OverDrive shuts down donk departure rumours as Spirit look ahead to busy schedule

OverDrive shuts down donk departure rumours as Spirit look ahead to busy schedule

Team Spirit scout Aleksey “OverDrive” Biryukov has publicly dismissed talk that superstar rifler Danil “donk” Kryshkovets is considering a move away from the organisation, calling the reports “fake news” and insisting the 17-year-old remains fully committed to the team.

The story surfaced this week after CS2.bo3.gg relayed comments attributed to French analyst Sébastien “KRL” Perez, claiming that donk could look for an international roster if Spirit underperformed at the upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 and pointing to the fact that the youngster has been improving his English as circumstantial evidence. 

The rumour quickly spread across social media and community sites, prompting speculation about potential destinations for one of CS2’s most valuable players. Within hours, however, OverDrive – who works closely with Spirit as a scout and talent consultant – used his Telegram channel to pour cold water on the reports, joking that the only “move” donk was preparing for was his next flight out of Stockholm and describing the story as nonsense. 

While he did not name KRL directly, OverDrive’s post made it clear that, from Spirit’s perspective, there have been no talks about selling or benching their star rifler.

Rumours ahead of a crucial stretch

The timing of the story raised eyebrows in the community. The Budapest Major is the next CS2 Major on the calendar and one of the key events of the 2025 season, with Spirit considered among the dark-horse contenders after strong showings earlier in the year.

Speculation around donk’s future also comes just as Spirit are preparing for ESL Pro League Season 22 in Malta, where newly promoted rifler Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich is expected to make his debut on the main roster. With a busy schedule ahead, the organisation appears keen to stabilise the narrative and keep outside noise to a minimum.

Spirit’s recent form suggests little reason for drastic changes. The team remain a permanent fixture in the upper echelons of Counter-Strike, and donk continues to post elite numbers at big events. At the recent BLAST Rivals Season 2 tournament in Hong Kong he averaged well above a 1.10 rating in series against top sides such as Vitality and Falcons, again finishing among the highest fraggers on the server. 

Why donk attracts constant transfer talk

Even with the organisation’s denial, it is not surprising that rumours flare up around donk. Since his breakout year in CS2, the Russian rifler has been widely regarded as one of the game’s most explosive stars, combining hyper-aggressive entries with consistently high damage output. Opponents routinely identify him as the primary threat when preparing for Spirit. 

His rapid rise, age and apparent willingness to learn English naturally make him a theoretical target for international super-teams, and community discussions frequently center on how he would look alongside other tier-one stars. That underlying context meant KRL’s comments found ready traction, even before any corroboration.

However, there has been no independent reporting from major outlets indicating that Spirit are fielding offers or that the player himself has requested a move. On the contrary, public statements from both donk and the organisation over the past year have stressed long-term ambitions with the current core. 

OverDrive’s role and credibility

Part of why OverDrive’s denial carried weight is his established role within Spirit. The Russian talent scout has long been associated with the organisation’s recruitment work and was credited with helping identify and integrate several of their current line-up’s key pieces. He has also previously been a reliable source of behind-the-scenes information on other transfers in the CIS scene, which further amplifies the impact when he publicly labels a rumour as baseless. 

That said, transfer stories in Counter-Strike have historically evolved quickly, and public denials do not always mean a move is impossible in the long term. For now, though, OverDrive’s message is clear: no move is on the table, and Spirit’s focus is on competition rather than negotiations.

Spirit’s priorities: ESL Pro League and the Budapest Major

With the rumour cycle temporarily cooled, attention returns to Spirit’s immediate goals. The team will first travel to Malta for ESL Pro League Season 22, entering at the second stage of the competition. The event will provide valuable stage time with tN1R integrated into the starting line-up and an opportunity to fine-tune their map pool before the much-anticipated Major. 

The Budapest Major itself looms large. Following their deep runs at previous CS2 tournaments, expectations on Spirit – and especially on donk – are substantial. A strong performance would reinforce the organisation’s decision to double down on their current structure and could quiet external talk about potential roster overhauls.

Takeaways

For now, the situation around donk can be summed up simply:

• The transfer story originated from a single report citing insider comments about a possible move if Spirit disappoint at the Major.

• Team Spirit, via scout OverDrive, have firmly denied any such discussions and branded the rumour as false.

• Donk remains under contract, is expected to continue as the centrepiece of Spirit’s game plan and is preparing with the team for ESL Pro League and the Budapest Major.       

Until new, verifiable information emerges, the narrative around one of CS2’s brightest stars is less about transfer sagas and more about whether he can convert his individual dominance into another deep run on Counter-Strike’s biggest stages.