The renowned and experienced AWP'er, Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz, speaks candidly about one of his biggest challenges as an adult: Struggling with a painful period in his life marked by stress-related symptoms. These challenges took a toll on his mental health, affecting him personally and professionally as an esports athlete.

Now, the 28-year-old dev1ce delves into his journey back to the high-pressure and intense world of professional Counter-Strike—still standing tall among the global elite.

In the clip above from a new portrait series on the AWP superstar—who has dominated the Counter-Strike esports scene for almost a decade—dev1ce delves into his reasons for returning to the demanding life of a pro-Counter-Strike player and the efforts required for a sustainable comeback.

dev1ce: I Wasn't Sure How My Body Would React

In December 2021, the then 26-year-old AWP superstar addressed this issue to dispel any misconceptions or rumors regarding his break from professional Counter-Strike and his team, Ninjas in Pyjamas.

After nearly a year dedicated to his well-being, dev1ce made a striking comeback in October 2022 with his return to the Astralis organization. This organization is reminiscent of a home where he enjoyed his prime years in esports from 2016 to 2021. During this time, he secured four prestigious Major titles, among other grand distinctions, and earned numerous Most Valuable Player awards.

dev1ce states that today, he stands in a positive place, feeling even stronger as both a person and a CS player than before stress symptoms afflicted him:

- I have been happy about returning to the pro scene. As most people know, I was out of the game on sick leave due to stress for almost a year before my return. I wasn't sure how my body would react to returning to the life of a pro gamer, but from my perspective, it has gone exceptionally well.

- Of course, there are moments when it's more challenging for my mind and body, but I'm proud of how I've navigated my first year back. I'm definitely more attuned now to when I need to slow down and balance my work with self-care, dev1ce says.

In the next few days, the mini-portrait series featuring the 28-year-old AWP'er will be released on Astralis.gg, delving into the fascinating life and comeback of dev1ce.

The portrait series commemorates almost a year since the skilled Counter-Strike player returned to the pro scene after his break.