Colombian Professional Valorant player Santiago ‘Daveeys’ Ruiz has died at the age of 23, his organization KRÜ Esports confirmed on September 4.
KRÜ Esports, the organization Daveeys joined in October 2022, announced that he had died on Sunday, September 3.
His 23rd birthday was on September 2, 2023.
“It is with deep sadness that we have to inform you that, after suffering a medical issue on Sunday, @Daveeys21 passed away,” the statement from KRÜ reads.
“There is no way to soften this, it took us all by surprise.”
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Es con profunda tristeza que tenemos que comunicarles que, tras sufrir una descompensación el domingo, falleció @Daveeys21.No hay forma de suavizar esto, nos tomó a todos por sorpresa.Daveeys, Santi, era un player espectacular y un compañero de primera. Con su característica… pic.twitter.com/muuHmBfCII
— KRÜ Esports (@KRUesports) September 4, 2023
The statement, in Spanish, continues, “Daveeys, Santi, was a spectacular player and a first-class teammate. With his trademark hard-working humility, he was proud to be able to inspire and represent his country and region at the top of the global VALORANT. It was his dream, and he saw it come true.
“All of us at KRÜ accompany their family and friends in this difficult moment, and we ask the entire community to support them with their strength and love.”
Daveeys helped KRÜ qualify for Valorant Champions 2023 by winning the Americas Last Chance Qualifier, beating out Cloud9, FURIA and others on the way. They finished at the bottom of their group after losing to Paper Rex and Giants.
On September 3, before Daveey’s death had been announced publicly, his teammate axeddy posted on X/Twitter to say he had taken a break from playing that day, adding, “Never forget to tell the people you love that you love them.”