Editing Mikhail Knyazev (section)

=== Early career and Russian Legion ===
In a 2012 interview, Knyazev stated that he began playing paintball in 2000 and identified [[Chris LaSoya]] as a player he had admired before becoming a professional.[1]

By the 2002 [[Campaign Cup]], he was playing for Russian Legion. In a retrospective published in 2014, [[Rusty Glaze]] recalled competing against Knyazev at that event while playing for [[Avalanche]].[2]

Knyazev subsequently played for Russian Legion during its successful period in American professional [[X-Ball]], including World Cup victories in 2006, 2009 and 2010. His tournament record with the organisation also included the 2009 and 2011 PSP Chicago Open titles.[1][2]

He left Russian Legion ahead of the 2012 season. In a statement published on 6 February 2012, general director Alexander Tarando described Knyazev as an experienced club veteran whom the organisation had hoped to retain to assist its younger players. Tarando confirmed that Knyazev had received an offer from another American team and wished him success following his departure.[3]