“It’s perhaps justified in places, but you can also see what results I have with the young roster … I don’t devalue my work” — hally on criticism, Spirit’s rebuild & the Major vision

“It’s perhaps justified in places, but you can also see what results I have with the young roster … I don’t devalue my work” — hally on criticism, Spirit’s rebuild & the Major vision

In the frenetic lead-up to the BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2 event in Hong Kong, Spirit have shown moments of promise but also headline-worthy inconsistencies. Their coach Sergey “hally” Shavaev took time with HLTV to reflect on the criticism surrounding his role, the challenges of fielding a young roster, and how the team is preparing for their next big test at the upcoming Major. 

A difficult stretch & evolving roster

Spirit’s fall into turbulence has several contributing factors. Following a strong 2024, the team made key changes—bringing in Andrey 'tN1R' Tatarinovich and Ivan 'zweih' Gogin in short order, and saying goodbye to veterans Boris 'magixx' Vorobiev and Zont1x. hally admitted these transitions are significant:

“He [tN1R] joined the team during the rebuild and not during our peak… two changes in the space of two months is quite much.” 

He noted that the lack of in-game practice and the sheer volume of change has hampered the squad’s consistency:

“We haven’t had a lot of in-game practice… it is in our power to change it and come to the Major with a higher level of play.” 

Confronting criticism: accountability and context

In recent months, the Spirit organisation has faced public scrutiny—commentators and fans alike raising questions about hally’s impact, roster decisions, and the team’s plateauing performances. When asked whether the criticism is justified, hally offered a measured response:

“It’s perhaps justified in places. But you can also see what results I have with the young roster, and I do not devalue my work.” 

He stressed that coaching such a young lineup is a different dynamic:

“In this team, all six people matter, while losses are my responsibility to a higher degree.” 

In other words, he takes ownership—but believes the conversation around his role must factor in the context of rebuilding rather than immediate success.

Recent performance & key issues

At Rivals, Spirit faced a challenging group stage. After dropping their opener to Falcons (their third straight loss vs that opponent) they bounced back with a 2-0 victory over The MongolZ to stay alive. 

hally cited a recurring issue when they’ve trailed during maps and failed to close them out:

“In many moments … we couldn’t finish off a map where we had situations like yesterday, when we were 11-11 in a 5v4… the grenade falls right in front. Things like this happen.” 

Such micro-errors, he believes, point to weaknesses not just in practice but in mental preparation and structural stability, especially with fresh faces in the lineup.

The rebuild plan & Major vision

For Spirit, both Chengdu and Hong Kong events are viewed as stepping stones to the larger prize: the Major in Budapest. As hally remarked:

“For us, both Chengdu and Hong Kong are preparation events for the Major… I hope at the Major we will be able to show the CS we’re building.” 

He recognises that establishing identity, approach and depth—rather than short-term results—is critical:

“We try to change our approach and find our game, because now it doesn’t look so reliable and consistent.” 

It’s not lost on him that this process may not generate immediate wins, but is essential if Spirit want to sustain at the top-level.

Moments to watch: roster, structure & leadership

• Young roster impact: With tN1R and zweih still adapting, the team’s collective experience and cohesion remain works in progress. hally’s comment that tN1R joined during the rebuild and not the peak hints at patience being required. 

• Map-closing & mental resilience: The team needs to convert favourable positions more consistently, something hally emphasised as a structural flaw.

• Coach accountability vs organisational expectation: hally accepts his share of responsibility, but also underlines that context matters—his quote about not devaluing his work speaks to confidence in his foundational work rather than short-term judgments.

• Major-phase ramp-up: Success at the Major will not only validate Spirit’s rebuild, but also set the tone for whether this squad can transition from promising to contender.

Final thought

Sergey “hally” Shavaev’s interview reflects a coach under pressure but grounded in long-term thinking. The criticism he faces is partly valid—but he argues the full narrative must recognise the rebuild context, the youth of his roster, and the groundwork he believes has been laid. With the Major looming, Spirit’s ability to translate training and structure into results will tell whether this chapter is one of growth or one trapped in stagnation. For fans and critics alike, the next few months will be revealing.