Counter-Strike veteran cynic dead at 23, father confirms

The Counter-Strike esports community is mourning the sudden passing of David “cynic” Polster. He was 23 years old.

Nouns Esports shared the news of cynic’s passing in a post on its social media accounts. According to the organization, where cynic played from 2022 through 2023, cynic’s father informed the organization of his passing. Nouns stated that cynic “elevated everyone as a naturally gifted player and human” in its statement.

cynic started his career in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2017. Through the years, cynic was a staple of the North American scene, making appearances at some bigger events like DreamHack Winter 2023. His stint with Nouns was the most successful of his career, but he also had notable runs with Triumph and Party Astronauts. Though he had many successes competitively, he also made the news for a messy breakup with Party Astronauts.

cynic’s last team is BOSS, a squad that is primarily made up of former Wildcard Gaming players. The team recently competed in the IEM Chengdu 2024 North American qualifier. M80, who ended up qualifying for the event, eliminated BOSS in the lower bracket semifinal. cynic played his final competitive match on January 19.

Following cynic’s death, former Evil Geniuses AWPer and fellow Counter-Strike veteran Josh “PwnAlone” Pigue stepped in as a temporary replacement. It is unknown whether he is tabbed as a permanent member of the team. It is unconfirmed what led to cynic’s death.

The Counter-Strike community remembers cynic

Former teammates and rivals honored cynic’s memory after the news circulated.

Former Evil Geniuses and current BOSS coach Tommy “Axed” Ryan shared a heartfelt message on X, discussing their many times competing against one another over the years. Other players also shared their memories of cynic. His teammates described him as shy but nice, talented and loved by many, dedicated and passionate about the game.

cynic’s father took the opportunity to advocate for those facing mental health issues and encouraged those in the gaming community who are having problems to ask for help.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults in the United States lives with mental illness, ranging from mild to severe, and young adults aged 18-25 are the group with the highest prevalence of mental illness. If you are facing a moment of crisis, call 988 to connect with trained counselors.