Quinn ends a nine-year career in competitive Dota 2 after losing the drive to continue enduring the demands of professional play.
Prominent North American mid laner 
Quinn “Quinn” Callahan has announced his retirement from competitive Dota 2, citing a loss of motivation. In a 10-minute pre-recorded YouTube video, he dropped the shocking announcement and offered detailed reasons for his decision while also revealing what’s next in his journey.
The video was recorded on 8 August, just a month before The International (TI) 2025 took place. Quinn explained that he no longer wishes to commit to the relentless grind of professional play–a lifestyle that has caused him to miss out on personal time with family and friends. He reflected on the motivation he had in the earlier years of his career, driven by the ambition to become the best midlaner in the world and win major tournaments, including The International.
After a very successful 2023 season with 
Gaimin Gladiators—where he won all three Dota 2 Majors and placed 2nd at TI—Quinn felt fulfilled. After that season, his motivation began to fade.
“I had already proved I could be the best and that we could be the best. So the fire to endure the misery, endure the countless hours and missing birthdays and weddings, and spending time with my family and friends..opting out of that in favour of practicing, playing pubs, traveling, and playing endless tournaments.. that stopped feeling worth it for me,” Quinn said.
The idea of retirement came to him in 2024, but he eventually decided to make 2025 his final competitive season.
In the video, Quinn also shared a heartfelt message, reminiscing on his time as a professional Dota 2 player and thanking those who supported him throughout his career. He mentioned several North American peers, including Kartik “Kitrak” Rathi and 
Yawar “YawaR” Hassan, as well as former teammates from Gaimin Gladiators, and many others.
While Quinn did choose to step away with fullfilment, the retirement news still stings hard as Quinn did not compete at what would have been his final TI. An unforeseen conflict within Gaimin Gladiators saw the organisation withdraw from this year's championship without plausible explanation just two weeks before it began.
Quinn closes his competitive chapter after nine years
At just 26 years old, Quinn has already cemented his place among the world’s top Dota 2 players. Starting from his roots in North America, many had already praised him as the region's top player, backed by his exceptional pub performances and consistent top rank. He gradually built his reputation in the competitive scene through impressive performances–including a Top 8 finish at TI 2018 with 
OpTic Gaming, and multiple Top 6 finishes at events like the 2021 WePlay AniMajor and ESL One Summer with 
Quincy Crew.
However, it wasn’t until his move to Europe that he found major success. His debut season with Gaimin Gladiators in 2023 delivered immediate results: winning their first tournament, the BetBoom Xmas Show, followed by six major tournament victories–including all three Dota 2 Majors and multiple DreamLeagues–and finishing as runner-up at TI 2023. In the next year, he would go on to win the 2024 Riyadh Masters and again place 2nd at TI.
Over his nine-year career, Quinn accumulated an impressive list of achievements, leaving behind a storied legacy in Dota 2 esports. Fortunately for fans, Quinn plans to remain part of the community throughout retirement.
What’s next for Quinn
In the announcement video, Quinn revealed that his main plan post-retirement is to become a Dota 2 talent. This way, he can continue contributing to the scene and remain active within the community. He also looks forward to the healthier commitment to talent work as compared to the demands of pro play.
“I look forward to doing something that isn’t so time-consuming and allows me to still be a part of Dota because I still want to be a part of the game,” said Quinn.
Quinn also mentioned that he will continue streaming and possibly make professional-level Dota 2 guides and content.
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