maleK, French Counter-Strike veteran and respected teacher, passes away aged 35

The French Counter-Strike scene woke up on Monday 28 September to hard news: Malek Bennouioua, known in game as maleK or malekCSGO, has passed away at the age of 35. Confirmation came through in the early hours and has been reported by HLTV, the Fédération Française de Jeu Vidéo and several French outlets. The cause of death has not been made public.

Almost fifteen years in the game

maleK began competing in 2011, back on Counter-Strike: Source, and with CS:GO he became a familiar name in the French sub-top. His role was in-game leader — the player who organises and makes the calls — on teams including beGenius ESC and Epsilon.fr.

With them he worked his way through the French and European national circuit: ESL Championnat National, EPSILAN, DreamHack Tours. It wasn't a career of international trophies but of the kind of veteran presence that holds a scene together below the spotlight — the layer of teams where the players who do make it to the top are formed.

The teacher who explained the game

For much of the French community, maleK was above all a voice. His Twitch channel, with around 155,000 followers, was built on patient tutorials: tactical reading, positioning, decision-making under pressure. Not fast reactions and clips, but long explanations so the viewer understood the reasoning behind each move.

That's where the weight of the tributes coming from inside the professional circuit comes from. apEX and shox, two of the most recognisable figures in French CS, have added their messages, alongside Neityu, KRL, Ozstrik3r and woxic. One veteran who had known him for close to twenty years said they had shared a meal barely a year ago.

A line the community is passing around

Among the messages of the past hours, one of his own lines keeps resurfacing: "I beg you, don't stay alone when things aren't okay." Without meaning to, it has become the way the community is remembering him.

maleK leaves behind two children. A French scene long used to seeing him explain the game to anyone willing to learn is left without one of its most recognisable voices.

If you are going through a difficult time, support lines are available in most countries — in Spain, the suicide prevention line 024 is free, confidential and open 24 hours.

Source: HLTV, Fédération Française de Jeu Vidéo, team-aaa.com, jeuxvideo.com.