ReaderGrev

ReaderGrev

Hi, I'm Mikhail! I used to cover video games and esports for The Washington Post. Now, I do that here — breaking news, writing takes, and interviewing interesting people — for 4,000+ readers. Join us! 👇

Featured Posts

🌅 Exit Interview🌅 Exit Interview
Exit Interview: Anthony 'vanity' Malaspina

Exit Interview: Anthony 'vanity' Malaspina

Vanity still doesn't know why he was dropped from Cloud9. The move changed everything for him.

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
Kill the CEO in your head

Kill the CEO in your head

High-profile failures in the video game industry have changed how we talk about games for the worse

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
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The (e)sportswashing reading list

The (e)sportswashing reading list

Some resources (no apologia!) for folks curious about sportswashing

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov

Archive

🌅 Exit Interview🌅 Exit Interview
Exit Interview: Anthony 'vanity' Malaspina

Exit Interview: Anthony 'vanity' Malaspina

Vanity still doesn't know why he was dropped from Cloud9. The move changed everything for him.

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
Kill the CEO in your head

Kill the CEO in your head

High-profile failures in the video game industry have changed how we talk about games for the worse

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
📥 Only for Subscribers📥 Only for Subscribers
How Bracket City went from diner placemats to The Atlantic's 'digital puzzle empire'

How Bracket City went from diner placemats to The Atlantic's 'digital puzzle empire'

Add another word game to your rotation of daily puzzles published by news organizations

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
What are online shooters like Marathon really about?

What are online shooters like Marathon really about?

I hope Bungie's upcoming game can cash the checks its trailer are writing

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
🌅 Exit Interview🌅 Exit Interview
Exit Interview: Donald Boyce

Exit Interview: Donald Boyce

Boyce has worked for the most recognizable names in esports. But he says he’s ‘always kind of been trying to leave.’

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
📥 Only for Subscribers📥 Only for Subscribers
Two years of ReaderGrev

Two years of ReaderGrev

Plus: How long should you play a game before writing about it?

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
‘A fat L for people who care about sportswashing’

‘A fat L for people who care about sportswashing’

Disappointment and apathy in the wake of Riot Games’ planned return to the Esports World Cup

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
🌅 Exit Interview🌅 Exit Interview
Exit Interview: Ryan Friend

Exit Interview: Ryan Friend

North America's premier Counter-Strike booster talks hostile readers and his 'Maniac' reporting

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
📥 Only for Subscribers📥 Only for Subscribers
Some notes on my Valorant and Esports World Cup coverage

Some notes on my Valorant and Esports World Cup coverage

A sort-of mini edition of How to Read Articles

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
Internal Esports World Cup document includes Valorant in 2025 event lineup

Internal Esports World Cup document includes Valorant in 2025 event lineup

The document also references a Game Changers event, though a Riot Games spokesperson said Game Changers is not under consideration for the 2025 EWC

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
📥 Only for Subscribers📥 Only for Subscribers
Luigi Mangione is a gamer. What does that tell us?

Luigi Mangione is a gamer. What does that tell us?

There are limits to what you can learn about a person from the games they play.

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
🌅 Exit Interview🌅 Exit Interview
Exit Interview: Ryan Fairchild

Exit Interview: Ryan Fairchild

A former lawyer for esports athletes and content creators talks about stepping back from the job.

Mikhail Klimentov
Mikhail Klimentov
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