DieHardBirdie: The 80-Year-Old CS:GO Legend Rewriting Esports History

At first glance, it may appear that esports is predominantly a domain for the younger generation, given the abundance of players barely out of their teens competing in major esports leagues worldwide. However, this perception couldn't be more misleading. While it's true that many top-tier players are quite young, competitive gaming is by no means exclusive to the youth.

In fact, one could argue that it makes even more sense for those who experienced the inception of video games to engage in competitive gaming. These are the esports athletes who are challenging stereotypes about the age of players eligible for professional esports careers.

So, Who Holds the Title of the Oldest Esports Player?

The distinction of being the world's oldest esports player goes to Abbe Drakborg, known online as 'DieHardBirdie'. He's a renowned Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player who ventured into the world of competitive gaming after retiring from his primary career. Remarkably, at the age of 80, DieHardBirdie keeps himself active during retirement by streaming on Twitch. He proudly carries the title of "esports' oldest world champion" in his Twitter bio.

DieHardBirdie has earned significant recognition, even making an appearance on Prime Video's Gamebreakers documentary series. He stands as a representative for older gamers everywhere, proving that age is no barrier to pursuing a passion for esports. His moniker, DieHardBirdie, is a testament to his commitment, as he claims to have "time to kill" and is renowned for his cheerful whistling after securing kills in the game.

His journey into the world of esports took a unique twist when he joined the Silver Snipers team, which holds the distinction of being the world's first professional senior CS:GO team. Notably, they clinched victory in the Dreamhack Senior League competition. Drakborg shares his age distinction with fellow Silver Snipers member Öivind 'Windy' Toverund, another fierce CS:GO competitor.

Abbe Drakborg has become an icon in the competitive CS:GO scene, serving as living proof that esports isn't an exclusive realm for the young. And with the Silver Snipers making waves, it's entirely possible that they could dominate the leaderboards of future Counter-Strike leagues.