Counter-Strike Community Mourns French Pro Player maleK After Passing at 35

The French Counter-Strike community is mourning the loss of Malek 'maleK' Bennouioua, a professional player and streamer who passed away on September 27. He was 35 years old and left behind two children.

The news was initially confirmed by a friend and member of the French CS scene, X user @TheNextPharaon, who announced maleK's passing early on September 28. The confirmation sparked an immediate outpouring of tributes from players, coaches, and content creators across France and beyond.

French CS reporter Guillaume 'neL' Canelo described maleK as "one of the pillars of the French CS scene throughout all those years." His two decades of involvement in the community left an indelible mark on those who knew him.

Among those paying respects were French esports legends. Vitality IGL Dan 'apEX' Madesclaire shared a personal tribute, writing: "I don't have the words, I can't believe it. 20 years I'd known him, memories from PxL to a restaurant we went to together just 1 year ago, he was a dad. I beg you, don't stay alone when things aren't okay, I wish I'd known to help him, damn it. Tears are streaming down my face this morning, I can't even imagine what the family is going through. All my condolences."

Former Aurora and Eternal Fire captain Engin 'MAJ3R' Küpel reflected on their shared career and mutual respect: "We loved you too, beautiful man. We lost Malek last night. Throughout my career in France, our paths crossed many times; there was always love and respect between us in every conversation. He was just 35 years old, like me. He always spoke beautifully about us and approached the Turkish community with love. May God have mercy on him, brother. We will never forget you."

Steeve 'Ozstrik3r' Flavigni, who has worked as a coach for 3DMAX, LDLC, and Team Falcons, shared a reflective message about the human cost of loss within the esports community. "Like you, I learned tonight, around 3 a.m., about Malek CSGO's passing," he wrote. "Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves that everything we do here—Internet, social networks, video games—in the end, all of it holds very little importance in the face of this kind of tragedy. The only thing that matters today is that Malek is gone and that he leaves behind two children. It's been 25 years since I've been part of the Counter-Strike community. And every time a tragedy strikes one of our own, it hits me deeply. Because behind the usernames, the debates, the matches, and the networks, there are real brothers who share the same passion, people who are part of our daily lives. Rest in peace, Malek."

Content creators Sébastien 'KRL' Perez and neL also shared their memories of maleK, highlighting his warmth and the positive impression he left on those around him. The tributes collectively painted a picture of a man deeply embedded in the competitive and streaming sides of Counter-Strike, respected across national boundaries for his character and contributions to the game.