in-game name as it also means wind.
These stickers are more than just signatures; they’re tokens of appreciation, connecting players and fans across continents. Whether it’s a nickname given by the community, a playful self-reference, or a deeper symbolic meaning, these Chinese characters will forever be part of Counter-Strike’s history.
