BenBest retires from active play, looks to transition into coaching
Benjamin "BenBest" Dieulafait has announced his retirement from professional Overwatch. The former Paris Eternal and Washington Justice tank player looks forward to a coaching position within the scene.
BenBest retires
"My time has come, a lot of emotions when I wrote this message as you might expect," BenBest began his retirement announcement. After a seven-year-long career with many ups and downs through which he remained tenaciously committed, the French tank is hanging up the mouse.
"I wasn't the easiest at times cause my desire to win was sometimes beyond belief but I hope that most of you will remember me as someone who gave everything for them and for the victory," the Frenchman wrote.
While he won't be active as a player, BenBest shared that he's looking to transition into a coaching career, having helped Team Peps reach their most recent third place in OWCS Stage 2.
"I helped the Team Peps for Stage 2 of OWCS as a coach. I think I can bring a lot of things with my experience and the most important thing is that I enjoy doing it so the result we had encourages me to continue on this path," he stated in his announcement, also thanking his former teammates, fans, and family for their support during his active playing career.
A long, tenacious career
Celebrating his breakthrough with GamersOrigin in 2017 and later on YaB in European contenders, BenBest became known to the wider Overwatch esports community during his time with the Paris Eternal.
Being part of a full European team in Overwatch League season 2, he was also part of the Hybrid roster rebuild that would substantiate the franchise's most successful period, winning the Summer Showdown in the North American Division in a nail-biter final against the Philadelphia Fusion.
After the third season's conclusion, Paris Eternal and BenBest parted ways. The tank player rejoined YaB and eventually Team Peps to grind back to an Overwatch League level. For the final Overwatch League season, the Frenchman joined forces with Washington Justice.
Since the demise of the Overwatch League, BenBest had once again partied up with Team Peps, playing in OWCS EMEA, during which the team celebrated a third place in stage 2, though narrowly missing the qualification for Dreamhack Dallas on account of Circuit Points.
He also represented his country during the 2018 and 2023 Overwatch World Cup and became a face of the French Overwatch esports scene, often vocally representing their interest.
