YnK
Appearances
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Day four, they looked like day one.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
They could shoot. Like, they could definitely shoot. That was a factor. Like, the individuals would hit hard. There was a lot of W Counter-Strike, like pushing smokes on timings that the opponent wouldn't expect. It's very frustrating. Um, but otherwise, you know, other than some good individual moments, I don't think there's, was a foundation there that was truly competitive.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
It was a little bit more like shock and awe. At least that's, that's how I felt. Like they definitely felt like W counter players.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Good deagles hitting lots of deagles. Aim was definitely on point. No problems there. And the other one in that category was Odik. Odik got eliminated today by Aurora and they were in a 2-2 game. I think the thing for Odik that was strange was they versed the two teams who had...
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
coaches standing in and that was two of their wins actually that was their only two wins yeah so that kind of means nothing to be to be completely fair i didn't mind uh i think case locks was okay from that team but yeah otherwise they didn't do that so that they were in the cinderella run category the next one i had and this one's gonna be crazy because i reckon once we jump in here we might have some things to say and i want to i want to hear yanko say it uh
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Temperature check, I had MIBI, M80 and Virtus Pro because those are the teams who are qualified for the major who we kind of want to see where they're at at this event for how they could potentially perform at the major. For M80, that's an embarrassing fucking loss to G2 coach, isn't it?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
It's been pathetic, mate. Look, I said it on the cast an infinite amount of times. Taz is a legend of the game. He's a major winner, right? I was watching him play 1.6 when his team was one of the best teams in the world, if not the best team in the world. I have the utmost respect for the guys playing against him when they were known as the plow. I was even still casting there.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I was analyzing them when they were still getting the most out of that five. Yeah, at the end of 2016, 2017, right? And he can play. There's no disrespect to Taz whatsoever, but it's still the coach, not one of the starting players, not even a stand-in that is a player actively playing for like eight to 10 hours a day, like the coach. And they beat multiple teams.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Like M80, Def described it as a horror show.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
There wasn't really any silver lining to it at all.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I even casted that game. Yeah, because... So, the way that started, it was on Anubis' first map, and it started with...
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
dgt like owning he was like 12 and 0 at one point uh in that in that game and he was having a lot of impact and then they ended up uh ended up simmering out on an urbus that he called and the team just looked mid and disjointed and then nuke as well so i mean it was it's a yeah nqz that's right he was a non-starter on either map like he was absent
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
well i guess that's why they're on an international squad right now right they had to make a choice that's the one they made and for furia it seems to be paying off seems to be like the fact you made the playoffs i know there's emissions with some of these rosters and stuff but it's a good result regardless yeah right so it's not a worst case it's not they didn't go 0-3 they didn't not make playoffs the car did not crash if you are looking for the car to crash it has not crashed yet yeah
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
MIBR and Virtus Pro, I had. So for Virtus Pro, more embarrassment, I guess, again. Using that word a lot. I don't know what it is, right? No, I do know what it is. I don't know why I said I don't know what it is. From my perspective, I don't think they play on meta Counter-Strike.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I think a lot of their ideas are too different to what works with the best teams. And they're trying to do a play style that I just... They can't even explain the play style. I just think the way that they do things, it doesn't feel that's what the top teams would be doing.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I reckon Flit does a lot. Like Flit definitely from what I was casting felt like he was making
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, no, look, that's like when you're in the Blast studio and you can hear people in the kitchen moving around plates and everything like that in the background. And they tell people, like, guys, when you're in the kitchen and there's casting going on, can you just be quiet? But you still hear some clanging. You know, someone picks up a plate and they drop it. The sound's going to happen.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
good decisions or decisions that were impacting like opening kills but i don't know like ancient their t side i their approach like they're getting out mid and they're waiting like they're waiting a decent amount of time sometimes they're not fighting for b land or mid control at all which they don't have a problem with but they don't have they don't feel like they're softening them up with nades if they know that they're going for crunches and stuff it's just it feels a little bit on a weird tempo
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
But I know, like, what else could be the problem when you have, let's just say you have Flit, Fame, and Flammas, right? Like, you have a really strong rifling core there. So then is it really just electronic?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Also, trying to put a noise constraint on players who are in green rooms next door, unless Blast have moved it since I was there.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
there might be a bit of fear factor in those players from doing the thing of getting yelled at by the captain.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
You can't want him to be taking more initiative and willing to fucking...
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So how does this sound, right? So I never really ask these questions because there's so much nuance to it, and we also don't have enough detail on the personality or whatnot. But do you guys think that Boombl4 would do a better job in-game leading this Virtus.pro roster than Electronic does?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Well, that's the thing though, right? Do you think you're getting enough fragging output from Electronic as the in-game leader to justify?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
He's the lowest rated. His performances have become a lot more up and down. He can still have good games where he delivers, but you can see that... the in-game leadership has taken a toll on him being a star rifler. Now you look to... Well, you've always looked to Flip within this roster, but Flip, Fame, and Flammas.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And Flammas doesn't play all of the favorable positions, so he's even been put in a bit of a box there too. Whereas I think, like, Bumic would take long anchor if it meant that Flammas got to be a rotating rifler, whereas Electronic won't do that.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, I think that that would be the first change I'd be looking for, but I'd also be looking for an alt change as well. I just don't think Ice is good enough. I think he has some moments, but I don't think he's good enough.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I also wouldn't say that I would just get somebody like Zorty over him. Like I wouldn't just go, oh yeah, no, I'll just get like, it feels like you'd want the AWPer to be significantly better. And do you think that you could get a personality like Degstar to work in that team? Then it's a completely different looking VP altogether.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, maybe it would happen a little bit too often, I would say, especially with the first games of the day. There was one super silly day. The rest of it was pretty buttoned up, I'd say. Just when you needed a... Sometimes you needed one or the crowd, but not so frequent. So I think it's all about less is more with the soundboard.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, flip fame, Flamas.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And GL. They're not bad. Okay, the other one I had in that list was MIBR, who did just qualify by beating Virtus.pro. But they're still just MIBR.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Well, I guess the framing of like a temperature check for the major out of the two other teams I had in that category, M80 and Virtus Pro, I guess MIBR come out on top of that pack by making the playoffs. They're in slightly better form. None of these teams are in good form. M80 is in miserable form. VP is in normal form. And MIBR is in there also maybe slightly than better form.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, no, my point, I guess, overall, it's like going into that nothing really changes with these teams. Unless MIBR has a really strong playoff run, which we will have to wait and see. So we can definitively talk about M80 and VP, but we have to wait for MIBR.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
The draft five headline is going to be massive after this episode.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, it hasn't changed the status quo enough to change the conversation.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I'm going to buy one of them, though. One of those mixes. I think it's like a Rode Podcaster Pro or something it was called. I think I have one later on. You got one of those? Oh, he's up. He's walking around.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
so we just got under pain so we don't have to waste time talking about the category that i had them in and this was because of the coach situation that did get rectified mid-tournament was i had them under freak shows so i had three teams and freak shows i like furia because they just got international g2 because they have hades and they had tasks because hunter wasn't there and pain because rick's had to stand in again but this time for a different player
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So Payne kind of worked himself out of that because old mate DGT was able to get there and play matches, but they still didn't qualify. So they don't really need too much to be said. If you look at Payne's win-loss history, it's terrible, but it's plagued by the stand-in situation. So measuring it is not even...
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Where are they now? I'm having a look right now. Payne. Right now they are 19th. So they are dropping, right? So they're definitely dropping and quite rapidly. Whereas a team like NIP have skyrocketed up the rankings now, right? They're like 24th. So the NIP were the, I guess the test case that we were all looking into to see how far you can make it in one season. And they started poorly.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
They tried to do this Jack's loophole and they weren't getting wins. But finally they started to piece it together. They qualified like through the open qualifiers to get to this event and now they're in the playoffs. So they've done it the hard way. But that's good. It shows it's possible. So within a season, now you're in contention at 24th in the world for invites.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
If they stay where they are now, come next season, they'll get an invite to Bounty, which is 32 teams, right? So there's also Cologne that they could get an invite to. It would probably be touch and go, but yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
so there are events now that they can that's true though it's like the first week of june that those invites go out or yeah how long before the i'm not sure i don't have the exact like 60 days or something it could be two months yeah i think it's two months 60 days then it's like in a week or like in 10 days yeah so maybe they get to play cologne planes so that could be fun
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So just to tie up the category, G2 and FURIA. Should we get the G2 one done quickly? There's not a lot we have to say here.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Now, to be honest, I didn't want to get that mixer because of the soundboard. I wanted to get it because of the interface and everything like that. Because the type of headsets, the one that Dinko let me borrow, and then I also rented one that I have to take back to someone around here in Malta. it was good. Like it makes it super simple. So might have to be the investment.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Hello, Jason. We're missing one member of the party.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Can I offer a counterpoint to the Malbs one here? Because Malbs, I agree on one side, but also something that I noticed in the series that I did of G2 where he was owning on Dust2 and Mirage. He had criticized himself publicly for his performances this year. And I thought maybe playing in this environment, still against good teams, relieves a pressure valve.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I don't think you're getting optimal practice or officials because the situation is not optimal. But for him as a star player or meant to be a star player in those roles, not worrying about the result because the whole event will just be explained away of, we didn't have our five, our coach had to stand in.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So for me, it kind of felt like it removed a little bit of pressure from him to perform a bit more freely.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, but I think overall, just a wasted event for G2. It's just a wasted event and one that has more damage.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
It's true. Shout out to Taz, who did put in some admirable performances considering the circumstances and having some impactful rounds.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Like we spoke about before, that helps future-proof G2 as well, right? Like getting a coach like that who has a good track record of dealing with younger players and bringing them up. Whereas, yeah, no, I think that's a fair sentiment. Okay. Furia. Now, this is one that is a fun one, isn't it, lads? Yukinda and Molidoy alongside of Rifling Fallen, Yuri, and Kaserato. Rifling Anchor Fallen.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
You know, I think that this is fine for doing podcasts with, but that type of headset stuff did- For casting, it's really nice. Yeah, because the hardest thing is waking up in the morning, and I guess it is, I have to wake up even earlier than we were, which is fine. That's just the nature of the beast. But to clear out the sinuses, and I'm not sure why, I was so clogged up the whole time.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And he did a great job. I don't know where he ended up in the stats, but I think every time I was watching a Fallen game, it felt like he was doing a bang-up job.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, I think Molotov is always fun to watch right being one of these new up and coming offers that they've taken a risk on. And he had a couple of flashes where it's like, okay, you can see they with a nice little 4k on the AWP and the way that he moves around the map.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And it's not just but he is going to have and we should make sure because we have recent things in history to be able to frame this with a ultimate on liquid. We have like Slend at the moment who looks like he's going to be getting replaced over there on GamerLegion for Akor. Torji, but Torji, you know, started hot, went cold, and now he's back to being hot, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So, you know, we see the potential for these players, but it's about can they evolve their game once the spotlight starts to hit? I guess for the moment, they're in a good spotlight. The prep is going to be at an all-time high for the Major, obviously. It's the Major.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So at that point, we're going to see if he's either shown all of his moves or if he's going to just be the real deal and be able to play in the biggest environment. But overall, it's a better look for FURIA than it has been. So what was it? Their first playoffs in... Was it 200 days or something?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, so this is the thing. There's two of those playoff games that are...
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
like somebody has to win games but for different reasons furia mib has won and the other is the mongols versus eternal fire and we already had that katowice at the start of the year and that's we say that not because they're not good teams because both teams are bad on stages and this will be another one with the crowd i guess mongols will be the favorites
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I've been clogged up since Sydney, since Sydney, Melbourne. Oh my God, blasphemy, a solid country. But I've been clogged up like that whole time. It's just that I lost my voice in Melbourne doing the, you know, all the yelling at the cashes stuff. And it'd been fucked since then. So a bit gruff. And then it's been very just like this phlegm has been had.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I don't think. Except for Bounty. No, they got eliminated in Cluj, right? Except for Bounty.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And then this is gross and people don't want to hear about it. But when you don't have this, you'd never... you take it for granted. You know, you need to be celebrating the times that you're clear and you're clean and you don't have any, like a layer of phlegm sitting there and you're feeling like shit because you feel a million bucks when you can breathe properly and you can talk properly.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
This is why the category is like stake your claim. So something had to be different at this event, right? And one of them will win that first quarterfinal. So if they're able to break through that barrier, The question is, is either team making steady progress?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Because when Senzu goes missing and he's one of their best players regularly and he goes missing in a playoff game, of course their performance is not going to be as good. I think 9-10 is the real deal. I don't know. Mongols, maybe they're taking gradual steps because they are so young and it's just hard to measure it.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
You don't sound like you're underwater. So I'm waiting for it to move. I should probably do something about it. Oh, here he comes.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
But the thing is, right, so for Aurora and for Mongols, they need to have a strong result here for us to have any belief that if they do make it to the playoffs or the major, they have a chance, right? Because beating each other, nobody cares about. It's winning that next game. And if it's against Na'Vi, Mongols have beaten them in group stage games before, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So this is an important time for them to be able to see if they can get a win on the stage. Wasn't the last time that they played Na'Vi for some type of stakes?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
It just feels like there was some stakes the last time they played. Let me see. Mongols, Lisbon. Here it is. What match was that?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Seeding game. Yeah, okay.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
After that is the seeding game. So there was some stakes there. Yeah. Yeah, okay. But this is obviously bigger stakes, right? So I guess for Aurora and the Mongols, the jury's still out, right? One of the two teams essentially needs to be in the grand final or win the event somehow for any of the dialogue to shift on them.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
For Na'Vi, though, do you still think on their best day, if they were having their best day, they could win the major over the rest of the field?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, I can give a little bit.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
The next one here is the teams whose Super Bowl it was. which were Game Allegiant, Astralis, Big and NIP. And for all those names, it's because they're not the major, right? For different reasons. Game Allegiant, by not making the major, they're still trying to prove that they're a top team in the world and get more reps with a young roster, which they failed at doing. They were eliminated 0-3.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
They ended up losing to Hotu. So that's a pretty bad loss there. Astralis... Obviously with Hooksy in the roster and the ambiguity around the organization and where it's going, they're essentially playing for their careers and contracts, but also the VRS points so that if they do stay together as a team, there's still positions for them to get invited to events.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Big, it's their Super Bowl, I suppose, because they're never good anyway in the Super Bowl if they get a chance to play. The toilet bowl. And NIP because they're trying to get back on the map. And the only one of those, actually no, two of the four are playing like it's their Super Bowl.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
yeah the other two have been eliminated already big with the embarrassing loss to g2 and not that just like m80 but theirs was worse theirs was worse they absolutely fell apart on the second map their map choice mirage they got made to look stupid like they they weren't even fucking competitive that was pathetic that's that's what that was and game of legion uh i don't know what the fuck happened with them mate like
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Well, Slender's the most rated player of the group stage. I don't know what the fuck happened.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
allegedly no no it was a rumor I just saw the news come out so I was just browsing Reddit there trying to keep up to date so Gamer Legion have tweeted we'll be playing with Akor as our standard IEM Dallas as we weren't able to secure a visa for Slend despite our best efforts Akor has been here before he's been awesome before and he's ready to show up for us in Dallas take us to another final Freddie he's Hungarian he probably said just go in on a Nesta I don't get it yeah I don't know
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So they're using Acre as a stand-in for Dallas. But I also did think that they were benching him for the major and bringing in somebody else because of the bad form. But no, it looks like they're going to stick with him unless that's just misdirection.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
not okay you guys know what it's like to solve the tech oh he's gone he's gone hope it uploaded because otherwise they won't get that you know so uh we'll hope we get it all but we'll see it'll be a fun interjection from us you're using a keep cup from cologne germany yeah dude i have like eight of these i have like five of these try again how's the starter
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Actually, that's true. If he can't get it for Dallas, then he's probably not going to be able to get it for the major, is he?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So then the Gamer Legion season is over. So whatever results they have with ACOR, who cares? Because it's a stand-in. And you just got last place at PGL.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
torson did have a good ace so that's my highlight of gamer legion uh at the event he had a good ace on nuke so shout out to torson for that i think it was only the third ace of the tournament when it happened since then there's been a lot case locks nate safe case locks again wrinkle insani you jerks hades wakadia there's a couple in there um what about yes big was embarrassing game religion okay let's do australia okay
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Hooksy, man. He's back. I love, mate, that round that he has on short. I slow down frame by frame that second kill into third kill, which I think is onto fame behind the smoke. And if you slow it down, you just hit play pause, play pause, play pause, play.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
You see where he's flicking his mouse back to site and just a stray bullet catches fame in the side of the head through the smoke for the third kill. You're like, for fuck's sake. He deserves it. Give him one. But yeah, good to see Hooksy back. And Astralis already look more like a team, I would say. I think that Hooksy will definitely bring them some more structure, without a doubt.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
You know, the ambiguity around the organization, that's a whole different conversation. But in terms of the constellation of five, Stown has to have a good event now in the playoffs.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I know they're playing Na'Vi, but it's time, Stown. It's time. Otherwise, give Stair your roles and we'll replace you with BlameF or something. I don't know, like...
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I think that right there is a good thing to dig into, that comment on the desk, because it's really important when you think about the way that they were having Kaydyn in the team. Kaydyn, when he was part of Heroic as well, it was like, okay, let's do these openings, and then we cause so much chaos, and then we can have this...
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
because everybody's reacting so quick to what Kaylee and said, these crazy mid rounds where we're all together or we're rotating quick or we're going for a regress or we're doing this. And they never clicked with that in this new team. And maybe because he wasn't always playing central roles because on the CT side, he had to anchor with the rifle a bit more. So there's no structure to that.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
That is more feel, right? There's still... an opening with the util and the flashes, and we know how it's timed and everything. But if we don't find ourselves in a 3v3 mid-round, then we can't do this fucking puppet master dancing around reacting together and hopefully finding the gaps.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And that's why it's also, that's not a consistent way to play the game, which is with Hooksy, you know, wanting to add a bit more structure. That's great. And look, yeah, look, if Stown can perform better under a structured leader, because think about it, when was the last time he had one of those? He had Device before KDN. And then before device, he had Katie.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah. So there you go. So hooks is the first time he's had an in-game leader. Give him to the end of the year.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Nice. NIP? Who's the other team? NIP. Yeah, the test case for a team to make it higher in the VRS within a season. So we already touched on that point. I think Wrinkle's good. I think Shushu's playing well.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Unless he says something that we can't air as soon as he joins, and then we might have to edit that part out.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, I think like this is good as well, because the last team that I had was Spirit and that was King of the Hill, because this is their tournament to lose, essentially. At least that's the way I see it. And it's like how many different opponents can they get pushed by, tested by, like people trying to stress the map pool and they still stand up and waltz through.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
They're the heavy favorites still at this juncture of it. The teams that they had to play to get to this point were Game Allegiant 2-0, NIP 2-0, and then Astralis 2-0. So it's not like they, you know, beat noobs, right? Those teams all there could push back a little bit, and they took care of business 2-0 in every single game. So that's a really good sign.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And now their biggest threat, right, we were saying... On paper, probably... Well, not on paper. It's not Na'Vi on paper. But in theory, Na'Vi, I would say. So, yeah, I don't know. I think Spirit win. And if they don't win, that's a bad sign for the team's confidence going into the Major.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
change like improve our opinion of spirit if they win this event but if they lose this like this this could be this could be really tarnishing going in going into the next few events it's dangerous this quarter and this semi yeah right like you lose in the final okay well at least we made it to the final but if you lose in the quarter or the semi and your spirit that could have some really adverse effects especially considering who they'll play in those two games like you can't lose to these teams you can't lose to nip you can't lose to furia mibr right and also for them it's
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah. But I guess the thing is at the moment, I was going to say the only thing that matters is the Major, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Like, so that was the point of all of these different things. So for Hotto and Odick to make the playoffs of this event would have been a victory, right? For the temperature check to see where the others, like some teams it is really, where are they at for the major? And that's most of the teams who are in attendance there.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
One, two, three.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
So I was going to say, for a team like Vitality, there's a big conversation, right? This is the world number one. They're the best team in the world. What does this event mean? Well, right now, you want to make sure that you're not putting too much stress on the team so that you're not worried about it going into the major in a couple weeks' time.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
You want to also hide as many maps or strats as you possibly can while still winning the event. They're not going to be setting their sights right now on winning two Grand Slams in the calendar year. But if you win Dallas and start next season with Cologne, you're like, okay, well, yeah, awesome.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I imagine that the pressure for the team going into this event from the management, from the staff around them isn't, oh, we have to win this. It'd be, let's make sure we make playoffs. Let's make sure that we play good counter-strike. That'd be the goal.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I'm not either. They've won 59. I'm not worried about that as a team. No, but I know what you're talking about, Jason.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, but I think that's where you have to embrace the circuit and you need to talk about things honestly. I think if people are talking about it and expecting... to be the same importance of a tournament, that's just not reasonable. And it never is.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And I think it's our job as the people who talk about it on the podcast and the broadcast to frame those things honestly, while also not just shitting on our employer while we're doing the job for them. We can be more candid when we're doing podcasts. You have to walk that line. And also, I think this is the thing.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And people would go down and they'd ask, and they're like, oh, no, the air con's broken. And you know that it's bang on with what you said. They just don't want to put the power on at that point in time because it's like, oh, it hasn't hit the point that we can sit this summer.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
If you can be honest in your casting or your analysis or the way that you host and present things, then you're also going to build more trust with the viewer. And then when it does get to an exciting event, then everybody will be a little bit more buying in.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
yeah no i i think like it it still means something to someone right either the player in the server or even the viewer as a fan um sometimes bad counter-strike can be really tough sometimes bad counter-strike can be really funny yes um that could that's one of the good things bad counter-strike can be can offer some very humorous moments uh but gentlemen it's time i need to depart it's time yeah same all right all right we'll get a quick hour and 15 in cheers see you in a couple of days peace peace
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
That could become a problem.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
That's like if you tried turning it on and off again. Exactly.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Oh, now I'm going to go get a webcam for Richard. Don't come at you. Fuck that. He's got to go.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
It's definitely better.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
We're a three box. We're confined to the three boxes. Maybe sometimes a fourth.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
For sure. Alex told me you had a water feature in your casting setup. Is that correct?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Jason, I have a question for you before we get into the thick of the Counter-Strike. This one might be a little bit touchy, and if you don't want to answer, you don't have to answer. You can just say, you know, move on. We'll talk about something else. Now, I did see a comment. I'm not sure where it was. Could have been a Reddit thread. Could have been a Spotify comment.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Could have been a YouTube comment. As if you check the Spotify comments, Chad. And people were mentioning your beard. Okay. Yeah. Now, there's accusations flying around that you may be dying your beard. How do you respond to said accusations?
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I need to know who they're up against, if they can take it. I think the core that you've got there of Maui Steak alongside of Harry and Hugo, that can be a strong core.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
I think between those three, as long as the three of them are able to get their maximum contributions, I'd give them a chance to get across the line. I think, you know, you're going to have a tough time with owner pixel because he's a vertigo Stan and there's no vertigo. So I'm not really expecting him to offer up too much.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
He's probably going to try and troll or he's going to try hard one of the two. And then with Blair in the mix, if you can put him on a site to anchor, you know, he can he can be good for one. So I think that really we're going to be looking at Maui, Hugo, and Harry. That's going to be the star trio of this team. In terms of who's going to be orping, I'm not sure. I can't really comment on that.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And I think there'll be an in-game leader trust. It'll be Hugo, Byron, and Maui probably combining to call the rounds, I'd say.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, and I also think, you know, what's the confidence level going to be coming out from Harry Russell? He's a bit of a talismanic player when it comes to show matches, either there or he's not. And I know that the crowd can get the better of him. And it will be a hostile crowd in this environment. So it wouldn't be the first time we've seen Harry crumble.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
He's been kicked off stage by Janko before. But we're going to need a better performance from him this time around.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
Yeah, no, look, and I don't think Harry's necessarily been in form lately because he's had a lot going on.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
And the streamers too. Yeah. What more can you say about that? When you said Super Bowl, Jason, it activated my trap card, right? So day one of Astana, I started things off with Alex. Well, we were on the secondary stream the start of every day.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
But the way that I kind of categorized the event when we were just before any of the matches had gone down, I made a list of all the names and I had put teams into these categories, right? So I'm going to go through this now and I'll go from bottom to top. And hopefully this, we can talk about things as we go through here. So I had Cinderella stories.
Talking Counter
Episode 135: PGL Astana - FURIA's gamble pays off, G2 stumbles, Return of the IGL for NiP & Astralis
If either of these two teams were to run, it would have been a Cinderella run, right? It was either Hotu or Odic because these guys weren't teams that we were putting any stock in whatsoever coming into this event. Hot2 played like it was just a fucking pug the entire time, which was crazy to watch just that face unfolding live.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
Okay, Seb went out for dinner. Yeah, we got Seb out for dinner. Oh, wonderful.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
I thought we covered that.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
That's only table of three.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
I got you on board for the longest time.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
No, we may as well. Let's just let, because I want to get stuck into Jason, but I want to at least get him the most of the way through his coffee before I fucking get a show.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
I'm with you.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
It's with Monacy, you know, with his arm around different girls and stuff. And then he recently had the situation that came out with the girl he was dating or whatever.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
All the staff are like super nice and lovely and you're talking to them and they're like, how are you going today, sir? And yeah, great. And I'm like, am I just part of the culture here now? Like, are we just part of the walls?
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
Are you joking?
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
resentment directed to a Harry Russell. And there was a, well, I don't know. I'm not sure.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
This is actually going to get me angry.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
I can already tell where it's going. I remember like a lot of moaning and, and there was definitely some begrudgement and he was just walking around like an angry man, Yanko, because he was on the early morning schedule. It was a lot of that.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
And... I've been fine. It's been a-okay. Not a drama in the world. Haven't been tired. It's just so stupid. First day, a little bit slow. Okay, you little fucking, you rat. Watch the jet lag excuse.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
I'm waking up at 3.30 every day.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
No, it's because I want to make sure that when I go into work, the biggest event that I am at the top of my game, Jason.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
But it's just the situation, Jason.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
How did you see that? I thought only the person who made the group could see that. No, everyone sees it. Oh, okay. Well, fuck all.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
Well, hold up a second. No, no, no.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
You told me to an Australian about travel. Are we actually doing this?
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
Yeah, but I actually used to travel and compete.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
So I'm well aware of the jet lag scenario. Jet lag doesn't work. It's not a one for one because you were seven hours behind. It doesn't fucking work that the fact, oh shit. If anything, it should work in your favor for getting up early in the morning.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. No, because your body's all over the place.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
No, that's not the experience.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
You get on a plane. I don't have enough coffee for this. See, that's why I asked.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
That's what he said.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
Harry's now on the morning.
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
Week one was rough. We get paid. We got to do what we got to do. What if you were on the morning schedule the whole time?
Talking Counter
Episode 117: Shanghai Major Opening Stage and the Top 16 teams at the Major
Dust changed to the mornings.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
And we're hitting their peaks.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Nobody swam.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
All the players, all the executives. I can't think of anything fucking worse to have happened to you.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
I'm just saying, if everyone thought like me, if everyone did what I do, the world would be a better place.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Now you've got to do it under pressure.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
That's actually so funny. That's mental. Is his thing open or his... Now it's the grand finale.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Might as well at this point.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
We tried.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
We did our best to save complexity.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Fuck's sake.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Yeah, potentially. But, yeah. I don't know. This new VP now.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
That's small print and it's a little bit grainy.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Oh, okay. So you guys don't do the cap or the label?
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Mantu who? Gade.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Cool.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Goodbye. Cheers, boys. Peace. I have to hit the end button. Don't close it.
Talking Counter
Episode 120: The Rostermania Episode- FaZe, G2, Liquid, Vitality, Falcons, Cloud9, VP all changing
Yeah, I'm going for like a nice terrorist chic look. It's great for Counter-Strike.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's war now. No, I mean like it's war now. You need a new one. You've had it for 10 years.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Okay. Yeah, that makes it so much better. No, fair enough. We were sitting next to each other and then Chad was behind us and Prof was there. I remember just turning to Prof and I was like, maybe you should have had more talent deliver awards.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Some of them got it. Right?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, some of them did get it.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Sometimes just the delivery. Maybe people try to overcomplicate it and try to make it too low. It doesn't have to be this grand old thing. Just do what Donk does. You throw in a quick little joke, a little bit, like a sentence or two, and here are your finalists, blah, blah, blah, and the winner is, and that's it, bro. It's not that hard.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
That's good. Yeah, because he hasn't had enough time to screw it up more.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's kind of crazy... seeing and meeting a guy that made everything possible for everyone who's now made a career and a living and like an awesome life out of him fucking getting on it with one more couple more guys whatever and like creating a mod to this game and sort of like
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Three very jet lagged people here doing this podcast.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
He was very chatty.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah. Yeah, I had to tell him, like, I remember this thing that I saw, I don't know where, about him delivering, like, a lecture at some university and talking about... Like a netcode or something, right? Yeah, developing game and everything, and how people were complaining that their ping was too high. Oh, yeah, that they would just artificially lower the ping.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And he would just, like, change the numbers without changing anything else, and then the feedback was, wow, it's much smoother now. Thank you for the update. It's so much better, which I think... You know, he's a really great example of the community that still exists today.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I think probably if they do it at the beginning, make it a little bit... When they do something like that, it's probably always a little bit OP. What I would do maybe with the FAMAS is I would make the burst stronger, really strong like that, but I would probably lower the damage of the FAMAS a little bit. So only if you...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I guess, yeah. I was thinking about that right now, if this has to be two headshots, or, like, probably one, and, like, all three bullets have to... I think you'd want to make it so it's only a kill on the first burst if it's two dinks. Then you'd want to make it so if they don't get a double... Depends also on the distance, what we're talking about.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Like, I'm thinking, you know, nuke yard, nuke outside, like, something like that. Dust two from... I don't know, outside B to people coming out, or, you know, like some of those, like the longer range fights that you have, not like from long on Inferno to people coming out mid, like that's fine with just one.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
So I think the damage fall off would be important, but I think, I mean, you were kind of nailing it as you were talking and sort of just a long range option for the CTs, right? Like short range, obviously there's the MP9 and then you have like the Scout, but it's not the same as a rifle, so... I think it would be helpful. I still think we need to change the economy. I think
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, I think maybe, or just maybe in general, like get rid of the 1400. Altogether. Yeah, it just has to be 1900 because it is kind of whack, you know, that second round, how much is things. And sure, you can say, yeah, but just don't lose it or whatever. But sometimes it's just the nature of the round because of the economy is like, it's not an easy round for the team that won the pistol, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I'd like to look at the stats. It's not a free round for the team that won the pistol, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, but even like second round is the one that, you know, the one that comes up the most. It can be even around down the line, right? Like a reset round where also there's like maybe one M4 saved in play and something like that or an AWP and something like that. And then you lose to that. It's not the same. And you still get fully reset, right? Like to 1400.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Or you get two light rounds with pistol upgrades. Yeah. I feel like with MR-12, that's fine. Like there's less rounds and it's just so hard to recover sometimes. Like we've done games... Where, you know, a team loses, like, two of those. And they haven't necessarily even misplayed the rounds. Like, the other team played well. Some guy won the clutch. Like, it wasn't, like, blatant.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Mornings are from... Here we go. Anything before six, you're like...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Oh, they fucking played this, like, so bad. Right? Yeah. And it turns the game completely on its head, right? Because you know how it works. It's not that one round. It's like that you feel like you have to force because if you eco, you have 3,300, right? After the double eco, you can do fuck all with that. But if it was 1,924, then all of a sudden you have 4,300. So you can do something.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Maybe someone saved, has a little bit extra money left over, and it's a completely different conversation. So you have to force it 1,400, which is shit, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
that's why we started seeing teams do those MP9 rounds 500 is a big difference between the second round and like you know if you lose the second and then Jason's too jet lagged for this maths no I know it's alright it's just like my point I am a little bit it's just that it's like you force with the 1400 nevermind you lose it you equal the 1900 and then you're by still compromise first gun
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
a guy in a car trying to guy getting cocked trying to sell like business stock on tiktok or well not tiktok anymore at least not in the u.s but you know telling like yeah i wake up at 4 a.m i get my workout in i eat 17 eggs and some broccoli then i go back i do another workout you know then i shower what do you against david goggins and jocko willick he's on like grindset mindset
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
exactly right so that's the main issue it's like the ripple the butterfly effect that it sort of has which is fine in MR15 you know Ashton Kutcher is one of his finest movies Kutcher's Kutcher's Kutcher or whatever Yeah, that and Dude, Where's My Car.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah. Yeah. Kind of fucked up at the start. I don't remember what happened at the start. Maybe you shouldn't have referenced it.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
isn't he i think he's friends with diddy like in the movie or in real life in real life or do you just know the plot of this it's been like 20 years dude i saw that with like the first girlfriend i ever had You saw this movie with your friend. This is getting worse. I don't think we're talking about the same movie. We have to be.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I don't think there's any way for me to get deeper into what I'm trying to say without us, this episode, getting... It's like one of the stuff that happens at the start is like there's some diddling going around. So it is a Diddy situation. Unfortunately, it is. Can Diddy sue us? Like what he's trying to sort of prevent happening, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Like what the, you know, the father of the friends of his when they were kids. With the camera. Come on. Did you see this movie? It's been a long time as well. How are you not remembering this? Well, he's reading now.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's an aimer's gun. It is better, but it's like... No tracers though, right? The A1. The no sound for the A1 is still going to be relevant.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I'm going to sit on the fence. Why didn't they buff the incendiary yet?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
There's no need to do that, man. Even if you look at just biology, your internal clock is like you're sort of naturally supposed to wake up as the sun goes up. You're waking up in the middle of the night to start your day in the middle of the night. You're just being silly. You can't tweet about it if you don't get up before everybody else. And you go to bed at 7 p.m. Sick.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I can't believe again we have this thing. I thought we were past it when we talked about it last time, but I'm referring to the cut-off point for the invites being April 7th. And the tournament is on June 3rd. It's like... Any event after that, I'm not saying it's not going to matter. It matters for the next season.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, especially the ones that are nearer to the actual major. I think that's where you're going to see some teams skip. So they're focused on just preparing and putting a boot camp in before the actual major. And then that comes into play with... okay, which tournaments have more... That's going to be actually an interesting dynamic. So some of the top teams...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
will skip, let's say, PGL Astana and IM Dallas, right? So they could just boot camp and then go to the major in Austin, right? PGL has 1.25 mil, like, in prize pool. So that trickles down. Yeah, so some team, you know, maybe the team who's seven-seeded will win the tournament, you know, seven in the rankings, could win the tournament.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And a team that's 30th or 24th can, you know, if they get into the playoffs somehow, could...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Do these teams gain a lot if they have a decent run? Because, sure, you can do the calculations, but obviously you don't know what will actually happen at the tournament. Who's going to beat who? So you can't really map it all out beforehand. So you are definitely taking a risk with deciding to sit it out. You're also kind of taking a risk with deciding...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
To play it not only because, let's say, you might have less time to prepare for the major, but also that event can go sideways for you regardless. And have a negative impact anyway. While you're there. Then you take also into account the fact that Melbourne is after it. How many teams from Europe will be willing to go all the way to Australia?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Why would you if you're already locked in for the major?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
No, that had nothing to do with it. I mean, the PGL event... The location, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And also, here's the thing as well. I get it. I think when it was announced, it was also a bit of a discussion about it. At the end of the day, it's because of visas. It's so that teams have enough time to get the visas. Wherever. I mean, different teams will have problems for different... I'm sure the Russians are going to have a hard time with two months lead time. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But then the question is... I don't want to get into this discussion, really. But it's like, should teams... already have the visas. But I guess for some countries it's difficult because you actually have to have a... Single entry or purpose. Yeah, for purpose why you're going. So I guess that's out of the question. I think it's just the reality of our space at the moment. It's a reality.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's like you have to pick your poison. And I guess this is the least poisonous pill. Which just means you die slower.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
This is like Jason having to drink a beer.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Sounds like a Transformers.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
That's what I was going to say. It almost feels like with the way it is, you don't skip any events before the cutoff date. You only do... After the cutoff? After the cutoff. It's like when you take it... Unless Shibongos and Senzu has a broken arm. I almost feel like... I think... because bounty is half of its own line. Like that's where you start your boot camp before it.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And you use it a little bit to get into the groove. You want to get to the playoffs, obviously. So you get to play some LAN games, right? And then Kato is a big one. But even after that, like...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
you know events like Cluj and you just have to sort of power through it I feel like I don't know but it's tricky because I say this but then I'm like okay you play Cluj and then you get to Pro League so you've been to potentially Copenhagen then straight to Kato then straight to
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Romania right and now you're going to play one more tournament like how burnt out are you and what is going to be your level of play at the moment and are you actually going to be doing more harm than good for yourself if you go to pro league and you don't make the playoffs and you lose to mind freak or whoever the fuck is going to come from Australia right to play and something like that happens like you're
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
you are likely to be... I love this. This is one of the... We talked about... This is one of my favorite things about the podcast in the last couple of months. It's whenever we get to talk about this weird-ass shit. It's like... We actually don't know. I'm trying to learn. I'm actively trying to learn.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I'm just like sort of... Yeah, it might be this, but maybe I'm wrong, but maybe not because there's... So much that goes into it.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Some guy who won like first place in a math competition in China.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
fucking fucking word the maths equation equation is the word i was looking for to show everybody like what the exactly what you're saying what the jump or or the other would be uh but yeah talking about the hltv why did they do a puff piece on blast i don't know i don't i don't know the articles mate that thing i did not read the interview that was tldr No.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Because it's just... It's one of these that... And I think from time to time, they do it... Look how long this shit is, bro. I never wrote an essay this long. They do it with every TO once they get a major or something, right? And then... Go up, up, up, up. Wait. A little bit down. The long question... The question is really long and the answer is short.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, that one. So, once I got to that question... Careful, Jason. And it's like... The thing is, it's like the guy's asking a legit question about it. I think it was like about the fall finals last year and it went from Royal Arena to a smaller arena and it wasn't full and there was less like that and people were unhappy with, let's say, the food and drinks.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And it was a question about, you know, along those lines, it's like, what was it, you know, what happened? Are you, you know, what was the reason for this? Do you think maybe a lot of other events happening in Copenhagen? Whatever. And then the answer is,
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's like, why are we... I was just thinking, like, why is HLTV doing this? Like, what's the point of this for HLTV? Why are they like... It's just like a promo article.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
That's not the fault.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It wasn't Lisbon. They had one in 2018. No, Jason. There was a Lisbon in 2018.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
We were doing a Blast, and I think it was Lisbon.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I think just for me, they touch on that. I actually read the whole interview. Why do you hate yourself? Because I wanted to see if there's going to be any substance there, anything that's not like promo corporal stuff. There's got to be something. Listen, this is not even... If you got someone from ESL to do this, it would be the same. If someone from PGL did it, it would be the same.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
This is not specific to Blast. I was just like, what is the point of this being on air? Why did HLTV do this? To get like what... There was something about... It was nothing. It's just like a promo. I'm like, unless Blast paid for it, which I guess would be specified that they didn't. I'd rather them do it than not do it.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Just one straight answer in the interview. When was the last time we got a straight answer? There was also another thing that pissed me off. There's the stuff about bro in there. And it's like, well, we actually... COVID-19. Yeah, it was like, yeah, well, we had no reason to not take team statements at face value. You cannot say that with a straight face when the guy's agent came out and said...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
he's perfectly fit to play. Like, you cannot use that. Like, it's one thing if it's, like, some team from, like, Brazil, and they're flying over, and you're like, hey, this guy got sick, we need a sub. You know, and no one says anything. Well, then you're like, well, I guess, like, this guy has fucking tonsillitis, and he can't play, so give them a sub. Like, this is not that situation.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And you can't, how can you not, like, that's what fucking bothers me. But that's also because I'm a little bit, I'm a little bit backwards, you know? Yeah. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
um where i'm like expecting like b for balloon i'm expecting like you know things to not be like this for people to be more honest straight yeah more straightforward but unfortunately that's not how the world works maybe one day you know maybe when musk buys tiktok maybe we get there his job is to like go out there and smooth the pr he's not a fucking politician that's his job
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I hate it because now it sounds like I'm taking shots at the guy. It's not a personal thing. It's not anything. It's like, as I said, any other person in that position from another company would give you the same type of answers.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
About what? This should be pissing you off. I didn't read it. Because why are we, we are not like fucking, no, but this whole general sentiment. I didn't waste my time. We're not some corporation. Like, yes, there's money coming in. We have big events. Blasters. We should be more, are they really? But we should be more like fucking down to earth, more grounded, more chill.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Me and Jason are going to put bright lights straight into his face. Maybe have a bucket of water nearby for Jason's pet peeves. No waterboarding.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's fine if you get a false positive for an AIDS test. Shout out to Seneca's one. That is kind of life. You can't be like, oh, I'm going to get tested for this horrible illness. And like, oh, shit, I'm positive. Oh, no, my life is over. Wait, actually. This might just be a false positive story. I think we can survive AIDS now though, can't we?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, it's just like, it sounds scary, doesn't it? What do you want? Chaddies? Can this cancer do the trick for you?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I think way more guys have problems with that than I imagined, you know, so they just sort of resonated with molding with molding.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
What's a cuck chair? We're sitting in it right now.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But I hate it. Bro, another thing from the interview was like his... Wait, what? He's going back to the interview. No, because you said the CCT thing, right? So the conclusion was, it's like, oh yeah, we realized we should have gotten Isik involved at an earlier stage because there needs to be a third party to objectively decide...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
do love it like make a ruling i'm like no if the last thing we need is more of isek anything it needs to shut down or just solely like you pointed out chad focus on the match fixing and investigate that and nothing else that's what ian smith knows what he's doing i hope ian still do it like in in would yeah he's a good guy i just think there's too much stuff for them to try and cover over there
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I think... This is probably for an episode from home, but we talked about this like a couple of months earlier where I made the point of we're still like at the infant stage of our ecosystem, right? Like we're missing so many things, a players association, an actual sort of, you know, FIFA, which is not a good example because it's corrupt as fuck.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But, you know, a body that would look over the competitive aspect and all of this stuff. A clear communication from the people who hire you. And again, the problem with that is it's not a game that no one owns. It's a game that's ownership of Valve.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And probably the answer to it long term would be actually Valve would have to be more and more involved in doing it, which they probably have zero incentive to do. So then it's like, who knows what will happen five, 10 years from now, right? Like if things keep growing and keep getting bigger and all of that, which, as I said, probably best conversation for an online episode and not get into that.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I fell first class a couple of times. Really? Yeah, but it was on Swiss and Lufthansa, which are like... I thought you were going to say Ryanair. They're not the same as your, you know... Qatar's. Qatar's, Emirates or Singapore. My dream is to fly Singapore Airlines first class one time.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But that's why we have all these little issues. That's why you have, oh, all of a sudden ESL is putting in club prize money, right? Like club money into it, which goes to the ores. But it's like, It's counted in the VRS. It's counted as prize money. So the orgs are telling the players, well, this is just for us. But the players should be going to them. No CSPPA, of course.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
So now they're probably getting reamed out all over the place. They should be just getting, listen, if this is counted into the fucking VRS, then it's prize money.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
like it would be ridiculous it's absolutely ridiculous that they get zero percent of it sure sure maybe you can make an argument if you're the org like you don't get 85 90 like you do from the prize money you get a little bit less yeah but you should they should still get a good chunk of it i mean but i think jason brought this up when we haven't done it before and we did talk about this on an episode recently but i think the thing is is to just do with the viewpoint of the to slash orgs and views on business models right like
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But because I could, you know, if you are in business, you can just use one of your vouchers to go to first class. Right. Okay. It's free and you can do it. And I did it one time when we were going to Shanghai. I think we had business class already from the TO or something when I was coaching FaZe.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And it's more for the smaller events. Exactly.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
All right, yeah, that's all right. I mean, when you said comparing to the players, I think we have so much history in the game and so many players. Because I think at the end of the day, people root for people. Sure.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Sure, you're rooting for a guy who's a master of the game and you admire him for his skill, but you will get more invested if you emotionally feel some sort of a connection and you're cheering for the guy. People are always going for...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
maybe you're cheering for a guy who's like skilled but never really got it like Matthew Stafford with the Lions going to the Rams and winning a Super Bowl right like you really had it's a guy who he got his break like he did he was down in the dumps like grinding it out grinding it out got his opportunity got it done right like there's a lot of different storylines that's where you really get like that's where you start rooting for someone and following them and then you get like a viewer who's
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
really immersed and that's where that's what our job is to sort of deliver those stories and present these players in a you know good light i don't mean that to embellish but to sort of just give them the the uniqueness about their journey and what can be relatable to that Yeah, because we do have, there's no need to embellish anything. The stories are there. The journeys are there, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And then it got upgraded. And the best part about it in Lufthansa, for example, it's just like the stuff around the flight itself. The flight, yeah, the seat is a bit bigger. It's like all that stuff is a little bit nicer. Food, drinks are nicer. But as you step out of the airplane in Shanghai, there's people waiting for you there. You go straight to the counter for passport control.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
The players, the names, everything is there, right? It's just to sort of do it. And what does make it a little bit more difficult now is like just, and it was even before this year, it's like a little bit of the saturation and like, how does this event differ from the previous one?
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Arab-Irish.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But they're mostly though as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Like, if you're a tier two organization and you were planning for something, you know, it's something else and maybe your math doesn't work out the same way because you can't get any of the tier one teams that maybe you were going to incentivize or anything, but... But another one is the Star Letter event that was meant to happen before the break.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
You go direct to the thing. They check you. That's it. You get your bags. They're already there. So just how far away you are walking from the thing, there's no waiting around. And for an airport as big as Shanghai where that can be, sometimes you can wait an hour for that shit. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
That's also the thing where I was just thinking while you were talking. It's like, who are we more similar about? I know you were referencing this plenty of times. It's like, we're probably pretty similar to tennis.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
right in terms of how our circuit looks like you have the grand slams you have the 1000 tournaments and all this other stuff and you don't see all the players at all the tournaments the best players skip some of them right everyone wants to play the grand slams really which in our circuit would be um the majors and probably captain cologne still stand out a little bit i think for blast now the opens have an opportunity to match that but you can't you can't
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
make prestige, right? Like that takes time, right? That's what he is.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Well, it wasn't necessarily as full maybe every time. And it's 8 teams. It did diminish it. It's like other stuff in there. But it was a really good event. But that's what ESL has going for it in that current state. So maybe that's how it sort of ends up. Like PGL has a lot of prize pool. And I'm sure they'll put on good events.
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I mean, the arena in Belgrade is massive where you want to hold a tournament. Like if that turns out to be great. But for that tournament to become like...
Talking Counter
Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
something that the teams are really like it's going to take a couple of years of holding it right yeah like wow this is really like sick it's always great the crowd is great we want to play in this the stage is amazing all the best teams are here right like so need some longevity that's why like um esl is a step ahead a little bit in that regard but we'll see if that's how it
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
pans out yeah like when it comes to the actual uh tournaments i think another thing that they have going for them which we touched on briefly is like both kata and clone are at the start of the seasons so they're definitely one of the big ones counting into the cutoff point for the majors itself so that's true too
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
No, you would not.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I mean, if you really want to have this conversation, the first one that pops to my mind is actually this kind of shit, but secondary AWPing. He does a little bit of it. He does a little dust too, but it's like that's an element you could add to your game, but why would you want to do that? Exactly. That's why I was like almost hating it.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Then it's maybe some of the more intangible stuff you were talking about. My answer to that was going to be like... How do I say this? It does not sound completely idiotic. It's like him not falling off would be the equivalent of like...
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
getting but someone like improving by a lot i know how i see what you're saying you know yeah because what he has going for him more than anything else like yes mechanics great everything great it's like the not giving a fuck part of playing like he just goes every game is the same for him he plays the same all the time he doesn't care who's on the other side he doesn't care who the
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
opponent is right what's going on he's doing his thing every single time all the time that's the most impressive part to me for a fucking 17 year old last year now only turning 18 like i could i even argued like at the start that was the benefit of him being young and not knowing and like not caring right ignorance being bliss yes exactly he didn't realize the stove was hot but he can't be afraid it didn't you know it didn't turn out that the more he was
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Learning shit and having more and more games and more spirit. That's part didn't change. Yeah, it's not really the same and I even did the Documentary we had about him and the cattle beats around like the stuff where he talks about when they played Falcons and he's like I stopped fucking Shifting around just hold double.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah shoot them like we're shooting better than them like that sort of a mentality right to have and that sort of approach is really really
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
right and we talk about the mental side of things all the time and people choking and people whatever like there's no choke with the kid like that just doesn't seem a part of it he might have a bad game for reasons right sometimes he gets countered a little bit the game is going bad for them economy is bad doesn't have good opportunity right like but it's not gonna be because he's not he's playing like differently than what he usually does and all of a sudden he can't connect on any of his shots that's just like you don't see that
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
He does his best work in the studio with a nice little poke zero. So loaded. Jason just fucking prodding, man. He's just prodding. He's trying. He's trying to stir that pot.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
He did have a good grandpa.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
People are still like, I'm just saying, he's not a top five player. I'm not saying he's a bad player. He's a good player. He doesn't have as much impact. But that's why Spirit is sort of the perfect team for him because there's this ultra aggressive, you know, little nuisance. That's, you know, they have aggressive players. What does Black call him? Siberian psychopath. No, that was Dinko.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
All right. So Emily was?
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Was it Demonic Imp? Yes.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
He was playing their best off in the green room. I see.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
With Shiro, he will give you impact in very specific ways. It's where he will find impact. Good clutch here and there. He'll find out, but yes, punishing some aggressive play with holding the angles, and that's pretty much it. And that's why I feel like it's a little bit disingenuous and disrespectful to device to compare him to device. Device in his prime...
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
was having, like, could have all sorts of impact on the server, even if you talk about Inferno T-side with a rifle playing banana. So it's just, like, that's the one thing that irks me sometimes with the top 20.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's, like, so heavily stats-based, and it kind of has to be, unless you're making it arbitrarily by, you know, a panel of people, and then, you know, they're putting their votes in, and then that's what you say. So...
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, he had a great tournament, great final, obviously contributed a lot to the win, and it's always been more with him about the stage games, and we saw how emotional he still can get in that vlog from Team Spirit. So, yeah, as long as Spirit is winning, why would they care about anything, right?
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Was Bad Boom Pro League in this one?
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
The one they...
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
lost to liquid or beat liquid they want no that was i don't remember never mind in any case yeah i but zantara is fucking he's good huh but unlike this one they should have beaten navi they sort of threw that and this one again spirit didn't have a chance you talk about the epl one right yeah he was zantara's a finalist for the entry fragger of the year right because he had a pretty crazy entry frag in your last year as well that i don't think he got a lot of credit for
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yes. Yesterday he turned off MouseXL. Unless he was there during the online year with Big. I think that was only Susan.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
maddening thing about that is there's no need to do that. We have enough of that stuff naturally occur. You don't need to manufacture it, right? That just telling me that you don't know what to focus on or you don't know who to talk to from a team or you don't know what questions to ask to get that out of them is like, Because I'm on the desk for some of those that they play.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And then I have to like sort of, well, this was before the game. So, you know, it's actually like, I guess he feels differently now.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, they should. I agree. I definitely see they should. It's one of those, if they are a top team, they take care of that game. Exactly. Sort of easy. I think for them, a lot of issues are probably still a little bit mental. You know, not getting too down on themselves.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Which I say, and then in the G2 game, they had that and they came back a lot, but they just couldn't overcome the same deficits in the grand final.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
here's a here's not not completely but the nico stands are gonna come after me i i don't no no i know what you mean i was gonna say i was gonna make this point yeah the one right next to you i think no no i i think this g2 lineup will let's say make the most playoffs this season out of all the teams yeah all let's say they'll make every single playoff they make playoffs every single tournament they play okay but they won't win a single tournament okay
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I think they'll figure it out. Like, okay, maybe they fuck up here because it's still early days for the lineup and all of that. And they're still getting used to stuff. My point being, I think their floor will be pretty good. is the ceiling that's going to be the problem in arena games. Unless we really see Monessi take a leap, sort of. And then Hunter has some contributions. Hunter has.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Hunter absolutely has. Or just everyone on the team. And he's taking all.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, like those two. I mean, it was Malz's first major.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Also just predicting what's going to happen. Yeah, that too. Sort of based off of the little things that are going on in the round. That's what happened previously. And obviously that's what they lose with Nico. They don't lose too much in terms of just raw mechanics. No. They don't. Malbs is really good. They actually, on average, like Chad pointed out, they sort of gain probably with everything.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Now people are fitting better and Hunter is taking on a bigger role, especially on the CT side in terms of talking and the stuff that Nico used to do in the old lineup. So we'll see. They hit it off with Heavy God in terms of just also the atmosphere within the team, the vibes. He just seems like a guy that Heavy God that it's like... you're never going to have a problem with him.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, you want to play with him. Because in-game, you're not going to have a problem with him because he will do whatever. He's like an extremely versatile player and really good player because whatever he, whichever role he has, he sort of delivers. He has output. Right, and then just outside of the game, he just seems like, you know, Chill guy, right? So it's sort of ideal for that team.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But the problem is it's one thing when you're heavy God on wherever. It's one thing when you're Malves on M80. It's different when you are on G2 where the expectation is to lift trophies. You could be satisfied before having good games and being competitive and even losing in a close fashion. But it was like we gave a good try here. No one will care how good of a try it was.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
unless you can sort of deliver the trophy not immediately right but you need to show that you are within striking distance otherwise you know things will again have to change just looking at this right now jason because we might get a chance to do another episode before the main group stage starts i don't know if we will or not depends on the schedules and we have some yeah but we also have some media that we have to do on the day before the group stage starts all right so it might you
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, well, it's from map to map.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, and Electronic has Long.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
So it depends. But man, there's a lot riding on on some of these early matchups. Like Astralis and MIBR are 13 and 14. Pain and VP, I think, 12 and 15. 3D Max is slipped down to like 16, 17. And FlyQuest is 22. Like, you know, for...
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
and i think i don't know if we talked about this on the podcast but or just like privately but this is like make or break for electronic and sort of his career like on this is the trojan horse you have to think the way the last two teams this is the last opportunity we're in like if if he i don't think it's the last but i think he'd have to drop down at this level it's the last he'd have to drop down and then sort of build his way back up again prove the worth
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
you know i don't think he would be a fan of that um yeah i'm with you so it's like sort of which is crazy consider where he was like three years ago he's like nico electronic rops those are your best riflers in the world really that you're putting into the conversation like him and simple what a duo then like from one team to another ever since that uh he he had not even one team to another one disaster to another and then it's like gaming nothing game leading
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
this that and it was like okay now james is out the coach was changed like a lot of things were changed so you imagine that these are his guys to to an extent to that as much as it was possible to make it so and that he has the reins and now you just have to
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Well, you're at the stage where you definitely don't have that yet. No, but this is the longest I've been in one span. At home? Yeah, ever since she was born. So it was awesome. I've just been chilling, spending time with the fam. So it was great. And she's at the phase now where she's starting to notice things more and react to you and smile at you and all of that.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Not good.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It's an ugly word. Can I be controversial for a second? Yes, do it. You're just butthurt that Saw said, and you have JKS playing Cave.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yes. And I feel like this is what I don't understand. Like, I thought maybe Spinks can go to Liquid for Justin, right? Like, sure, they would have other problems, but maybe they could figure something out. But Liquid loves Justin. But it's like, you know, sometimes maybe the people you love the most, you end up hurting the most, Jason.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Because it's like, why are they doing all this to him over the course of the last, what, ever since he joined the team? They're just moving him around so much, making him play out of position. And I feel like he's doing a sort of a...
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
the service to himself accepting this all the time because he wants to be a team player and do all this stuff but now you're playing out of position and things that you're not necessarily even good at they just don't come naturally to you so the question for Liquid is if you want to change why don't you just get another player to do it this is why the conversation about overlapping roles in Liquid has always been there because of having perhaps an extra passive player between Justin and Nath you're going to have those role clashes but two anchors is fine
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
You don't want to turn anybody. Well, they don't want to turn anybody, you know what I mean? Like being the main opener and the guy, main space creator. Like that's not JKS. No.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I feel like now, especially with... But I actually... He wants to prove everyone that he can like... Yeah.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. So it's definitely been... the toughest living home ever, really. So, but, you know, it is what it is. That's the job.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I do care about my family, but I also, but no, but it's also the job. It's like, I feel like, you know, I don't like, when I'm here, I focus on this, right? Obviously, I don't, you know, I don't cut off all communication for two weeks, but it's like... I do.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, sometimes it takes a little bit to figure it out. I remember when we first got Brokey and... He wasn't an AWPer, Jason. He wasn't AWPing. We... Put him on the lurk. We gave all of the AWP because Brookie wasn't even an AWPer at the time. And we felt like it's more of us, you know, all of the secondary AWP, the mechanics are falling off a little bit.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Maybe giving the AWP sort of compensates for that.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
But we realized we lost out a lot on like all of not being the lurk because of like the space he was creating and the pressure he was putting and just some of the mid-running he was also able to do.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
So we decided to, you know, sort of switch and broken with some of the second opening at times and some of the stuff he did seem like, hey, it makes sense more to give it a go with the kid who just wasn't ever really on a team, you know, mostly came from FPL. Right. And it really unlocked a sort of new tier. And that was only in three months.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It wasn't even that much time that it took us to make a change. So, yeah, sometimes like you have one thing in mind sort of
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
thinking that's the best and then as sort of time goes on maybe if it doesn't work out like yeah you have this obvious thing that you can make the switch yeah right like probably it was a close call for them between the two what they were going to do and maybe felt like this is the better one to to kick things i reckon i reckon john's come in and he hasn't put his dick on the table
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
He's being Sleepy Joe instead of being Donny T. That's not bad.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And I mean, a good portion of his career, Reign was an anchor. I mean, while I was coaching him, he was an anchor. Right before that, he was an anchor. And it was after that, when Kerrigan came back in, that they moved him into some more active positions, right, on CT side, T side and stuff. So that's also an option. For them, right?
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
For him to take a backseat and then do some rotating around in that sense. Yeah, I mean, plenty of stuff that they could do, but they'll end up doing.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, I just came back to the mouse thing. It's so crazy.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, me neither. And then they considered changing Brolan first for Spinks.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, which is kind of like, okay, you think that's an upgrade for you? You want to make that upgrade? I can see that, but I guess... I don't know if it was like... Shui who rebelled against it?
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Because now you're going into it like, okay, this event they're playing with a stand-in. It doesn't matter. Next one, now Brolin's going to be IGL. He obviously never did it, but... We never even got like inklings that he's like a big voice in the team or not this team, any team.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And sure, I get it. It's MR12. They have a system. A coach has good in like a decent amount of influence and you don't need too much stuff in that. But still, man, like.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
it was full and i was on the airplane so like it's never been established in my head this group is something i need to look at oh dear but yeah it's like if if you can't be with them physically like might as well focus oh yeah as possible and you don't get it done that way you don't feel like it's a waste or anything like that sure it's cool you're you're
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Well, it was that they wanted to change someone else for sure. And he was against and so they just changed him.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Here we go. Now we're cooking. The org wants the coach and the org is the coach. Zypex is there as well. Let's not forget about him. Maybe they want him to call differently than what he thinks is best. And he's just declining to do that. He just doesn't believe in it, doesn't want to do it. He's like, okay, you don't want to do it, you're benched.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Absolutely.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
It could be. I think it's also, we shouldn't ignore the fact they lost a couple of spots, right? Because of the loss. Okay, it didn't matter too much because it was online. If they fail here, I mean, they're not expected to make the playoffs, right? We'll see what will happen because they're straight into the top eight.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I don't know if they're playing Kluge, but let's say the first next event that they attend. Surely they're Kluge. If they fumble out of that one too, they'll be out of like, they might be on the cusp of like top 16.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Like, look at the teams that could be ahead of them, right? Vitality, Spirit, G2, Na'Vi, Eternal Fire. That's already five teams there. Yeah. Falcons. falcons potentially six you could have astralis there maybe a seven maybe heroic as number eight maybe vp turns out to be good as nine like you have all these teams there that could you know if you
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
The point for me is the way I look at it, I'm 100% committed. When I'm home, I'm 100% committed. When I'm here, I'm 100% committed to work. That's how I sort of rationalize it. He's watching a fucking podcast of us with Snappy.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I'm trying to get as far away from Chad as possible. Not because he smells or anything, just because I feel like we'll bleed into each other's mics. Which sounds like a euphemism for something cock related, but it really isn't.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, it's back on. Nice one, Jason.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Why did it get removed? What are you trying to do? It's fucking Apple devices.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah. I mean, the award. It feels understated. The show itself, the stage was better. That part was a little bit better thought out and everything.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Talking about that, Jason, you got any cousins who are available?
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I think people understand, especially the more experienced and the veteran players or people involved with teams, some of these moments are fleeting. Not every year is going to be a good year. So when you do have one, you should celebrate it. You should be there because it's tough to stay on top in this industry, in this environment.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
And I think the only reason why I was hesitating a little bit is the bar was set so high last year. sure there wasn't much to improve on like everything was top notch again everything at the hotel was great like all the stuff and even more people felt like a little bit more people came this time around we always have people from all different spheres because i didn't come asshole
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Yeah, because he didn't want to sit next to... Oh, never mind. That wasn't supposed to be public shit.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
Because I want to get my hands on fucking one of these.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I need to post a photo of you and me from the red carpet all dressed up.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
He's brought prop comedy. Not this one. This one is fucking... It's losing its value, isn't it?
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
With Donna.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
I didn't notice this.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
We're talking fantastic.
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Episode 122: First reactions of new rosters, HLTV Awards, Updates, and VRS
No one knew this was a thing until you talked about this now. I know.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
And it's a stark contrast.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
That's what I was going to ask you.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Yeah.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Yeah. Yeah.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
That's true. That's true.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
I'll give you that.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Because if they won that major, we would all be so insufferable.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Bold to admit that.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Wait a minute. I can't even believe he's going to put Wonderful in this spot. No, no, no.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Yeah.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
He keeps digging.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Yeah. He just dropped like 80 kills the other day. He's pretty sick and he's pretty good.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
Exactly, yeah. Just cut it down to it.
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Episode 129: Featuring Thorin - CS dramas, should FaZe be panicked?, BLAST Lisbon and J.R. Smith
All I'm doing is posting Zeebo's stats on the game where he bottom fragged. Like, you know, what? All I did is put a number. And I see the game you're playing, Jan. Come on. That's...
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Launders did that to me in Katowice too. I shaved, I shaved my beard off one day and he showed up and he's like, why'd you do that? And I was like, I don't know. I woke up and felt like shaving and he goes, you made a mistake. And I was like, Oh, okay. Well, fuck sake. Good morning to you too, dickhead.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Dren's organization is a Kazakhstani roster. Neil is back as the real kicker in that headline. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
He's he saw the path of taps and spent on, and he's like, I want, I want that ride. That's the one Oh, and Z sign Adams.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Oh, how did we forget that?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Oh, okay. There's a room really.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Peacemakers coaching Bad News Eagles, that's got some spice to it.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, I think it's funny as fuck.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah. This might be a fluff episode, boys. There might not be a whole lot we need to dive into.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Of course, there's suspicion, not only the padding, but just generally ignoring every other corner. But I'm not going to go so far as to say he was cheating.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I did the podcast with Duncan and Maui the other day, and we talked about this at one point. And Duncan said there was someone on Twitter, or maybe it was Maui, someone on Twitter who released the context of each round and basically did a two-minute video. That's my phone. Hello! Thank you, Jason. It's been you all this time. Someone did a two-minute video basically like...
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
expunging or like you know countering all like crediting the player and saying why it was legit saying why this wasn't cheating so like there's a there's a reverse side of this too but the craziest thing about it though is like i can't believe we just entered like flush of 2.0 like when you like was there were like so many pro players apparently like tweeting out that he was cheating and i was just like what are you guys all doing i can't believe this many of you are actually saying this
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
That's not bad.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Be sure that this kind of stuff isn't happening.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, for sure.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I think that was very reasonable from every angle. First, I think, yeah, bang up job.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Glad that's really sticking as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
For now. Uh, it was, it was, it was fine. It was, I mean, it's working, it's working from home, man. Like obviously like the casting itself, it's a little bit more of like a job vibe than like a fun. I'm going to cast some Counter-Strike vibe, but it's nice. It's nice being home because you're remote everything, you know, that, you know, it's delayed as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Uh, you know, just there's a, there's a different vibe when you're in that studio chat.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Just... Why? And the Counter-Strike was exceptionally unique. I'll say that. The Counter-Strike was entertaining in its own way. Salt did somehow make the playoffs. I don't know. I don't understand. But they did make the playoffs.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I don't know. I didn't see that game.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Well, guys, they went home to Australia or they went home to Australia. Okay, that's, that's an intense piece of travel.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
That's what Well, actually, there have been available spaces. Yeah, I go to were you guys free after the Katowice group stages? Oh, I think so.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Like 27.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, so they can't go up, but they can go down real quick. Complexity, too, with the way their year started. They were, I think, 15th when the year began, and now they're 22nd. So, I mean, just like that level, that free fall is going to start hurting more and more. I think within the Americas, they've even dropped down to number six.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Do we like these new Valve changes to the VRS? The main stage changes?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I guess it's just rephrasing it so it's more crystal clear.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And the main stage is tournaments where only elimination is taking place.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
As if that just pulled you out of the story. I was like entranced. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I just meant that. We really escaped the metaphor all of a sudden.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No wonder HLTV is so powerful, man. Exactly. They control everything.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
That's beautiful. What a little road trip. What kind of music did you guys play? Did you make a playlist?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Hey, I'm in there with you. I think to put a little more context on Major as well, because he had that quote too in the interview of, I spent two days at home in one and a half months. So that's what he's talking about with the burnout.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
But also, I think to Chad's point about choosing too, if you're Eternal Fire and you started the year like this where you've made playoffs, you went really deep in the bounty, you went all the way to the finals. You sit here and you made playoffs in Katowice, you made playoffs in Outclusion, you say, we've actually just knocked it out of the park to start the year. If we're feeling burnt out,
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
This is where you should feel the comfort of saying we've established our point in the ranking high up. We can take an event off if we need that break. You have that opportunity now.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
All right. Nice. That's fair play.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's that fun time of year, isn't it?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Did you guys see this clip on the subreddit? It's amazing. This ancient titled clip of the year.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Mow your lawn.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, I didn't see it. That is an incredible clip of Counter-Strike.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
He's a main. Yeah, you should. He's a main. It's like a five second clip. He goes for a swing. He pre aims the planter. And I guess the first bullet that he shoots, he's still moving because it goes sideways and it kills two guys simultaneously in completely different parts of the bomb site.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, thank you. Yes. Welcome back. This is the terrorist mix. Great episodes taken down. That's the one. No, I don't know. It's, it's, it's, it's whatever. Like, it's, it's a complicated scene at the moment. Um, yeah, I don't really know where to take my favorite thing.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I do too, but I don't, I don't know where to take the conversation at this point about that at the moment. I think it's, I think it's, I like, if I go back to like Sylvia's statement that Yanko reference, I liked that. He just said, look, we're just announcing how much money we're giving to the organization and we don't give a fuck what you guys do with it after that. It's not our problem.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And that goes back into what we've always said is that's gotta be something figured out in the player and the TO side of where, how this money gets allocated in terms of prize money. Everything outside of that is just the boring technicality of what words you want to use to signify where the money goes.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And then Blast have the frequent flyer system that's trying to incentivize organizations to come.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, I believe so. I don't exactly know the details, but yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, it's it's a two for one. It's like I don't even know how to explain it.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Here's the tournament.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, it's Clip of the Year, 21 hours ago. It's maybe four posts down on the hot page. Hot. Hot.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Just trying to be a Counter-Strike T-O.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, it's beautiful.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Could you describe me all the clips in the game of Counter-Strike in which there are no guns on the screen? I would really appreciate that for brand partnerships.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Honestly, it happens so much more frequently than you think. So much more frequently.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's just weird, really. It's just like, what are you doing? What are you doing here?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
That's why Arby's was so legendary, dude. When they came in and they were just like, take these sandwiches to a gun range and blow them up. And we were like, fuck yes, Arby's.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah. Yeah, Jersey. Jersey.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Welcome. How does it feel?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's amazing, isn't it? It's just like, okay, well, that's the game. Wait, wait. That's what I mean. I think the moving inaccuracy at his first bullet sends it like sideways, like eight feet. And it just is lucky that it kills the guy.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Sometimes it just takes a friend to reach his hand out and say, listen, child, I know you've always envied me. And then it kind of clicks in and you realize exactly what's happening.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Really?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Back then? They just cut you guys loose?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's very possible. It was the Wild West back then.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
10,000 years. That was a fun event.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
That was the event where they didn't like the monitors. They weren't using the standard benches. The ISO monitors. yeah yeah so what ended up happening was they brought in benq monitors and just put the iso logo in like a box around like the stands oh yeah logo but like it was like okay so that's just how we're gonna roll i guess to make the players happy cool
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Well, there was a major qualifier, the DreamHack to the, because it was DreamHack PGL ran that major. It was in Stockholm.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, you don't like to see that.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Can I bring you guys back to a serious Counter-Strike question? I'm just curious about this. I was waiting for a Cluj anecdote, but never mind.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
um mibr's announced they've made the changes already uh dropping drop sorry he benched himself okay mib our bench drop release bit and breno bna anazon returns to the starting lineup this is bananas b r n a and who's that who's in game leading now exits back to in-game leading exits back to in-game leading and they got the furia female coach uh they hired him to be their coach
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
But I guess, is it the low HP guy or is that the headshot guy? Would be the question.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I've heard him complain a couple times. Not about that. You pick and choose who you complain to. Okay, guys, playoffs. Paint mouths. Go.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
You'd hope so.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, and I mean, Payne still has that tendency where they could drop off. I think too, like they've been, what, Davideas has been playing well, NQZ has played well, but I mean, they don't have that experience, as you just mentioned.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's a mental clip. I'll throw it into the podcast.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And I don't think Snow has been quite the player they've been hoping he'd develop into quite yet. I don't know how long we stay on that train, but for how hyped up he was within the Brazilian scene.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I hope he'd get to a point where he eventually, just for himself and his own career, say enough is enough. Like, let me be the player that I was supposed to be. Why am I here?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Still very young, yep.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Well, here's something exciting. They're number one in the VRS for the Americans. Not exciting.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I mean, that's pretty fucking sick, though. Would you have expected Payne to be that team?
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It looks like he gets hit in the head there.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I don't know, man.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's not worth it, but it's funny as fuck. It's a great clip. So, Counter-Strike. How about Astralis today, boys? That was fun. I watched that game. I don't know if you guys watched that game.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Let me tell you right now, Tommy does not let that happen.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's the different microphone.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's a whole different microphone. I've had this bad boy just in a drawer. I've had all this studio stuff for like a year and I finally did the work over the last Christmas break to actually build out the studio a little bit. So I actually set up, you know, the audio interface, the new microphone, it's all plugged in. It's all looking great. I've got my nice desk.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I still got some work to do, but you know, it's a whole thing going on down here, Chad.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No. I think Malz is going to beat him 2-0.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I'm talking about an online Counter-Strike match, but Chad, you had to have seen it. Heroic came in swinging. It was beautiful. It was beautiful. 13-3 win on Mirage, 13-2 on Nuke. And that's how I started my day today. And the sun was shining. Birds are chirping.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's a weird situation, isn't it? Because on one level, when I see a player like Twist or even Brolin to an extent do it, I'm like, cool, man. That's a big sacrifice to make for the team. And I kind of root for him a little bit.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
But I'm with you that in general, it is a position that people step into without fully understanding all the responsibilities that fall into that position and think that it's a much easier task than they originally did. So
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's cool seeing people take that risk, but we've said a number of times it always feels like it backfires, and you rarely see those players get back to where they were before taking on the mantle. So I'm with you guys. This is a big risk for Brolin to be this kind of pumping it up this much in interviews.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's kind of a bummer for him, though, because it's a question that's going to get asked in every single interview he gives, you know? That's what I thought of.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I mean, the real bummer about it... Yeah, go ahead. I was just going to say the real bummer about it is like, I'm with him that that could be something he wanted to do, but it's a big risk to switch into that at this age, this early in your career. That's a move for later on in the career. He's making a big risk for Malz at the moment.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Well, it feels like you had to get that off your chest. I felt like you two, that's been building for a while, like maybe a couple of years with you guys. I don't know, maybe I look too much into it.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I kind of think this mouse thing is interesting just from the perspective of, I hear so many convert, or I see so many like just chatter and talking to players at events where everyone is just kind of like, this game is so much easier. All you have to do is kind of like wide swing and everything feels like players are leaning more towards like,
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
skill players and like skilled players being the the hot commodity of the moment for teams and Like I kind of look at this mouse team is like almost like the ultimate experiment of dropping like the more tactical IGL Switching someone talented into the IGL role and picking up more skill.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I almost like look at it and say like this in the liquid roster Yeah, yeah the lid that I put them in the same category of like you are actually really just kind of like you're testing this theory and like in like prime time and professional counter-strike of go for skill at every position over other commodities. And I'm just curious to see how it's actually going to end up working out.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Sure.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
You're in trouble, man. We're going to stop this.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Mongols, Astralis is kind of interesting, I guess, just because we've seen the two different shades of Astralis recently with their online loss and now going back to LAN.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It feels really chaotic in like second timings and mid rounds.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's that Arnold quote from like, is it Kindergarten Cop? Like, you lack discipline. I don't know, it's just funny. Thank you.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Honestly, I know, I understand why you went with Janko, but Gla1ve is the secret Arnold impersonator for content. Is he? Gla1ve's voice sounds, he could do a sick Arnold.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I know, he's got to get up the VRS rankings before we can have him in skits, but we'll be prepared when he gets there.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I have Mongols. I have Mongols. I think that winning... I like the progression of Mongols that we've seen over the past year where they always hit that ceiling and then overcome it. I think that winning, even though it was over Eternal Fire who admittedly choked on the stage, that stage win is going to do good for the Mongols.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
They should be able to get by Astralis, especially with how disorganized and scattered they are. Unless you get a big game out of device. Unless you get a big game out of device to carry you through stretches, Astralis is going to... Big game!
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Not the first guy.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
The first guy did not wear a condom.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, I don't even want to entertain the idea, to be honest with you. They did beat them in Call of Duty. Stop.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I don't think it's that out of the question either. I don't think it should be felt like it's that far away, especially with Nico in that team. But I think Eternal Fire still haven't figured out the stage. We just heard that out of Major.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
We also now know, I'll say it this time because I didn't want to say it in Katowice for spirit, but this team heading into the playoffs, they're looking tired, Chad. They're giving interviews. He's only been home two days and six weeks. It's been a tough time. Two days, Jason. They've been in a ton of finals. And this team, Chad, Yanko, you guys know, they're just feeling exhausted.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
You see them at the event, heads hanging down between their shoulders. They're limp. They're not locked in at all. This is going to be a tough game for Eternal Fire.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Let's fucking go. Hell yeah, boys. Eternal fire on three. One, two, three. Slap some ass. Get out there.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
this falcons roster is kind of cool if nico keeps playing well because i think he can actually he can elevate them to a new level but the real key to falcons is going to be degster this team is not going to make deep playoff runs if dexter cannot cannot i think nail down better positioning and better choices in moments with the awp he's the number one factor i think it's drexler's like one of those weird players that i think raises a team's floor
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I do like the centralized logo with the stars above it. I think that looks sweet.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
but also kind of like brings down their ceiling a little bit. So like really helpful in some ways, but I think he's like going to cap off just as an opera. I don't know yet if that, if he's, I don't know when I watch him play, I feel like there's so many, so many rounds where he gives up an advantage with the peak or gives up a strong position with the peak.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And I want to be like, if you're playing this like 20% smarter, I think you're such a better opera.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I don't think you want him to be a system-based AWPer.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I have no idea.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, let's find out what happens.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Alan Iverson, that was me. I did the Alan Iverson.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Stop. This is definitely going to be taken down. That was so crystal clear into the microphone.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Don't worry about it. I've seen Joe Rogan go through this. If Joe Rogan's shit gets taken down, we're probably next in line after the Rogan experience.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
We're probably right there. He's a fucking bald dude in the AI webcam and it immediately flags us. He's probably put in the same goddamn category.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I wanted to have her on the show.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I would have been nice.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
You saw me in the background? Glad-handing the billionaires.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I will say, I did get the impression when I was watching the, like, announcement video, I'm like, when did we start turning all the esports teams into, like, boy bands? And, like, it's been going on for a while, but, like, I feel like we don't need to have something dramatic.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
With our resident Niko expert.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Some picks. We want to do picks now.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It's going to be Maus, Mongols, and then it's going to be Eternal. No, I'm going to go with Falcons. I'll go with the upset on that one. I'll go Falcons versus Faze. Faze is going to win that into the grand finals. I think Mongols beats his Maus into the grand finals, and Mongols beats Faze in the grand final, Chad. Oh, my God. Again.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I was on a roll, you know.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It felt like the moment to do it, guys.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, it should be FaZe winning that final.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
15 is very generous. That 15 is doing a lot of work.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
visa things.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yes.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Think that and a big win when you're when you are feeling exhausted when you're kind of talking about feeling exhausted and setting yourself up for an easier kind of road leading into the major ostensibly if you start managing the the schedule a little bit better. Think probably it means more for Falcons in terms of their VRS ranking.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Falcons is eight in Europe right now.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Interesting. I think the two days will set them up nicely for the weekend of playoffs, but I think that feeling of exhaustion, as you know, at a certain point just kind of sticks around until you get significant time off. They're not going to get significant time off.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, I think that's going to be... Or, I mean, again, maybe a deep performance here and there, like, you know what, fuck this, we have to pull out of an event, or we have to turn an invite down.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah. But if you turn it down on the initial invite, there shouldn't be any problem with that.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I don't, I wouldn't be the one to pull. Oh, well, okay. I got nothing then.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
There's some opportunities to skip a few things here.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, I do too.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And they are a fun team to watch too. Xantar is gaming these days. Woxic's heating up. They're a fun team to watch. I like seeing them do well. They're an easy team to root for with Major at the helm, to be honest.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And then this would be the start of the FaZe-Elige honeymoon period.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Lifts that trophy on U.S. soil. Alige as well, standing tall, the greatest player North America has ever produced.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Okay. And then does the music play?
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
That's a perfect moment for the timeout.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I might just end the episode on that.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
You can't do it now.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Okay, yeah. Thanks, everyone. See y'all later.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, whatever. Washing machine. Sorry.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, I didn't. It's noon. I've been awake for five hours.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Can't get lazy? Got to exercise?
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
You can't get like, probably like a mental, you can't be on the grind. You can't be going crazy on the grind.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
You know, I think we're in a situation where I don't think we should pick a favorite at this particular moment. You know, let's not potentially alienate any of them, really. Okay. We're not too picky.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
A little silly, goofy stuff too.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I was going to say, you guys cannot cast a round and everyone in the world just goes, oh, look at the genius of Chad and Alex not casting. What a fucking legendary commentators.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, I think you're good. You look comfy as fuck. It looks like a nice place that you have there in Cluj-Napoca.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Uh, so I put them in, I put them in the pot. Uh, I turn the heat on, I do the Gordon Ramsey method. So I'm stirring constantly on low heat with, uh, it's just eggs and a little bit of butter and you kind of just keep stirring that, uh, for a good amount of time. And then as it starts to solidify, add in a little bit of sour cream, a little bit of salt and just keep stirring.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
And then eventually it gets a nice solid and fluffy and you just rock and roll and it's the best thing ever.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
It just says I'm folding them as they're cooking. I just use a spatula.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Yeah, which gets done in the standard stirring. You don't need to use a whisk to whisk eggs together.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
That's why you're constantly stirring throughout the process, Chad. Can we go back to talking about hemorrhoids, please?
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I'm only responding to questions of which I'm asked.
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Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
Um, but then I played some video games and then I took the dogs for a walk. Uh, and then I went over to a friend's place for dinner and that was my day. That's not a day. Yeah. It was a good day. It's a good day of nothing. I was like, I just need a day of nothing. No errands, no chores around the house.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
No, it's not, Chad. No, it's not. It's not, Chad. You constantly have shit going on in your head. You like to portray yourself as that guy, but that's not the case.
Talking Counter
Episode 125: assorted scene news, PGL Cluj Playoffs - quarterfinals matchups and bracket
I don't know, but it's usually only my wife who's upset that I don't notice she changed something about her appearance. It's not why I signed on to this podcast, Chad. Get used to it, Jason.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
I don't even know if they'll be able to hear Lucas.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
I do. What Counter-Strike stuff are you wearing? Underwear?
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
There we go.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Well, I don't have to play with Hugo.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Hello, Lucas. Commercial break, Chad.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
So now you're just selling for HLTV. He just told me that. I'm repeating what he said. Sorry, guys.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Yeah, I don't know.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
I'm really upset at Manko.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
I was casting that Luminosity final. You're going to be locking in A, Luminosity. The correct answer is A, Luminosity.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
That's pretty good. Yeah. Nice one. Let's go. All right, gentlemen.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
I did get an extra white chocolate mocha if anyone wants a coffee.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
They're at an Italian restaurant.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
All right, you ready for my next headline? Absolutely. I like this game. Do this game, Chad.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Shit. Fuck degrees.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Well done.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Yeah. Was that it? No, there's more.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Has it really? I thought that also got nerfed.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Well, nerds, of course, nerds.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
I can't say he's good? He's okay.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Speaking of aggressive guys, how did you all like Nerds with Liquid this event? He was the shining light.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
It's a phone call from Illinois.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Who do you know in Illinois? No one.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
It depends on, they might have some information.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Jason, I'd like to involve the viewers. Vox Populi, Vox Dei. But they're already involved.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
How many times has it been played?
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
It's kind of crazy. It's nice. Should we be done? We can be. Well, we can keep talking if you want. It's half nine. I don't know. We've done two and a half hours. What else do we want to talk about?
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Do we want to do any men's health?
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
I just think, you know... Only for Valentine's Day? We did a Brazilian wax on machine. It's coming up. That's true, we did. We did. Don't deflect. It's on YouTube.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
You're not losing control of that. Only if the target's small. I don't reckon you're doing anything.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
It's fine. That's okay.
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Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Is everyone happy? I'm very happy.
Talking Counter
Episode 123: VRS deep dive, HLTV, IEM Katowice groups, reviewing new rosters
Anything they want to give for their chest? No, I feel great. My coffee is really keeping me going. Nice. That's great. Thanks for that, Jess. It was tasty. Yeah, like chocolate mocha.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Does he mean seals?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
have a much different type of a team than you did only a year ago yeah so so the g2 option is one that seems a little bit like i don't want to say clearer but it's one where you can see what type of change they could make and potentially bring simple yeah where we'd fix some of these issues that we're talking about but navi are returning to them you said they're in crisis like how do you fix that that's a system-based team
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah, but this is the thing. So... I barely do any stuff like this, so I'll do them right now. I think this is the peak of this Mal's roster now. I think they will likely stay around this level, if not drop off. Stagnate a little bit, yeah. I don't see them making a jump. I don't know where that jump would come from.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yes.
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Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
It's either a good thing or a bad thing. It depends on what you think about Shiro, I suppose.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
What about, like... What about, I don't think the Mongols have to make a change. Well, obviously, and anyway, that's something locally within their scene. I think they're making steps, just baby steps. I think for them, it's just, they need to get better on dust and nuke.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
They had some comebacks. G2, G2, G2.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
different things i don't know sometimes but it's also a map pull for them too because they were really we're not reliant but anubis was their trump card every time and then they started to get a bit more figured out on on that map so then they started to lean into train a little bit more which i think is good i think you know if you can have anubis and train your new is good as well yeah it feels like at this point people punish their mirage a lot at the moment i think their biggest issue heading into the major is going to be the schedule that they're on
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And this is the thing. When they were talking about, you know, being away from home and going deep in every event and not having time, it's like, okay, yeah, but that only matters up until end of Lisbon. And then after that, you can be more selective with your events because you know if you're locked in for the major or not.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
No, yesterday went three maps in the second series.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And the first series also went three maps, right? Because on map number one, Spirit brought it back after getting owned on the first half of Nuke. And then they won Dust 2 and then it went to the third and Decider of Ancient where they couldn't really get it going. Yeah, but the day before was quick, right? Thursday was a longer one. Friday was a quicker one. Saturday was a longer one.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, no, no, because if they get to stage three of the major, which right now, if we took a snapshot of right now, between Dallas and stage three, they'll have two weeks, right? Which is enough time to focus and ramp up.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And then have worse practice.
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Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah. Well, if a lot of teams stay. Well, your stage one teams are going to be your worst teams. You're going to have the five Asian teams. Oh, sorry, the four Asian?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, they're on the cusp, right? They're on the cusp of the breakthrough, which is the same as the Mongols, which is why I think, like, Janko's side of things have played all the events, getting in all the reps. For me, it's less about the reps. It's more about the experience against the best teams.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I think that's what Mongols and EF are lacking in those games, maybe more nervy, maybe making more poor decisions. If they're more comfortable being like, you know, we actually deserve to be here. This doesn't feel new. This doesn't feel like, oh, shit, we made another playoff. It's like, no, we're a playoff team.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Now it's about breaking through that barrier and then being more comfortable in those environments because Mongols are the youngest team, right? They're 20.5 in age. You've got Mazzino who's still quite young. Senzu's quite young.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And if they can just make sure that their mental doesn't tank from some of the losses they're having and they understand how they need to, okay, what did we learn from this one? What did we learn from the next one?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I think those two teams are in a good position to take steps in the lead to the major as long as they can get to the playoffs of things like Lisbon or the playoffs of Melbourne or Dallas and get stage games where we're not talking 10,000 people like the major. We're talking 4,000 to 6,000 people. I'm guessing. I don't know what Lisbon's capacity is. I don't know what Melbourne's capacity is.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I don't know what Dallas' capacity is. But just getting those reps in where you're in that environment so that once you get to the major, you know what you're tussling with. And they're two of my favorite teams to watch right now I like what a lot of the players in the team can offer.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And today was lightning fast. As quick as you want. The quickest game in history.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yes, everyone's... That today, in case people missed it, obviously it started to come out about Liquid being offered the Blast Rivals wildcard spot for Asia. So Blast Rivals is the top four by VRS, if they accept. So that's one to four. And then there's four more wildcard spots, one for South America, one for North America, one for Asia, and one for Europe.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And because Liquid are classified as an Asian team and a North American team, well, Blast have invited Liquid, which makes sense. If I was Blast, if I put myself in their business's decision, I would do the same thing. And that categorization is not Blast's choice. It's not Liquid's choice. It's Valve's rules that make that there.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
My biggest problem with all of this is not the fact that they're half American or half Asian. That's fine. JKS is Australian. Nurse is Israeli. That's how that works. You've got NAF. You've got Twist. They're Canadian. That's how that works. My problem is the fact that Valve even gave Blast the... What's the word? The... Approval? Exception. Yes. Yeah, yeah. To have this format.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
This format is a bad format. Like it's eight teams and four of the teams are wildcard. And if you were going to run wildcard events like this, you needed to have run three tier one events. Well, they wouldn't have done that. They'll have only run Bounty and they'll have only run... And Valve gave them this exception. And then you can clearly see that Valve don't like what is going on here.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
They set the new VRS rule for wildcard invites to be from the global ranking. You have to be outside of the top 12. Yeah. Which actually Liquid is. They're 12 right now.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
okay yeah so you can't you can't stack the deck in the way that like blast were hoping to with this rivals event i just hate the idea that that's like the format it's a good point about valve i mean i know they did say there was going to be a period of leniency while things got instituted so maybe they had a little bit of grace to give blast in this i'm with you though i'm not a huge fan but they also implemented the 20 team invite thing jason so they're not happy with what the tos are implemented as formats yeah yeah well they're not happy the tos are finding those like loopholes within the within the rules they have right
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, now that when you look at it with the 20 team invite for each event, what these tiers are probably going to do is they're not going to bring more teams to LAN. Why would you? That just costs more money. You just run online qualifiers, right? And you would have, like, let's say you'd invite 14 teams directly to the LAN, the 1 to 14, and then the 15th to 20th, you'd invite them.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
to an online portion and you can expand that you could make it 15th to i don't know 24th for example if you wanted to be eight teams or you could you know you can do that however you want but you're not going to run that online why would you add more costs like that isn't stipulated that's not made to happen so like to's are just going to do that they're not going to run more robust events um but it means that more teams get an opportunity to try and compete for those vrs points so at least you get a bigger field but they're still tweaking stuff which is which is good
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah. That's crazy. That's nuts. So they've really speed run that one. It's tough because, like, you got to call a spade a spade. It was boring, right? Like, it was boring because there was really no pushback. There was a little bit on Dust2, but otherwise Vitality absolutely stomped them.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But what's the point of the wildcard, right? So the way that it's trying to be used in this situation is so that Blast can have as many big name teams at their event. So I'm going to assume what they've done is they've invited from South America, they've invited Furia because you're on the other choice out because Mongols are top three. Right.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
so mongols are going to get invited as one of the top four teams to rivals so then the next one falls to liquid at number two but it's not don't have to be by order but other than liquid who's going to bring viewership well you don't want to bring another mongolian team you could bring a chinese team but it's in mexico and you could bring fly quest but they're not going to have a big viewer base they're australian so you go well of course we're going to take liquid and then that means that opens up your north american spot and then you can pick your poison well let's go wild card they're pretty good people seem to be interested in them amaranth is going to co-stream we're going to get some viewership for that like you know you think that's
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
be at the team not m80 i think it would be wildcard yeah i think it is already known to be wildcard interesting right and then you think uh you think for europe well they're probably going to invite navi because navi are the team who are outside of the top four and the vrs who have the biggest viewership base i would say you either navi or g2 but i think navi is probably the best well g2 probably would say no
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
The discourse on the internet just shows me that the people aren't listening when the VRS conversation is going on. They don't understand. They're blaming Valve. And it's like, okay, guys, we know there's going to be teething issues early. But the reason that it's like this, there's a good reason for it, right? And they're also taking the decision-making power away from the team. It's like...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, if you have this split, right, you are going to exist in both. And then when the invites come out for the major, it's going to work like this. It just means that they can't like game the system. They've been told this is the system and you are in the system. I'm sure Liquid would love to go. No, we'd prefer to be North American. Like we always love being North American, don't they, Jason?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
You're the biggest advocate for that.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And when you talk about this, it's hard because fans of certain teams, when you hear you say their win's boring, like... They were dominant. They should like that though. Exactly. They played very well, right? But in terms of an entertaining game of Counter-Strike, which from our perspective as like the people on the broadcast, you want an entertaining game. You want to pack them forth.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
That's for the next major. To the next major at that point.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But it's more about the frequent flyer thing as well, right? So if you collect tokens for that, if you end up being one of the top teams with tokens, I think I've like ballparked it at about 300k for the year, right? And that's good. There's a lot of factors that play into that.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Did you see the ESL put out the revenue page? Yeah, so that's gonna be then it's from one to 16 or whatever.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yes, it's interesting to see how these incentive structures are going to unfold. There was also something else with the Rivals event where it was like one to eight is the VRS allocation and we were reading it and it's like the appearance fee for that event or the merit-based appearance fee, but everybody from one to eight get the same appearance fee, it was like 80k.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I think the way we read it was if you're not one to eight in terms of the way that you're invited, like let's say that you're Liquid and you're 12th at the point of being invited, you don't count for the 80K appearance fee, and that appearance fee goes in the frequent flyer pot. Well, you're not actually the eighth team by VRS. Okay. You're the 12th team by VRS.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Okay, but the eighth team said no, or like, you know, some... Well, no, they couldn't have because it's four-team wildcard. So that's only for rivals. Yes. Well, yes, yes, yes, because the others... Well, I don't know. The way we were going to check was we were going to ask Namiga, who were like a team brought in, but they weren't 1 to 32 of bounty. They were outside of that.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But I don't know if Striker ended up checking. But yeah, there's some little things here which would be important to check. And I'm pretty sure anyway, Blast in the future are going to change their incentive structure. It would be pointless for them to run these like merit-based appearance fee based on where you're invited. They should just do a club share because it hurts.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
That appearance fee doesn't go to VRS.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yes. So I imagine Blast in the future will look at changing the way that they structure their incentives to be more in line with what PGL and ESL are doing. That would make the most sense. Because especially come 2027, when Blast and PGL have overlapping events, like literally, like on top of each other, the same dates.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
there's going to have to be something done from Blast to try and combat that because I think... PGL's prize pool. PGL will have more LAN games and will have a bigger prize pool. So you have to do something about that. Otherwise, you're going to get fucking wrecked. But...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
You want up and down. You want the roller coaster. You want the clutches. We had clutches that just were all going one way.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Okay, so I guess the question here becomes, what is the goal of Spirit? Now, we can't know for certain what it is, but is it just to go for the big trophies? Is it to, like, because we're, you know, Janko's sitting here saying for, like, EF, for example, on that stretch of big events when they're going to Astana, when they're going to Dallas.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
to make sure that it's not just, we need to win this, we need to win, and burning themselves out. It's understanding, all right, we still want to win our games, but we're focusing on this. We want to get to this point, but we don't need to win the whole thing.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
For Spirit, do you think that they're in a position where they're trying to claw their way up to be at the top of the mountain and they can't get the grip? Or do you think they're just like, well, who cares? It's just EPL.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Those are the Zontics or Magics, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
It'd be interesting to see if they'd go for a ballsy move like that. I think Chopper, on the day that he was meant to be sick as a dog and Halle was potentially standing in for him, Chopper gets an ace on the pistol round of that game. Chopper can still have his moments. Obviously, Donk is Donk. He reset from that new game. He even came back heavily in the second half.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Like I mentioned before, highest rated player in that series still. Or was it for his team? But either way, he turned it around. So even though I know you have your gripes with the way that Shiro approaches the AWP, as far as offers go, Shiro is still one of the best offers in the world.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah. So then you're looking at a magic psoriasontics and look, the thing is you'd be bringing in a kid who's completely untested at the highest of levels, but that's what Donk was when he was brought in. Yep.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
so look and that would the only like we have no way of knowing this overdrive might um well like yeah he really might like how do they feel like they're in crisis because that has to be a meeting of the minds that has to be with hallie with chopper and then and or hallie with the management and has to sit there and say hey like i don't think we have that gear to get us back with the way things are right now and we can't know that right we can't know how they're feeling could have been like magics wasn't well either like i'm not he had a stinker
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
of a game but you could see in his eyes his eyes were red and bloodshot and stuff and like i look people can get sick we've seen that at epl with uh there was some shit going around this event josh was sick you were sick hugo was sick fray was sick i'm old yeah yeah tons of players were sick throughout the event as well like it was just it was just going around ultimate
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Damn. Yeah. Well, so I think like Spirit, if they could use that injection of life and it could like, you know, because a new player, what it does is it agitates in a good way. You know how like pearls are made? That's kind of like what a new player is, you know? Yeah. You bring that in.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And made him say like, yeah, you know, I need another season.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, like VP or something.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
So then it's Lisbon, right? Yeah, that's how you dispel this conversation. Lisbon final versus Vitality competitive. You don't have to win.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
So if we're talking about picking and choosing your fights, like... Yeah, but Vitality are in the... Like, we don't start the conversation now because we're sensible people. But, right, a team that can be this dominant at the start of the year, if they carry this through, if they win the major, they won the last Cologne, they won the last Katowice, you know, they win the next Cologne as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Do we start talking about that three-letter word? Do we do the E-word? We're not going to say it, you know?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
If they've eaten some humble pie and they understand that they need to make sure that they give Elijah's good positions...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
So a leash can get, he's situated. They've said that he's trying to go to Poland, trying to get that sorted.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, okay. I'm just having a look right now. No, but it's also... Are you ready to speak? Or are you still going through stuff? They've played 30 maps with this roster this season. Yeah. So there's a decent amount of games played for them up to this point. I hope that they have started playing Train and they remove something else from their map pool.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Don't give a fuck.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Zero fucks given if you hated Train. I think that they need to grab something else that is a bit more of a... Like Nuke, for example, which I never thought I'd ever say with FaZe. But Alige can't find any impact on that map. They gave him outside.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah. What about Broky and Rain? Broky's inconsistent.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
rain can but is he being thrown off by some role positioning changes well he also needs it to be a major yeah to get his name out otherwise it's like wow which is fair play after this long yeah actually i get but he is an integral component you're not winning with two and a half players yeah right so um and there's only so much carrigan can do from a calling and entry perspective yeah so if you're comparing phase to vitality or to spirit i don't think they have the firepower necessary
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
i'm uh look the phase one because they weren't here it's a wait and see moment the one that i am interested in and obviously we need to talk about them because we love new jersey is jason's favorite organization team liquid hey don't try and just throw me under the bus you started this year by saying we're on the same team now or last year we're on a team of some variety and now all of a sudden it's my favorite team and you've jumped out the back door
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
well i'm like you know i'm running alongside of the bus okay you know i'm still kind of seeing if it's one that i i want a ticket for he's ready to jump on if yeah start picking up if they can get across the line jason they get some better results right now i don't look with liquid there's so you watch them in some of these games and you can see promise but it's like what's promise getting you
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
He was having some good moments on the rifle.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Quite a lot of their games get close. Like, if they have a lead, you're like, well, this is going to get close because they're going to save so much.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Happened on Dust 2 against Vitality. Yeah. Here's the thing, though. That Anubis game they played against Vitality, they could have won Anubis. I'm not saying they would have. I said they could have won Anubis. They had to battle back hard. They eventually broke Vitality's T-side money, forced them onto a deco. Desert Eagle eco for everybody playing at home.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And then two guys, well, Nertz wide swings pop on his own, Con, dies. Then Naf goes for the swing to get a kill back, dies. Then Ultimate goes to make a play mid, behind the mid smoke, because he's like, whoa, I've just had two rifles die. Gets spammed through the smoke, dies.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Just do it, but it needs to be more coordinated.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
It can't just be a swinger on your own. It should be, if he's swinging, Naft's also swinging.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
right that there's no reason no i know that it wasn't together i'm just a little bit even with the best spawn yanko the second b guy can be right behind that guy there's not as much of a time delay as what there was not only that if you do something like that okay block a with your molly throw the one that goes to the window lands outside of a so they can't just run in play two mid play three b like it's a map where it needs to be coordinated you can't be individual you're already at a disadvantage because the map doesn't favor the cts
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And then from there, the game went out of control.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But it should have been coordinated out of spawn.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Like, it's just, it's just like those little things. They need to be spoken about.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Okay. This is the speeds on the Wi-Fi. It's pretty good.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
look easy yeah you know but that's what happens when there's more depth on the on the team right so like zywoo short but it's not the zywoo show anymore you've got uh robs who is an active lurk he's making a lot of plays because he clearly likes being in this team right and then you've got flamesy who's a great soldier i think what did i call him uh chaotic good and
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But there's a lot of questions about what Liquid do, right? Because there's scrutiny around, okay, well, should Twist be in-game leading, right? And then it's like, okay, well, if you want to not have Twist in-game leading, you obviously want to keep Twist on the team. But then what type of position does Twist fall into?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Does he become like that glue guy like he was on FaZe, being able to be a strong...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
role player like he was a role player with a lot of output and he would also help set up players on certain maps he would be the sidekick to somebody like rops going aggressive on inferno we'd give him the boost he'd be doing the nade setups with him and stuff right to try and facilitate so if you do that then what type of like if you're bringing an in-game leader well then who is twist facilitating or is then is it nafs or jks whoever stays facilitating uh twists and then you need to get more output out of him because that's the thing twist unfortunately is going to suffer from this we all know it
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
When you're in-game lead, you're not going to have as much output as an individual. That's just the case. Like you're seeing it with Brolin, right? He's having some of these games towards the bottom of the scoreboard. You're having to think a lot. What did he say in an interview? Oh, I didn't think it was going to be so hard. I was like, bro, you're having to think about all these things.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
You're having to think about the economy, your team's buy. If your teammates aren't communicating enough, you have to start coming for them. You've got to work out the economy. Who's going to drop guns for who? You're trying to think step ahead. You're trying to think mid-round. You look at your radar. You get swung. You die.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
like his personality is that and the way that he approaches the game is that he's like a good soldier for the unit like he's going to go in but he likes to do that he likes to go aggressive apex coming into this was top three in terms of ct rated players from the event so far that tells you something right and there was other stuff if you look at hrtv's like ftu stats right in terms of opening kills multi kills 5v4 4v5 adr trading and flash assist vitality with top three in every category
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Now you're frustrated, but you can't be frustrated because you've got to keep looking at the round. You've got to keep caught. It doesn't stop. It doesn't stop, right? Like it's just go, go, go, go, go.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And especially as someone who's used to being a frag and getting to focus on his crosshair, you definitely get to contribute. You get to call things mid-round.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Right? So it's tough. It's not easy.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Fuck all y'all. Suck my dick. He's made another final too. Yeah, I don't know. The Liquid one's always going to be curious because they could fall into that category of making a roster change, but I don't think it's as clear for them on what the roster change should be. People will say JKS, people will say NAF, but I think still then the team's constellation still needs to make sense.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
That's pretty common consensus, I'd imagine.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
you know household name yeah um but i think you have if you're going to do that you have to get a very good strong anchor and put naff and more of his rotating roles i think you don't you can't though you you need to think about this you can't do that with naff if you have twists because if you have twists and you have uh if you if you have twists and you have nuts they fill those positions
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah, but your IGL is not going to be your hard anchor on ramp, for example.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
yeah but you just were talking about rotating roles ramps only a rotating role when you need to drop under he likes ramp because he doesn't have to be ramp at all times right he can go secret he can go outside he can leave ramp sometimes the upper takes ramp like it's an anchor position but not like pit inferno you know sure but okay but then you've got to think who's going to take long okay do you give that to the in-game leader what in-game leader do you get do you get shui
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah, right. I think that the conversation is them having role problems. The conversation from the beginning was them having too many passive players. The thing is, you can see them mitigating against that. You can see JKS making plays. You can see Twist when he is having the games where he's feeling it making plays. Twist, when he gets mad and shit's not working, he makes daddy dick moves.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
He's running in with the MAC-10, getting a multi-kill, winning the round. He does it. He can definitely do it. So this is like, are they just missing the breakthrough big game against a good team that'll make things click and give them the confidence? Or are the problems deeper than that? Because you can live in a world where both things exist. Because Janko's bang on.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
They have a lot of experience within this team. Is their approach to the game the problem? Is it lack of win for confidence? Or is it fundamentally flawed?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I think that's map dependent. I think on some of the maps that I see them make plays.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
right look mate as someone who played with justin fears i'm keeping my eyes on him like a hawk and he's making more aggressive moves than he's ever had to in his life i see it like he goes like someone they lose banana control inferno it's like we have to make a play out mid he goes he takes the space he looks for the fight like he's not just sitting there doing nothing there might be certain situations where a player would go more aggressive than he does but he definitely is making plays and the problem is i can't fucking say this because it's just like well this guy just fucking defends him he's his friend
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
It's like, well, I'm also harsher on him and more Australians than anybody, right? And I want him to succeed, I'll be honest. I would like him to do well. I would prefer him to do well than do poorly because I like him. But if I sat there and I think...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
he's not initiating he's not doing anything it doesn't look like he's adding anything it doesn't look like he's trying to evolve then i would shit on him but i can clearly see in his game and what he's being asked to do that he is trying to live up to those things that are being asked of him um and when you watch the game you look at certain areas here and you can see the team just like misses the little details like you can see a flash gets called and then maybe it's a miscommunication on the boom and then they step out and it's a flash in front of him and the guy gets team flashed
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
or like the stagnation of the team in a mid round when we're talking about the 4v5s or yeah the 5v4s in their favor or even the 4v4s whose job is that that's the in-game leader's job to call the okay you're going to go out here and take this space and do this right so does that then fall on like are we looking at naff and jks and going well you guys need to make that play now
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, no, when a round freezes, you guys talk about it and you need to work out in that moment how you're going to approach for information. And then if you get the information, how do we then proceed? So the problems for them aren't one player or one thing. I think it's a lot of things and those things all need tightening up and whether or not this team can be good.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
For them, I think if they can break in and be a top 10 team, that's probably the best we're going to see.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
They beat EF. That's the biggest win.
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Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
always in the conversation when it comes to the deep runs and trophies so maybe that's like the glass ceiling they need to break through right is this better or worse than the one with your kinder better better okay so that means because the one before your kinder well there's been a lot of iterations with your kinder but we had like the patsy one and we have the patsy and rain waker yeah was oc there then
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Who was orping if OC wasn't?
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Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Must have been OC, right?
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Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I guess. So there's been a lot of bad Liquid rosters, right? Like there's been a lot that haven't really...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
No. So what we're talking about here is a team that is better than those versions, but still not at the point to be where they want to be as an org. And that's why I'm saying, is it just a matter of them getting a big breakthrough win and finding the confidence to be approaching the game with a bit more...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But this is the thing, right? The Cadian fiasco started with them going on a bootcamp, giving each other massages, singing Kumbaya around the fire, right? But I look at that team and I feel you got a lot of like hermits. They need to get into the octagon. I don't feel like they have, I don't feel like they have like, this is the atmosphere of vitality is brought by Apex and Flamesy.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And then probably ZywOo is the third guy to that. And then like you get the more quiet guys.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
No.
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Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
That could be nerds. That's such a crazy sentence.
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Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
How do you build that?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
honesty openness and communication that was a rhetorical question motherfuckers and unless they start doing that this liquid roster ain't going anywhere get in a room together boys leave your phones outside forget about bringing your girlfriends to events right here right now is where you bond as a unit you come together and you have fun and love for the game you talk about the things that are hard you talk about the things that you don't like you talk about the problems that you're having within the match and you bond as a unit jason you come closer than you ever have before yeah
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
There we go.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah, thanks.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Where do we... The Na'Vi one's the hardest because for my mind, it would be... Wonderful actually played the best in the series that they lost against the Mongols. But for me, I don't know where the problems for that team are.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Obviously, we saw the bickering and then the way that it was explained away and this happens every game and it's a competitive environment or maybe not every game, but it's going to happen. and it's healthy, it means they care, right? That was everything that we heard there. The problem then falls back to the initial issue we had with Na'Vi.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
They peaked with the major win in Copenhagen last year, and that was based off of really good team Counter-Strike. And then after that point, they were still playing good base level team Counter-Strike, But every tournament, a different individual or a different pairing would have pop-offs.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Like you'd have a big bit tournament, or you'd have a big JL tournament, or you'd have IMA in a good form, or you'd have Wonderful being consistent on the orb. And that was able to be the difference maker in their matches. Now, like you're having these players arguing in the middle of the game, you're having like JL in the match saying, I fucking hate CS2, fuck this game, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
So right now, the problem, like they're not delivering what they were delivering before, and that's frustrating to the unit, right? So how do you get players back in form? Is it they're not putting in enough hours? Is it that they're not having fun like they were before? Because before you were an underdog, then you win the major, then the target's on your back.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Then it kind of simmers down a little bit because you didn't have the good immediate results. You got another little bump in performance and now you're back in the dumps.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But those guys can be star players. Like, it depends on what caliber of star player we're talking about here, but Bit is a monster. Like, or at least he can be. Like, Bit is mechanically a very, very good player.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
How many Duncan Nicos are?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
The issue, so like the one that on paper could be fun to see but will never happen because Russia, Ukraine is like Montessi to Navi. Right? Like, did we- It went out of focus.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Oh, okay. Modesty to Na'Vi. Yes, he was waving the podcast bat. See you guys.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Ukraine and Russia.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I'm making a broad assumption that Na'Vi will not have a Russian player in their team. Yeah. Yeah, no, you're right. So, you know, whether or not that's the case, I'm sure someone from Navi can let us know. But if you had Monacy there, then you do have the bonafide superstar. You said you're a donker or an eco. Well, he's not a donker or an eco, he's Monacy, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And then that changes the dialogue. It means that if you don't get a huge bit game or you don't get a huge jail game where you get a Monacy game and then their contributions across the board is enough.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Then you would just have him more. But if you were going to say you were going to keep Wonderful and replace someone else.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I think some teams are like that on certain maps. I think if you look at Vitality's, I was not always buying the AWP.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
You need an AWP on Dust2. Like, there's certain maps that you 100% need the AWP, right? And also, S1mple's not like other AWPers, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
it wasn't even close. Like it's a dominant best of five, which is why when you have a best of five, that's like, well, why are we doing a best of five? This could have just been the best three. It could have been everyone done with reverse sweeps. Very rarely happen. Mouths weren't even really putting up that much of a fight.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
his buyout would be way too expensive to take a risk on i would imagine if i had to guess it ends like at the end of this year or at the sea or at the mid season well probably at the end of the year yeah yeah i don't i don't know i think like if modesty goes to falcons then you need something at g2 like why not maybe some pious if he wants to go Yeah, sure he's over there heroic.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Yeah, this is the thing. I like the spot we're in generally right now in Counter-Strike because the whole conversation finally makes sense.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
We're running into the major. We're like, oh, the team started the season good here at this point. How is now the midpoint going to go? After this cutoff day, roster changes could happen. In general right now, this was like a fun, healthy Counter-Strike conversation.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
yeah do you want to shut it down let's shut her down all right all right uh good conversation we'll probably do some episodes online in the future uh i'm still going to be on the road for another two weeks yeah you're on that grind first year then it's us yeah so we'll we'll work out what we and i'm going to be gone from april 8th until melbourne starts i won't be able to do anything there yeah because i'll be i'll be going on a road trip yeah
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
um and then we go make sure we pin a couple of things right we need to talk about pro league going online next year uh and arena finals right so there's a there's some fun stuff to talk about yeah all right all right goodbye everybody thank you gentlemen
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Uh, when you go to like a map like nuke, and as I was in that one V three and the exertion gets caught with a knife in his hand, and it felt like he was a deer in headlights. It even looked like it took him a long time to pull his rifle out in that situation too. There was nothing going their way. Uh, They were playing situations poorly. But this is the thing.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I'm going to sound like a hater, but I don't rate Maus. I just don't rate Maus. I know they won Cluj, and I know they made it to the grand final here, but there's something about them that, for some reason, I just don't rate.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Okay. Like when everybody was on the whole Malzahar next to you, Academy roster, we play Academy, jacking them off. I'm like, look, can we wait until these guys do something? And they do something now. Like, don't get me wrong. I like watching Torgy. I think Exertion's a really good map control player.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
They have good parts, but like there's one team at the moment that is complete and that team is Vitality. You see it on the CT side. You see it on the T side. They have a really good variety of calls. They have, I think, role for role with the players in them. It doesn't feel like there's role overlap at all. Doesn't feel like anybody's getting in each other's way.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Feels like everybody knows what to do. On the CT side, they're making, I mentioned this in the cast, it's either a read or a gamble. We don't know. But either way, they pick right a lot of the time with their sacks. And those things are really strong. And then you look at the rest of the field, you look at Spirit.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Okay, so when Donk's playing well, when he had a bad start on Nuke and then still ended up being the highest rated player in that series that they lost against Mouz, you're like, this kid's always going to bounce back. That photo was so funny after they lost.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Exactly. Sorry we failed you, our liege. Be kind, Doc, be kind. Yeah. No, I don't know. I'm probably being too harsh on Miles, but it's just it's something like, I don't know, I just...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
mouse is right there but this last step that they have left to take is a pretty big fucking yeah i'm not i'm not calling them like i'm not calling them studio merchants or i'm not like any of those angles there maybe it's just because the rest of the field overall like yeah vitality are the clear number one right now and this is like a mid-season check-in point below them you have i think it's still spirit the concerning one for me is navi you said that you think they're like officially in crisis i think it's like the terms that you use yeah
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
And then outside of that, everybody, like, I like the Counter-Strike that Mongols and EF play. I think it's some of the best Counter-Strike, right, across, in terms of, like, the strats they have or the players they have, the way that they play together as a team. But for them, it's the lack of experience. So those two, I think, will get better with time, unless they crack, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
But the others, G2 looks like a fucking mess.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, yeah, but with Nico, you knew what you were going to be missing. Surely you knew what you were going to be missing.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, you might be missing Monacy soon too, so you'd be missing an awful lot.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
So... I don't know whether I spoke about it on this or if I spoke about it on Hatred TV Confirmed, but one of the two... I do a lot of podcasts. One of the two was the angle of G2, you have two choices, right? You either can keep Snacks as the in-game leader, which is going to be the game by committee. Does Ilya have a good spawn? Does he have a play he wants to make?
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Are you going to allow Malbs to learn, like Janko's saying? Is Hunter going to try and step in and have more control? Or...
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
do you then make the change that everybody wants to see over there at g2 which is should we come in and then he implements more of a structure and you take away that responsibility and then shui's the one moving those pieces around the board that was the choice that i think that they had to make early and right now other this is a question i have for the room
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
which teams at the moment because we still have a decent chunk of time until the major they're not going to lose many like the ranking points are pretty much locked lisbon as soon as lisbon is done you can make roster changes after lisbon because you know what stage you're going to be at the major so after after lisbon is done april 7 we know who's going to be in the major who's going to be where do you risk making roster changes knowing you have what a two-month runway if you make one piece of a change to revitalize you for the major because some of the teams are not going to be able to build back up
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
Well, this was event four, but not for all of them. Cause a bunch of them skipped.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
I think skip this one.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
You don't have to.
Talking Counter
Episode 128: Who can beat Vitality? Assessing G2, Liquid, Faze, Spirit, NaVi, Mongolz, EF
You don't have to. Yes, but.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I think it really is the Australian version of baseball, right? It's like this sport that doesn't really like... It's like whatever, but it's so long, so you don't go there to really watch the sports as much as you do to just hang out with your mates and drink some beers. And I don't know what you eat instead of a hot dog at AFL games, but that's the vibe that I'm getting.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I think from the way you describe it, it would probably have to be held in Eastern Europe or somewhere. I don't think that would fly over in your guys' neck of the woods.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Right.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I like it because it's not very... It's not too profanic. Yeah, you don't need to swear. Yeah, exactly. But you still get the message across.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
It's like, hey, you're not the dumbest guy in the world, but you sure as hell hope that guy doesn't die.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Oh, Chad, I don't have the time nor the crayons to explain that to you.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, that was really good. Every couple of episodes, he brings it back.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
They are rigged. You cannot win. There's no way you can win.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Not enough to get sponsored.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Where?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
They were shit and now they lost the second best player in the world.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I don't think they choked necessarily. No, I don't think it was a choke. Especially on Train, I think they just got beaten by the better team and better players. I mean, Nico had first five, six rounds, he had 15 kills, and then Tess has stepped up those three rounds in a row. He saved their ass, right? If they don't win those, first half is closer.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Falcons didn't have to play the T side, which last time they only got three rounds on against GamerLegion. But I think absolutely it's just... It's not even an interesting game. Like they're stomping them and they're just better sort of and they're just outplaying them in the small details. Like the players are just better. They're winning the fights. They're positioning themselves better.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So it's not even like you have shit to break down too much. It's just like, yep, this is just what happens. But I think it's more, you know... You kind of have to, I guess, focus more on the narrative building during the game and kind of foreshadow the next game for Falcons and the bigger storyline about them and their championship aspirations. Yeah, I think that's it.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I think it can be really sick, the semi today. It might even be the best game of the tournament. I agree.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
It was insane. I know exactly what you're talking about. It might have been the first or second gun round, too. And I think that's probably prep because they felt when they throw those smokes outside or the window smokes or something, they react immediately. So one of the two guys was going to find the gap, right? That's why they both go at the same time.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
They both just killed. You know, the players didn't even leave. They just hit... Actually, Magus hit good timing. But, yeah, I mean, that's why you say, like, they've been outplaying him every way. I saw also this thing. I don't know. It just...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
fucking bothers me a little bit i don't know why but they announced on that day gamer legion that ash got extended which is huge for them right like people have been speculating oh maybe liquid will try to get him or this team or that team and whatnot so for gamer legion as an org that's a big sign i think he's a really good coach but then i see a fucking thread on reddit dude is like we don't talk about ash enough like
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Bro, all we fucking do is talk about this guy. Every show I'm on, every tournament I do, every other analyst and the host there, they're just glazing him. Like, I get it, bro. Yes, he does more with less. He doesn't have an eco. He doesn't have all these other guys. He does a great job of developing players. He does a great job of understanding...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
the weaknesses of his teams, and then they play in a way they have to to get the best possible result, which is what they were able to get. You see when he wasn't able to be with the team in the MRQ, they bomb out immediately when everyone is expecting them to go through all this stuff. But you cannot say that we don't talk. If anything, I feel like we talk about it a little bit too much, man.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
We've covered it. It's covered.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
In tier two, you know, highest paid coach, we're going to say. I mean, he's not a highest paid coach. No, no, no. But I think it's also, you know, you almost wish that he didn't extend, right? Like you wonder why did he decide to do it? Because he could definitely get more money elsewhere and he would get an opportunity to have bigger name players and have bigger aspirations, you know?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So I don't know in that well that I can speculate and shit. I don't want to do that. It's like an interesting decision to make. Perhaps he's just sort of a guy that enjoys where he's at, right? Doesn't necessarily want to change. He got a pretty good deal. For sure. And maybe it's also the challenge of doing it in Gamer Legion.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
You know, eventually... Yeah, but that was... Maus was Gamer Legion three years ago, four years ago, right? True. Five years... Whatever you want to say. They would get a player, he would go to FaZe. They would get a player, he would go to FaZe. And it kept happening, kept happening. And now, they're the ones who poach.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So you said Shui and Ash teaming up, that could have been a thing. This whole G2 situation. Now I feel it's a good time to go into it, right? Because one of the things that... I don't know if I said this on the episode. I did this in the interview I did. It's like... G2 is talking about, you know, Monessi, and Monessi was leaving, and we knew he was leaving and all this shit.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So why didn't you do anything? So if you know in the... Like, you're not going to let him leave during the last player break, right? During the winter, after the Shanghai major, you know? But you know he's going to leave. At best, you have a full year. So you know that's happening. You already lost Niko. You're in kind of a rebuild mode, half-rebuild mode, right? So why not just make moves that...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Then, or at least prepare some moves. As soon as you see the Chewie is available, go get him. He's better than snacks. There's no doubt there. Their CEO was talking a lot about age for some fucking reason, right? There's a younger in-game leader, a very young in-game leader that actually has tier one experience, that's proven.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Go and spend some of that money that you got from Onesi and Iko and buy Ashe and team them up and put them in your team because you have mobs who need some more development. You have Heavy God who, a bit less, I think he's pretty solid. He's a great pickup, right? And then go get Jumbo. Pay 600K for him if that's the price you know that Fnatic pay. And all of a sudden, you have a good mix.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
You're lacking experience a little bit in those big games. But if that's what you're going for, in a way, that's there. You have a good coach. You have a good coaching game leader. Combo, they knew themselves. They knew it from before. You have Hunter as the second voice to help you with the CT side and help you with some of that other stuff. You have an environment in which you can develop...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
slowly like and getting more comfortable you have Jambo who had a good showing I think for me what I like more is his calmness right and his demeanor just as a player and you know on player cams and shit if they lost Modesty no matter what I thought you were talking about like for them to be able to try and keep Modesty No, no, no, no, no. They were going to lose Monastir no matter what.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
That's the thing. And they knew that. So why not make those moves then? Because this is the problem with G2 and everything that the guy is talking about. They're always reacting to shit. Like he was talking in the interview, like we have a meeting every day and then we have these meetings. So what the fuck do you talk about in these meetings?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
You got any Tim Tams around?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
No one notices that maybe a player is unhappy or that there's clashes on the server. Maybe there's different... philosophies about different philosophies about thinking about the game and there's maybe some rifts and that maybe, you know, a couple of guys feel one way, a couple of guys feel the other way. Like, what do you talk about in these meetings?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Like this is one of those, this could have been an email sort of thing. Right. You can just get ahead of these things. Like, you knew all of this was going to happen. Why not tag then? Now you have fucking Hades for the major.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, but Liquid came up two months after. He was on the bench for two months. Like, as soon as you see that, if you're G2, I'm getting him. I'm sorry, Snacks. You've been a soldier for us. You did a good job. We need to think about the future of this organization. Go get him. Yeah. Taz, you had your chance, didn't quite work out.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
It wasn't terrible, really, but, you know, we have to go a different way as well, pairing this guy up with a coach that he's worked with. You know, that's it, right? Tell me that doesn't make sense.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, man, like... Falcons have played in one grand final in Cluj, won a tournament in Bucharest, and are okay now in the... playoffs here while G2 has made the final in Bucharest lost to Falcons 3-0 and they haven't really played any good great teams along the way they made one playoffs in Lisbon where they got smacked around by Maus that's it
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Is it better than that thing is after you spit on it?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, he plays like an IGL that he actually has confidence that he can get killed. He just plays like a normal player. He doesn't play like your... who just, oh, I just need to create some space or I'm going to push through the smoke and do something silly. Like, he plays the normal way because he doesn't need to do crazy stuff to get kills, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, but unfortunately, you don't get a guy who's going to go out there and recruit players to the team, right? He's back on the G2. He was not committed to helping us build a lineup for the future. The guy's 19 years old. Like, can he just be allowed to play CS? If you were actually paying attention to your team, you would see that if Niko goes, he's probably going to leave.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Where, that doesn't really matter. But he wanted to stick with him. So if you really wanted to secure your future, you should have probably done a better job at trying to keep Niko. The wildest thing to me was, it was a very good interview. He did very well, right? Yeah. except for a couple of times where the mask slipped. He's taking responsibility. He's saying sorry. He's apologizing.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
He's taking the blame, shielding his management and all that stuff. But then he says, when the Nikko deal didn't go through with Falcons in 2023 and Nikko comes to G2 and says, okay, I want to stay, the first thing they said was no. So that's the mindset. That's it. That's it right there. Instead of thinking, okay...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
It wouldn't have been a really cold... That's actually how it happened. It starts dripping as well all over. Oh my god.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
we got him to stay you know he's gonna stay right like how do we make sure that he doesn't want to leave six months from now or you know what can we do your that's not your thought your first initial thought is oh you're feeling spiteful and well I don't
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
we're not going to let you come back, you know, like, just sit on the bench now, I guess we're going to get next and fucking JKS to play instead of you, because that's going to turn out so fucking great. You know, and that shows you that it's just, you got a second chance. That was the second chance for them, right? Like, you got the opportunity to maybe keep it together, and you didn't, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
For whatever reasons. I think it's obvious that... The thing that Nico wants and the thing that he's missing in his career is silverware. He just misses trophies, obviously the major one, but just also trophies in general. You know, for a player as good as he is, he doesn't have nearly enough trophies in his cabinet.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Well, the two biggest ones, yes. Cologne and Kato was with G2.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I also hate this narrative because it is true. Yes, they can get people and stuff, but it's not like Nexa was added because they didn't have money for someone better. It's not like Taz was the coach because they couldn't pay a better coach. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
it's just the decisions in the sky and like the decisions you make for the people to bring in were just bad yeah just made bad decisions time and time again you made poor roster decisions and you wasted nico and monessi on your org and now they're gone yeah right and that's it that's all there is to it there's you can't put the blame on nico you can't put the blame definitely not on monessi
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So anytime you make these comments, like snarky little comments, like side comments and all this stuff, like, oh, he didn't leave because of your money. We offered in good terms or whatever. And then you say in this thing where he came back, oh, we definitely didn't give him more money to stay to extend for that one extra year. It's like, what are you doing? It's so crazy to me.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And hopefully they make some, and he did allude to, they're going to make significant changes to the staff or whatever, more than one change. I don't know. But I feel like it kind of,
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I'm on the European version of M80 now.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
a risk no no no I'm saying like if you if you get Kerrigan that remaining spot you could like take a gamble on some like real young inexperienced dude and hope that Kerrigan can mold him I don't think so because I don't think Kerrigan would like to have too many young guys on his team yeah just real quick the comment on the age thing also with G2 Kerrigan is 35 now right Nico is 28 you're telling me in 7 years Nico will not be a better player than Kerrigan is right now
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Is this Stone Cold Steve Austin?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So, you know, he is eventually going to switch to in-game. So that age comment was just crazy to me. And I did say, you know, in that same intro, I think like G2 should try whatever they can to get Kerrigan. I said some pious as the AWPer, like getting from Heroic because I feel like he could work well within Kerrigan's system. And I don't think there really is a better name available.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I wouldn't go for Device personally, although that is another option. I just unfortunately don't really trust Device after the whole,
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
shanghai rmr thing to be like when i don't and i don't think kerrigan would necessarily take that gamble either like you know to put in all the work you're doing and the guy's just unavailable for a tournament i think that's a little bit just any tournament either yeah the tournament and i mean even especially for australis considering how many they missed and then you know everything that that's happened there so i feel like that would be a sort of a best case scenario for g2 and then the coach just
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
ask Kerrigan who he wants, in a sense. You don't need a super strategic coach because Kerrigan handles the most of that. You get someone who will be, you know, work well with him and be a good help there. And then you have a core of Kerrigan, some pious hunter, which is experienced, you know, and has some veterancy. and can hopefully work well together.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And then you have Malbs and Heavy God, who are the two young heavy hitters. And I think Malbs would absolutely benefit a lot from the structure that Kerrigan would bring. Also, Kerrigan has played with Nico before, has played with guys like Rain, so he can definitely help him out with his individual game in a way. And the only question mark there a little bit is the firepower coming from...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
hunter and some pilots like you you would have to find a way and they would they would yes and they would have basically hunter would also just have to step up in a way and if you do that all of a sudden you have a team that could potentially do some damage right and then you see for a season how things go whether you need to make further changes whether someone with a little bit more firepower is available to you to make another move
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, I think he's definitely, regardless of that, he's playing worse. You know, he's not playing as well. And the better the opposition gets, the worse he plays, unfortunately. And I think it's tough because Broky does thrive in the chaos and being that loose cannon a little bit.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
But when you have, you know, Kerrigan and Liege and Reign as your riflers on the team, you have to do a lot of supporting. Yeah. And that's just not where he excels. You're not making the most out of him if he has to do that. So when you bring in a leash for Rob's and then Rain has to do some of the Rob's roles, well, you just make that even worse in a way.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
For me, it comes down, I agree with you, that only FaZe can know, like they know what to value more because the leash is on server performance have been good. It's been doing a good job, right? And I think for FaZe, it comes down to, okay, do we replace Broky and bring in even someone like Dexter short term, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Or do we replace Rain or bench Rain to bring in JKS to take over some of those anchor roles that make more sense, right? Like, do we do that and go all in on scale in a way and see if that's the answer? Or... Do we go for the vibes, right, and bring in JKS, let's say, for a leash, give Reign his old positions back, right, and try to find some of that FaZe magic, really, in a way.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And I think FaZe, and we'll get to Na'Vi later on, but FaZe, unlike Na'Vi, I think they should change something before the major. I think, like... They won't, though. I think they should. No matter how hard it is, no matter if it's just only for that short term, like this team, you will not see the phase miracle finals run like they did in Shanghai with this team. I think there's no chance for it.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Chats, is this real?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I think they're playing too poorly. I think they played better three months ago in Kato than they're playing now.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
That was fun to watch. Not if you're a Team Liquid fan, but if you're just watching from the outside, it was fun. I don't think they'll have... That's why it was also hard to talk about that game too yesterday. You know, like whoever wins is going to lose to Vitality.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Like not just because Vitality is so good, it's like neither of these two teams are good enough to really challenge them at this point. And Vitality has shown to do a great job of preparing for games mentally in a sense of not taking it for granted and bringing that hype and excitement and the level of viciousness, I guess, to those games. And that's why they...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
haven't lost yet right because they have not been taking it easy and also they have the grand slam waiting if they can lift the trophy here so
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I have this for you, all right? So, it might just turn out to be, right, that Maus is the Team Liquid of 2018. They can beat everybody. They can beat everybody. And they're the second best team in the world, no doubt about it, but they cannot beat Astralis, right? My turnout, that's the way for Maus. They have almost only lost to Vitality this year. It's kind of mental, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
But Falcons have showed... that, you know, in that, I mean, have showed. It's a group stage game. It's a winner's game, you know, whatever. And they've only just gotten Monessi and stuff. But that's the question. It's just for Miles, like, where is their ceiling? Their floor is really high. Where's their ceiling?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And for Falcons, you know that the team with Monessi and Nico is going to have a high ceiling. It's just like, where's their floor going to be and how consistent can they be? And I think also the brand of counter-strike that they play is really good. It matches up well with...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
vitality so i think that's for mouse to sort of show us right are they just going to be that team that's very good but cannot beat the best team or will they be able to to take that next step and sort of if they go up against vitality in the final take them down
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And the one where Vitality didn't attend, they won. Yes.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I said this on HLTV confirmed. The only thing that's missing is a stepsister.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
No, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
No, I wasn't going to talk about Liquid anymore. Oh, okay.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, I was going to say, though, and the team they beat to get to the playoffs was Na'Vi, which is very disappointing for Na'Vi. I mean, with everything you just said, right? Liquid has been together for long. They're still working on a lot of things. You know, they almost lost to FlyQuest. MIBR took a map off of them. Like the collapse against Falcons was monumental, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So now you can definitely start ringing the alarm bells for Na'Vi too. Because before you would be like, listen, they've been together for a long time. If you have faith, they'll be able to figure it out. This tournament for me, what I felt was super important for them because they had almost a month since Lisbon, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So you have time to practice, you have time to figure it out, you have time to rest, everything, you know? And they still fell maybe even the flattest They fell this season.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
They'll probably get... They kept him for one season.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Like,
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Caddo, Cluj, Pro League.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Well, or they're not playing to the same level. It's always going to be, if a team is going to lift trophies, the players need to step up. Systems are not winning your trophies. Systems can get you within striking distance, but then the players need to step up.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
No, that's what I said.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Na'Vi won't, and I think that's fine because of... They've been together for a long time. There's always a chance to turn it around in a way. Maybe they get on a run the same way they did in Copenhagen. But the point being, last year, for my money, after Duncan, Kojel was the most impactful rifler of the year. You're not going to say that. for this year, definitely, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And that's the problem. I'm not saying JL specifically, right? But you can say that for a lot of these guys, Bitt also isn't playing on the same level that he was in some of those tournament wins, right? Yes, sure, he still balls out on Inferno, but look even at the Falcons game, you know, on Dust 2, how it went.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
They all went missing, and they seem to have also crumbled mentally a little bit, which hasn't been the case for Na'Vi. Really, we praise them for their mental fortitude. So... What the underlying issues are, that these players are not on the same... You know, is it that Naby has tried to... change too many things, right, to keep up with the meta?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Is it that their playbook is maybe too wide, you know, instead of focusing on fewer things and just trying to do those things better? Is it just the players dropping off, you know, individually, not putting enough hours, or maybe hitting a slump? You know, any of these things, it's impossible to know without being on the team.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
But I think definitely, if you told someone a year ago, or like before the You know, do you think Na'Vi could upgrade their roster in some of the positions? Everyone would say yes, you know. But now it's like because of the wins that they've had, you feel a little bit more reluctant. It's changed your perception of the team.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
But I think they can definitely find upgrades on the market after the player break.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And also you need to get used to playing... in that system a little bit. It just doesn't make sense for me for them to do it now.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Don't feel a thing. But I think you just get confidence from playing a good Counter-Strike. Players feel it. When you're on a team and you're seeing that the things you're doing make sense, people feel comfortable, like you know what's coming next. you understand what's going on.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
The thing with, when you talk about systems, it can sound pretty vague, but basically it comes down to players having in a more structured system-based team, players have a little less freedom, right? They have freedom within the structure, within the system. It's like, I don't want you to change the plan completely.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
You know, in this round, if we've called it, you have the things you can do within this round, depending on what the opponents are doing, right? You have sort of and it's up to the in-game leader to decide, okay, we're going to go from this thing to this thing and going to end with this thing, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And that can change along the way in the mid-round because CTs might aggress on you and you need to make an adjustment because a player might... you know, get good timing and get into a good position or something like that. But the plan exists. You know, meanwhile, in some other teams, you open up with a default and the players have a lot more freedom.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I'm just going to run up and go for this peak. And then the other guy says, okay, I'll just play off. If that happens, I'm going to like go through this, walk through this smoke and stuff. And you're playing more off of feel and individual skill, right? And that makes you a little bit more unpredictable as well, which is a good thing. And...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Also, you need to have players who are willing to take initiative even when things get tough. Have players who know how to react and aren't going to play scared and are going to make the correct play despite of the risk. And I think the...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Na'Vi players with time as they started having some results and were playing within that system you could see them play with a lot more confidence and you can see them go for more ballsy plays and feel better and become better players why because they know everything that's going to happen because they've done it so many times they had so many reps you know one great thing about Na'Vi when you
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
watched them play when they were winning tournaments and stuff, it's like the score is 11-11. Blade takes a timeout, and always after the timeout, it's a default, right? Like, they never resort...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
to these poppy play you know let's just roll the dice and let's just hope maybe you know you're trying to get a read that they're going to you know play heavy outside and we're going to call an upper rush on you you know or something like that it's like sure that might work or might not work but no we're going to play default because we're so good at taking map control punishing if they go for any early aggression plays and we're so confident in what we know that as the round goes on
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
we're going to be in a bigger and bigger of an advantage even if it's a 5v5 you know because we understand we will figure out their setup we will piece the puzzle together and we have the answers you know blade has given them all the answers alexi knows okay if this is how the round goes this is the call right and the players have done it so many times that they know that this will work right we just need to execute and then even if you're wrong
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
they'll execute it with conviction, and maybe someone steps up and gets, like, a double kill where they're not supposed to, you know, and wins you the round.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I think it's a pain in the ass to get here, no doubt about it. But once you do, it's great. Like, the vibes are always immaculate. The Aussie fans deliver. And I think it's also a proof of concept of not coming every year to the same place, right? I think because we... Okay, first Sydney, it was a long time because of the pandemic in 2023. And now two years later, we're here.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
go into more of a default and they're good at making sure that they get to dictate the tone of the game sorry to interrupt you but it was so sick in this last field of view episode by the way guys go watch it it's the grand final of Katowice behind the scenes and with the comms and everything this round did you watch it I haven't watched it yet.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
All right, so there's a round from Nuke, obviously from the final, where he says in English, first of all, he says, I'm going to talk to ZywOo real quick in French. So he calls the strat for everyone, and then he tells ZywOo in French, quicker and everything, exactly what he wants him to do. And I think what they did...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
They intentionally... I think the goal for that was they intentionally missed the window smoke outside on Nuke. This was the round where Spirit was just about to break them. It was their last buy. But Zywoo had an AWP, which I don't think Spirit expected. So Apex calls a strat.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
He tells them to miss the window smoke because Shiro's going to walk and then hold the line because he doesn't expect an AWP, right? And that's a safe peek. And Zywoo was just waiting for him to show up windows with the miss smoke and kills him. And I'm like... bro, that's so much shit to do in, like, 30... Like, what he has thought of, like, the things that he took into account, it's just mental.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And, you know, they win that round, they didn't equal once until the third map. But what you're talking about, variety, and just even within rounds that you already have, to change them on the fly just because you know, like, this is what can work, it's what makes them great. Dude, I think, like, the...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
You brought two suitcases just for that?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
So that also creates some demand in an artificial way almost with the fans. And you're able to sell out a pretty big arena. I mean, for a smaller IEM event. 5,000 is crazy. Yeah, this is pretty big. The atmosphere is great and it's awesome. And it really makes me think like, you know,
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I know China is huge and it's a huge market and everything, but next time you want to do a major in this time zone, man, this major would be mental. A major in Australia would be absolutely mental for the atmosphere, the crowd, everything. You could easily do groups as well or the earlier stages in a smaller venue and make it cool and interesting. You could even do the fucking thing where...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, I mean, it could be an era in the making. We'll have to wait and see, you know, what happens. But I think also talking about G2 and Anor, that was always reacting and kind of step behind. Vitality is the complete opposite. Oh, yeah. They've always been one step ahead in making shrewd moves. I mean, you win the Paris Major and you replace Dupree from Flamesy. That's making the team younger.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
That's picking up a guy that you can't. Like, that was also for free.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Or either his contract was expired. Yeah. Or it had like six months left and they got them like for real cheap, you know, but you did that. Rops was free. That's just so insane. That's just so insane. Even Sonic, Magus, and Dupree came on, I think, for free. Their contracts just expired. That's why I saw on the HLTV.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
It was in the article. No, in the article. It was in the article. So I'm like, that's crazy. Like the only guy they really had to pay money for has been Spinks.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Yeah, exactly, right? So it's all these things that have been happening just tells you, you know, how it's supposed to be done. Like you're thinking ahead, you're like making moves, understanding how the future is going to look like, understanding that you have...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
generational talent in zaivu you have an amazing captain in apex right like make sure you have the good pieces around them even like i'm sorry and just quickly and they even brought zonic right so they brought the coach and then after that it was extas who has a very good relationship with apex they work so well together and they've nailed that down as well
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Apex even said in the Field of Youth... Not Intel Grand Slam, by the way. ESL Grand Slam. He said, you know, he won the Major, Cairo, Cologne, that he finished Counter-Strike, right? Which doesn't mean he's going to stop...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
playing but you know he can he has no regrets now if he wherever he retires right and i mean grand slam will just be a cherry on top yeah right slam in front of an audience again thank fucking god yeah in fact you can win a grand slam the last two have been epo grand slam yeah
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
you do the stage one and two in Melbourne and you do the playoffs in Sydney, right? Or something like that. If you want to go really crazy, you convince Valve to fund the bill for the plane tickets to move around and for the hotels. And, you know, you need to move all the equipment, but fuck it. Like, do something, you know, let's go a little bit league style.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Every other year. Don't be greedy.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I think just really quickly, the Astralis thing. Oh, Hoaxy. Yeah, like... You know, Katie Amu never should have happened, in my opinion. And the best news is, like, them firing their sports director, the heroic dude who was just trying to... He was a nice guy. OK, if you say so. I don't really know him. He did a terrible job.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
yeah oh yeah i'm sure he'll be ceo of nip in no time right it's true like when i see that heroic replied to my tweet at instead like nip do your thing like it's hilarious but yeah hooksy fits way better makes a lot more sense uh there's no weird i also said they should they should yeah i said they should try and get zipx as a coach and i had so many people comment on that like
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
why would we go from Maus to Astralis? It's like, yeah, because he's an assistant coach in Maus. Like, he's been there for, I think, a year now or close to a year. Like, you know, surely his ambition isn't to be an assistant coach forever, right? He has the ability to go back to the org where he did great things as a player, perhaps get him back to some of that old glory as a coach.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
yeah yeah a lot of financial yeah we'll we'll see um but i think you know getting hooksy good decision let's see what they do in the coaching department i also think maybe you give you don't give stan more than the rest of the year see if he could gonna step up or what and if he doesn't you replace him you could put stare in his position you could but i mean just then get someone else instead of him for stairs positions right and and i think then you might have something going there
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
I'll consider it, guys.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
You see how he swallowed this icy dick thing? Like, he's locked in, mate.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Let's fuck. Let's fuck. Not the three of us right now. Just like...
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Let's see how the fucking pros do it, I guess.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
And the reason for that is what?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Our podcast is like a box of chocolates.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
The company goes under because of Harry bringing in bed bugs.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
People on the streets, they're on fire.
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
It's like, how do they know where's the 15 metre mark?
Talking Counter
Episode 132: ft. JustHarryGG, IEM Melbourne, G2/Falcons/m0nesy triumvirate of engagement
Did you know that all the guys that...
Talking Counter
Episode 121: Train is BACK, reflecting on roster moves, status of the NA scene
That's great.
Talking Counter
Episode 121: Train is BACK, reflecting on roster moves, status of the NA scene
Come on, let me hear you. Let's get louder. Welcome to Talk Encounter. Come on, let me hear you. Let's get louder. Welcome to Talk Encounter.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, that's a problem with a lot. I mean, in that game specifically, that one round they won right at the end was just NAF literally bullying into lobby and then out of the upper bombsite and just getting a quad kill in the round.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I felt that both ways because I felt like...
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
MIBR banning Ancient instead of Anubis as well was like they must have prepped for Anubis and just felt like they were so dedicated to the prep that they didn't want to go for the better map in the process and that just ended up killing them but I fucking knew that game was going to get weird on Nuke as soon as that fourth round with all time people surviving I was just I was sat there I was amazed I was like because Liquid never rotated anyone at all I feel like they miscalmed or blew a rotation they were like alright fuck it we gamble yeah here's the problem like
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
you should never be in that situation yeah that's in a 5v5 you just have no info about secret but once that has happened the best call was yeah yeah i'm with you but it's more the fact that they found themselves in that situation yeah like no one dropped no one dropped vents immediately in the smoke going up nobody dropped ramp there was ultimate was there with an op and naf was playing like heaven hell slash outside and it's like none of them made the call to shift downstairs and i was just i was like oh this is fucking weird
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You did get me good last time. You like to go at me when I'm at my lowest point, when I'm a little bit tired, a little bit hungover. The funniest thing is he's going for the lowest hanging fruit and you're like... So the reason it tilted me was because Alex had that conversation with me the other night.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I think their CT sides just feel very one-dimensional to me at the moment, where there's so much aggression and so much pushing. It's always the Kindy, you notice that? Yeah, they move anywhere around the map.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You think they got frozen by inexperience? I mean, safe and drop have been to enough majors, but drop not as an IGL.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
It was after the 10-man, and I went down, and everyone had a drink after the 10-mans. And before the 10-mans. And before the 10-mans. And we did a round of shots, and Alex didn't want one, so I told him I thought he was being a pussy.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I'd be amazed if they beat Maus tomorrow.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
That whole series though between MIBR struggling and Liquid just like as you said looking average was just like such a weird game to watch I felt like neither team was like really trying to win like they were playing both teams played super safe in that whole series outside of the CT pushes from Liquid everything was just very textbook by the book not throwing anything crazy out there.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
We have to ban 10-mans, I think, from this group. I don't play them.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I guess for a team like phase two, that's already kind of shaky right now. And obviously it looks like they've lost some confidence losing that second round has got to just be backbreaking to a certain extent to like the mentality.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I saw you pumping in there earlier today.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
in this hotel room. It's been 30 days in the same room and I'm losing my mind. I'm eating more Snickers bars. It's all coming uncurled here at the end. It's crazy. I'm eating like this morning. I'm just chomping on Snickers bar in one hand and a banana in the other one. I'm taking a bite of each one, just one at a time. It's fucking mental.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I'm just trying to find ways to get through the last two days of this event.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
It's not quite that bad.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Let's not go to that far. Half a steak.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, I probably should have had the cleaners come in a little bit earlier.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Um, you know, one thing that's come out of this major that I, that makes me so sad. I hate that we have to have the, like the conversation reopens up when you see all the, like with all the crowd stuff going on in the matches. And now it's like, I have to fight everyone again about fucking soundproof booths. Why does that seem to be like a conversation that was here?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
We just have on repeat, like once a year.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I can't, I can't ignore it. Shut the fuck up. That's the weakest.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Because it's just such a terrible idea. And I feel like we've been over it so many times. And actually, I think my biggest issue with it is nobody's even identifying the true cause of the problem. We've solved this problem.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
No, no, no, not even that. Actually...
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
i mean the real issue with that with the boxes are apparently to build those correctly it takes like an extra it takes like five days so if you're going to do that for an arena it's like an extra five days of having to build those sound proofs and they don't really work well actually but also i like we we've solved the problem like there's a reason why we don't see these things pop up at an esl event at a blast event it's because in those situations the production and the observers know you don't switch to that flanking player until the battle has begun you catch it like right when it starts instead of the build up to it so the crowd doesn't have a chance to react
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
turn x-ray off and those are all things that perfect world who have i'm not even going to bash them they've done a really good job with the event they've run and it looks like it's going smooth the players are praising them the crowds are in there they yeah they don't run enough counter-strike events to realize that's the fix to this problem well that's the biggest problem for the crowd there
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
And would I like them to know it? Yeah. I don't want these moments to be an issue. But then I go on Reddit and it's like, oh, look at the crowd cheating. I'm like, it's not even cheating. The crowd's just emotionally invested in the game and want the cool moment to happen. Can we not call it cheating? Can we not make this into like the fans of Brazil are cheaters because they do this?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
The fans in China are cheating. The fans of wherever are just cheating because they like this team. It's such an insane conversation breaking out. They're just there to enjoy the game. And that's what we want out of the fans.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Dude, I hate spreadsheets. Fair play to him. He's a god.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Probably. Probably. Maybe on this one, not this one. This one was kind of safe.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I feel like there's a gentleman's agreement now with the players too. I don't actually know if this is true in any way, but I see a lot less of players and clutches trying to look through walls and shake their mouths to get the reaction.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
getting trying to get people less excited like what the fuck that's so stupid i saw someone i saw someone saying like you know we i wish like these majors like didn't have crowds or i wish like land events it's all about zero ping it's not about the crowds it's not about the people in here i'm just like what the fuck that that's that's why i get angry when i see that i'm just like what the fuck is that was that idea what we did with the rms we'll just put them back in the hotel rooms we'll play the whole event from there
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, it'd be nice and cheap. I'm sure TOs will love it as well. They don't have to spend as much money on the arenas.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I don't have a good answer for you. I usually try and operate with the philosophy of if that's happening, I just, I let it happen. I don't say, I don't try and go higher to drown it out. I don't even, I don't try and talk softer to make less noise. I don't, I just cast normally.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
But I have caught myself in a couple of times in arenas in like 1v1s when I see the roar coming where like I try and shush it early on if I'm talking, if I'm like building up the moment and the rumble starts, I've tried unintentionally. It just happens where I'm like, no, no, no, please don't, no, no, don't do that.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
But even I think that's kind of silly, because I think that in a way, from my perspective, would break the immersion. If I'm listening at home and I hear that, I'd be like, what the fuck is this caster doing?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Kikson was amazing today.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
He's like a diet brokey to me where he's an opera that thrives in chaos when his brain doesn't have to operate. I'm not trying to be a dick when I say that, but he doesn't have to think about what he has to do next, but when the chaos is there and he gets to go on intuition and he just gets to go by feel of the situation, I think it is very well. But I'm with you.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I think his positioning and his decision-making is super poor. I think he has some impatience, it feels, when he's trying to hold angles and doesn't want to just sit there and hold the angle. So there's those fundamental aspects of being an opera that I think are missing. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
And you have the disappointing, the Na'Vi who's dropped probably too many games for where we expected them to be as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
He's the eighth worst player at the event.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah. That's wild, though.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, there's a lot of issues.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Kerrigan's always going to be there. Shush is down there. Shush and Brokey are down here as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
That was me for Zontix today. I was like, well, he's not doing anything crazy, but when they come to him, he's doing all right. You know, they're showing up.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Which is a shame because Zantix had, I thought, a really good Ancient. He obviously had those like impact rounds in the post plants and the clutches in those rounds. But even like on, I think he just played a good map overall. I was amazed at the T side on Mirage. I was like, please do. I felt really, I mean, I didn't really feel bad, but like...
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
it was like nine rounds of defaulting in mid getting destroyed by nerds getting destroyed by heroic and then they call to go do an a execute and on that round heroic decided to push down a ramp and caught him all with nades and i was just i was just laughing i was like yeah but i was like you should have been doing this a little bit earlier like you should have broken out of this default style way way earlier but the problem is i also said against navi i also said this like it's like what do you do like you can't blame chopper for the round where like maggots does
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
That's why I'm surprised. The Trojan horse. And Shiro benches himself like two months later.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I don't know. Perfecto's out there. Not as an IGL, yeah. Yeah, that would be good. I guess the other option would be this Kiyosuke guy, but I haven't seen his game. Everyone tells me he plays too many similar roles to Donk, but I hate that conversation.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You can't touch him now.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I know. It's some weak shit, isn't it?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I didn't mention a time frame. It doesn't matter to any of them, Chad. You're going to be out there now.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Well chopper like drop the Molotov.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, I mean, just to just to have fun banging on chopper here for a second. There was the round on ancient as well, where Donk was fighting From the Donut hallway to the A bombsite, and he was getting pinched. Like, Nertz was inside Donut, tucked against the wall with the Tech-9, two players coming out A main. Donk had already killed one in Donut, and he's getting pushed, like, swiveling.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, we got two cheaters in our games the other night, and I just haven't played Counter-Strike since.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
And Chopper sat on the other side of a Donut smoke. He can either wait out the smoke and let Donk just eventually die or do what he has to do, or jump through to at least help try and kill Nertz and alleviate that pressure, and then focus on the A bombsite. And he just stayed. And Donk is, like, turreting back and forth, like, killing shit.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
And it's like, please come through the smoke and help me out.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
What's so sad is it happened so quickly, too. It was round four, and I just had an AWP, and I killed one on the cross, and then I assumed one was pushing lower B, so as I went in on Dust2 to upper B, I just cleared the angle with the AWP and killed him, and they immediately called me a cheater, and then the next round and every single round was just...
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Niko has a better understanding, but... What do you do, put Chopper and Zontix at the B-bomb site?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Congratulations, Spirit. I guess if you have confidence... I mean, to go back to the... Congratulations. Congratulations. You've limped on it.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I guess if we go back to the original... What's the max?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I'm fine on Pick'ems. I need Malz, Navi, or Faze and Fury.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, Heroic vs. Na'Vi should be the best game in terms of quality of Counter-Strike. But FaZe vs. FURIA, I think, is big just because...
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
So, I mean, it was Na'Vi winning 2-1 at I Am Real.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Was butthole funny to you, Joe? It was funny to me. Can I offer a third option that I already know you guys are going to hate?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Those are my favorite options. I don't know if I'd want to try it in a major as the first go, but I've always liked this system that the Dota had the best of ones for seeding. If we did like a best of ones for seeding.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
We're already doing Swiss with the best of ones.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I mean, we're going to be playing the entire... There's going to be a lot of Swiss next year.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
No, I can't imagine it. And just the fact that you get so tilted after like one round and then just start cheating. And it's like, well, I mean, you just, you're just always going to suck at this game. So that's why you're always going to have to cheat.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
But... I don't know that PUBG tournament went off without a hitch or whatever that was back in the day.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You've come to my place for dinner.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, dinner are going to come.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You're flying in from Oz and flying out to Oz. So you're flying from Australia for like three days, four days.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Oh, baby, get business class for that one. Dude, no joke. Fucking start a Miles account for that flight.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
For the love of God. Get a Miles account for that. I don't know who you're flying with. Just make one. I'll make it for you. Thanks, Jason.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I haven't got a cheater in like two weeks. It's all good. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I just want GZ to win. I don't give a fuck who they have to go through.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
And they would have beaten them in every stage.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Liquid will be the best team to draw in the quarterfinals, but they're not any walkover team.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Other than potentially Furia. Do you think we'd put Liquid above FaZe right now?
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I think he was talking about Harry and Hugo, not you. Oh, okay.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Another potential last dance, as far as we know.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Actually, on some level, I think the coolest final would be G2 Vitality. That'd be such a sick grand final to have. Especially with the number one battle between Monacy and Zewu.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Completely blanked on that one, huh? Dude, that's a weird one too. Cause I came into this like pretty soon. Like I came into this. Yeah. Well, I think Monacy was the best player coming into this event.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
It hasn't, nothing's changed my mind quite yet, but I'm, but I'm looking at ZywOo and I'm like, he was kind of like third place in my mind, but dude, his, his year is so crazy consistent with how good he's been. He has not had a single off event.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Got real serious all of a sudden, didn't I? I would say yes. I'm trying to just consider your question and what other teams would I consider.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
The closest I've seen anyone really do it was Heroic and Nertz today. Even on Ancient, I think they did a good job preventing him from getting any mid control. But Mirage, they just shut him down in a head-to-head basis. Ancient, they shut him down tactically, not letting him have mid.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
So Nertz was just getting aggressive and just killing dogs.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Flashbang out, everyone peek.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I'm not going to argue against it because I've thought the same thing this whole year. I've just been really impressed by that. They've hit a level at this major that I didn't think they would at all.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
But I feel like there's a ceiling that we're also... I don't know how much higher they can raise the level.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah. I have a hard time with Alish. I have a hard time placing him in my head anywhere just because of the stuff outside the pure game plan. You don't like his attitude. Yeah, but I think that's a reputation he now has and I think that's going to make it hard for him to potentially go somewhere like that.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I'm not even going to take the Elisha angle. I'm just going to say we've had plenty of situations where we haven't had much to complain about. We always find a way to complain about some stuff.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You always find things to complain about. You always find things to bother you, no matter how good shit is. You got to have something to bitch about.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
and I'm not even going to make it personal on him at all I'm just saying there's going to be complaints there's going to be arguments there's going to be fights let's say I agree but you know the levels of bitching like let's say he's bitching here right now yeah he'll bitch over here the interesting thing would be seeing how they deal with it like maybe they're better equipped to deal with it they definitely will be than a grim and a floppy right and obviously they carry a lot of weight and respect with the pedigree and history and level that they play at but
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, I'm with you. I think every time I think... The only guys that come close are Naff and Twist. Pitt made that tweet, and I think it's pretty accurate. There's not a single team in this world that Alige could walk onto that he wouldn't make them instantly better. He would make any team he joins instantly better in terms of in the game of Counter-Strike.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
It's just a question of... Actually, I bet he'd even make them better. I think he could replace Magic to make them better.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You know, like it always again, it's always going to make them better. It's just a question of when you actually have to develop things or change things and build things, can you find a way to work together properly? And that's where the x factor and maybe I'm being a little bit too harsh on my experience wasn't the most positive in the world.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
But that'd be that's always going to be the x factor for me of a team at least joins is how long does it take before those phrase begin? Can I ask you a question? Sure. This donk 1v5? Yeah. Do you actually consider it a 1v5? You need space between that first trade, right? No, it was a 1v5.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I don't need 10 seconds. I need like 2 seconds or something.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
We got him. We fucking got him.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Dear listeners, go to Chad's Twitter right now, and I'm going to maximize this. I'm going to start it over. I'm going to hit the play button.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
The can is very close to being opened.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Owned. I need to watch that again. Yeah, the problem is you can only see one by one the POV of the guy.
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Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, you might as well give him the extra 6.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Alright, I need to eat. Do we have anything else you want to touch on? I guess we should say this will probably be the last episode before or after the Major. And then we'll figure things out because you're going to go home.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
No, it should be the other way. It should be morning for me, afternoon for you, PM for him.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
But maybe I might, I did the shorts. I might just have a couple of shorts saved in there to chuck out at some point.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I was going to try and play it during that, but I failed. That was a beautiful reenactment.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
We didn't set the date. No. It's just in there. Yeah. And one day we're going to remember.
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Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
that'll happen but there's a lot of us who have put things inside the box so i feel like collectively as a unit okay we might have like a collective memory uh and would unlock each other's yeah and it would and we could build upon it okay we could rebuild it yanko how is that grape juice
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
No, tell them what it said.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Honestly, it feels like the Americas RMR is just like never ended. I feel like the entire tournament, there's just been America's teams playing against each other's frequently.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
And like... If they hadn't won the pistol, it should have been like 10-2 for... And like none of their T-sides could contain Liquid just pushing like literally 80% of the rounds that were being played. There was always a push coming from somewhere.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
You're just in a douchey mood these days.
Talking Counter
Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
They played some tough teams, but the two teams they beat to get there are not anything to be super proud of.
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Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
Yeah, that's what I mean. They played some tough teams.
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Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
I think Fury is tougher than people give them credit for. They're just up and down.
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Episode 118: Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, Playoff Preview
They do have Fury as a number, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, it was quite a stint, really. I think it goes back to... I could include the award show, right? Award show back to Australia, back to Katowice. Katowice home for like 48 hours to Cluj. Cluj home for another 48 hours, then to EPL, from EPL directly to Copenhagen. Copenhagen for the group stage, from the group stage to Lisbon.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
There's a lot of national pride there. It's a very vocal fan base. They love their team. And this is a shock move, one that we've already said we can understand from the players' and teams' perspective of why they would be making this choice. It's just shocking that it came from nowhere and it wasn't leaked. I think that's crazy because I heard nothing about this. It just kind of popped off.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I was walking outside. I was like, what the fuck is this?
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Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I was just having a look. So Aurora, people are probably familiar with some of the rosters that they've put together over the last couple of years, right? But it's your Russian second strings, right? Like your Kenzies, your Norvies, that type of stuff. They have a Dota 2 team, which is... looking primarily Russian. They have Apex Legends team. They have mobile. What is MLBB?
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Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Mobile League Bang Bang? Yeah, something like that. Whatever. That's an EWC game.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And Warcraft 3 with a Russian player. The MLBB, where are these? Are these Philippines? I think that's the Filipino flag. If I get it wrong, I apologize.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Well, they put out a statement in Turkish. So you would want to try and get the power of that fan base on side. As soon as possible.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Who else in Counter-Strike is even a Turkish representation, right? Like it was Sangal, but then those guys went over to Heroic, right? So like that's changed as well. So that says, I think they should be able to harness the power. You're going to have some really like big, big's the wrong word. You're going to have some hardcore fans who are going to feel like Giga betrayed.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Someone just like linked me a tweet or replied in a tweet chain that I'm in of a guy saying, putting his Eternal Fire jersey in the toilet and it looks like he's pissing on it.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So, right, that's what I can see. Let me see if I can link that.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Lisbon to London to record some content stuff, which I was just telling you guys before we kicked off was quite the production. I'm going to be very interested to see how that turns out. And I hope it's good. And I hope people at home enjoy it. And then that means we can do more of what we did in the future for next year or whatever, because it was actually surprisingly a lot of fun.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, and I think, so obviously Aurora have the 1xbet backing, right? That's one of the main sponsors over there, I believe. Partners. Yeah, 1xbet. Main partner, 1xbet. Aurora is proud to represent the team's title partner, 1xbet. So yeah, in terms of having the cash flow, there's going to be a lot more money for them. But yeah, that's it. Different jersey, more salary.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, they need a drink with some more water, I think. They do. I don't know. It doesn't need to be perfectly clear, but I reckon that's quite yellow. It's got 1.2K likes.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
No, I think... Well, I don't know why. I think it's a smart move for them to pull out of Melbourne.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Obviously, it's the travel right now. And I didn't get to the bottom of the Zantara stuff, but after they were eliminated from Lisbon, Zantara has put out a tweet saying that he had back issues.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
He was taking a lot of pills and whatnot. Then there was a picture of him in hospital as well. So I don't know exactly what's...
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
you know the issue there hopefully he is doing better but in terms of their crazy schedule if i was going to skip one event it would be the one that is 24 hours on the other side of the globe and i'm saying that as an australian who's going to have so much fun at that event so um yeah i i get it i but i don't think it could be anything related to this or this aurora thing like one expert sponsor i am right
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, fair. All right. Well, the other big one that came out, and this one was from Nell. This was yesterday. The news itself is not surprising. The timing is. It's about Monacy to join Falcons. I don't think anybody should be surprised that he is joining Falcons. It's more about the fact that we didn't even make it to the end of the season.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It was I had me and Alex had this like dread. We were like, Oh, no, we have to go and do this thing. And we have to act. And we're already at the end of this long run. We're at the edge of our room. We don't have the energy. We don't have the energy. But we got there, and it was like, oh, shit. This was like a real deal thing. And it was actually lots of fun. Alex killed it.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I thought that they would have been able to get him to play. This is G2. up until the major and then going into the next season, it would have changed then. The fact that this is happening earlier than that shows, I guess, maybe a few things. One, that Modesty's probably not happy with G2's performances so far.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
The other, Falcon's probably not too happy with their performances so far, which have actually been probably on par with what you'd expect for the roster at the moment. and the willingness for a Saudi Arabian-backed team to spend money. So it's rumored to be, what, a several-million-dollar deal? That's what it says in the article?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It says to be a multi-million-dollar deal and the biggest transfer in Counter-Strike history.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So we were there for three days. Flew back to Malta on Thursday. Did HLTV confirmed yesterday where my brain just wasn't working. Words weren't coming out. I was like, nothing was flowing. I was just like, oh, Jesus. Yes. I'm not doing justice to this right now. So I apologize to any HSTV confirmed listeners for having to put up with my broken brain yesterday. But today I feel a bit more glued in.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, it's going to be hard to bail themselves out of this. Maybe they have to try and do what Aurora just did, the next kind of national team that's on the rise that they can take. Remember with the French back in the day, and then when things start to simmer out with that, start plugging and playing where you can. But I think there's a few things to get into here.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So one of them, I guess, is the chain reaction of events, because If we go way back with what you were just talking about there, Janko, in terms of the roster that was together that won Cologne, the whole thing with JKS getting benched, the way that that story seems to have aged, at least from the information that's come my way or different tidbits we've gotten over the years.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And it'd be great to get some clarification from the people in the team at the time, because now it's ancient history.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
but it felt like that was when nico was first going to go to falcons right like that that back then was when nico was meant to be going to falcons the first time round and then that fell through but they thought nico was going so then they weren't just going to find a player to replenish nico they were going to make more changes within the team and jks was going to be one of those names removed and they were going to bring in a couple of extra players right around hunter around monacy around hooksy um
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
and then build from there. Then that didn't happen. Niko stayed, but they had already worked on getting rid of JKS. And then they needed to replace JKS with somebody. And then what would the short timeframe and players that are available, they just ended up on Nexa, which didn't work out perfectly. Didn't do anything. That's what happened.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But that was like the first thing that like, that was the first time Niko was being courted by Falcons. It didn't land. And then it was a kind of a chain reaction from there. The thing that I think is interesting is obviously the CEO saying, oh yeah, we could have kept him if we wanted to.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I don't think you could have kept him if you wanted to, because if you were going to match the output of money that Falcons are likely paying Nico, that's a lot of money. Where's that money coming from?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
We're talking like six figures, we reckon? Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
sends a bad message man it's like like what are you doing why would you ever say something like that how about this one then yanko while we're on that uh the same gentleman uh tweeted this morning 8 37 a.m uh what a lovely day not to be on socials need to wait for some deadlines to talk but i'll come back to you next week with our side of the story and our plans for the future
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So you guys got Duncan in. That's quite a barn burner of a guest.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
We know that esports doesn't happen on the weekend.
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Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, but I think at the same time with the Nico thing with Falcons back the initial time, money was something that I heard was not a problem, but definitely a factor. And then also there's other teams in the current day who are also some of the bigger organizations that I'm hearing having to talk to their players about maybe cutting their salaries and what not.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So, you know, money is clearly an issue that and that's, that's, you know, the way of the world. So, I don't know, I look at this G2 scenario and G2 as an org at the moment, the best way to summarize it, they're fucked, right? Because they were already kind of fucked.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
The CS that they played in that arena game was some of the most dog shit Counter-Strike I have had the displeasure of casting in recent history.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
like it was that was shit they're not taken away from mouths mouths look great right now's playing some high-level counter-strike but you two look like a bunch of fucking donkeys running around there mate like i don't know what the fuck they were doing they didn't look connected at any point it was just you're dead no trade you're dead no trade nothing connected just shit
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
We can't talk about the mystery, bro. Don't even give it humor, Jason. It's not worth it.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But this goes back to my framing of G2, right? And this framing is not meant to be an attack on any individual. This is just how I looked at the lay of the land when Nico and Monacy were there.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
snacks was like just he was a wrangler right like he had a bunch of he had a bunch of like he wasn't he was a game manager he wasn't like an igl yeah like just pulling all the pieces together right like nico's got an idea moments he's got an idea hunter knows how to plug into this mouths will slot in right he's just pulling it all together pulling it all together and he didn't have to call like these really intricate game plans because you got some of the best counter-strike players in the
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
have some structures, understand what the decision tree looks like. What do we do as the basics? What are our round openers look like? And then just pull it all together. He doesn't need to be like a mastermind in-game leader. Whereas now that's required of him because the team doesn't have Niko who was like the engine of the team, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Not only was he the fucking driving force, he was also, you know, had one hand on the steering wheel. And that's not to say he was taking all the calls, but you know, he was definitely having a big say on the way the team should operate. And I think that's fine.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I don't think they cut Hooksy because he was like a strategic IGL.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I think they cut Hooksy because Hooksy was so negative and down on himself that like he- He couldn't be effective. Right, like, yeah. And once you're so far in that mental rabbit hole and nobody can pull you out of it, like you're broken goods at that point. Like you can come back, like Hooksy can still come back. to be an in-game leader for sure. I have no doubt about that.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
yeah no i think having duncan on maybe we get him on again you know we see what we can get going in the future first of all we're going to work out when we could do the next episode after this because i'm home until monday night where then i fly to cologne i sleep then the next day i get the train to frankfurt to get on a plane to go to perth where then i sleep for one night rush arrives the next day i pick rush up then we go on a road trip
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But his self-belief from talking with Justin and stuff was always so low. He was always so negative on himself. And Justin would say, oh, yeah, but we would say, you're doing a good job, man. And they just couldn't pull him out of it as a team.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Dude, he was so negative, huh?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I'm going to take him down to Esperance. And then we get back to Perth, get on a plane, fly to Melbourne, and then do Melbourne. And then after Melbourne, I get three weeks in Malta.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And I think Mal's showing some struggles trying to adapt to these roles is also going to set them back, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
yeah nice well like what do you reckon like i the the crazy one and the one that makes like the most sense from name value and everything and and jason's gonna hate this he's gonna say dexter aren't you no man what we're gonna say simple man weak shit jason we talking about oh you say simple jesus christ he's out playing dota bro like what do you want
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Bring your Dota player to G2. This could be it, Jason. This could be it. This could be the moment. This could be an organization. Is this the last moment? This could be the moment. The organization of the stature of Na'Vi knocks on the door. It's G2. Its pets are there. He's crying, tears running down his face. And he says, Sasha, you're my only hope. We need you to reignite the flame of G2.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I've got you at Guatemalan. I've got you heavy, God. I'll get you whoever else you want. You can keep Hunter. We'll have a conversation about the coach and the in-game leader. That is negotiable. But Simple, we need you right here, right now. ZywOo's got more MVPs than you right now. Modesty's just reunited with Nico. Don't kids running around making everybody look like idiots.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
You're the only man, Simple. And if you still want it, if you still got it, the time is now. Step into the mask of the samurai and become the destiny. I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Anyway, it's not gonna happen.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Jason, we need to speak post Dallas. Not right now, but we're running out of time.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
They'll have a lot more options in the offseason.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
You got to think bigger. You got to think broader. You got to think crazier. You got to think more outside the box. Faze look like dog shit as well. So what if by the time we get to the break, Faze are just crumbling piece by piece, falling into the abyss. And Finn Anderson, he's got unfinished business with Nico. The two reunite, brothers in arms. One last ride. You bring in Kerrigan.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Now you can make another change too. You can keep Magisk. Simple. You can keep your anchor. Fuck you.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
How about that, Chad? Yeah. Look, if we're taking chances on the future, why not?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So I don't expect, I am speculating that Bucharest could be the last event with Marcia G2 if things come to conclusion. Well, guess what? G2 wasn't going to go to Melbourne, but Falcons are. So they need to get him a visa for Australia, but that could be pretty cool. Like having the debut of Monacy in Falcons in Australia, that'd be pretty sick. I wouldn't mind that. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But I think it, I think slash hope it'll be after Bucharest because if the deal is like done, what are we waiting for? Right? Like what, what's the, what's the point? So I hope it's sooner rather than later. And yeah, that's what I hope for. But yeah, it's nice. I'm glad this is happening. I wanted Montessi and Nika to reunite. We all knew it was going to happen.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
People are delusional thinking that Falcons are not going to get what they want. They are going to get what they want.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Which I would say better just by in-game leadership alone. I think there's no doubt about that. Like the fact that Xue is going to come in and he's going to get to in-game lead the team the way that I hope he wants with the pieces that he has. that's pretty exciting. I think that obviously he's proven himself. We don't know what the issues were with Maus, right? There's only speculation.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I was watching some of the videos with the hall of fame stuff and your beard is that density there.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I haven't had enough come my way to really understand why he got the boot from Maus or got the bench on Maus. There's a few things of this to unpack, right? The first one being the fact that I saw some people talking about, oh, why is it just on loan? I like the fact it's on loan for a few reasons, one of which, well, maybe they'll find out the reason that the whole Maus situation didn't work out.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
The other would be,
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
um that you're going into the tournament break after the major and there could be more changes in that time period so if you're looking to be more aggressive with your changes then yeah you're not committed to this one completely and if it doesn't work for both parties then there are options for them to to change some things up so i don't mind the fact it's on loan and and it's less money than a full-blown buyout and they just got out of a situation where they just got burned about paying a huge buyout to bring in a brand new igl to try and build up a team from from nothing so
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Can I just say this? Cause you guys have brought this up a couple of times and, and you just had NAF in your EPL. So that's why you guys said it when the team was first having Justin in Justin is the one who NAF still had all these spots. NAF wasn't doing what was required from him in those spots. So they moved him and then they gave Justin those spots.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So NAF may have been feeling uncomfortable, but he wasn't delivering the way he was meant to be in those positions. That's why it was changed. It wasn't like, oh, let's make NAF more uncomfortable. It was initially Justin more uncomfortable. and then Naf wasn't delivering what he had to, so then they moved things around. Just let the record show, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Because you guys have mentioned it a couple times, and I've held my – my boy's on the bench, right? I don't want to get in a conversation – yeah?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
okay these are the ct positions that twist currently holds on liquid before we sit and play with shoei just so you guys are aware middle on ancient middle on anubis ct rotator so the a rotator on dust 2 inferno the a rotating rifler he plays short on mirage he plays uh door so main player on nuke and then he plays uh a main so i think the aggressive towards pop and whatnot on uh train
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I'm lost. Janko, did he first say Twist and then just say NAF?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So these are NAF's positions currently. Bianca on Ancient, so the long player. He is the Bianca on Anubis. He is the Bianca on Dust2. He is the B support player on Inferno. He is the B anchor on Mirage. He is the floor player on Nuke. I imagine he will move to ramp now. And he is the Ivy player on Train.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So he will probably get the chance to be the B player on Train because Justin was the B player on Train. So I would imagine that he would take over that role and then Chewie would become like the Ivy guy. But we also don't even know what their map pool is going to look like. That could change too.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I don't think that's going to happen, Jason.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It has to be Justin who gets ripped off.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Holy shit. I had to go in a way back time machine just then to think of that one. Yeah, that was like six months ago in your brain. Shitter Island. Yeah. But that was fun. That was a good one. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
it's over now why you think well the way g2 ended and the way this one ended it's over like he's 29 now i see none not like name a team who's in the top 20 who would even be interested in phase No way. For who?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
He's too old. He's aged out, man. It's over.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But the thing is, the whole conversation with this, right? And I don't want to get too much into it because obviously I can't say things without people just being like, well, you're biased, right? And obviously I am. It's my friend. I had the same thing with G2. So I'm not going to go hard like I did with the G2 stuff. But you said it had to be NAF for the reason that he's a franchise player.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
well as you guys know my favorite emotion uh no not my favorite my best emotion is anger your easiest emotion to tap into yeah it's definitely anger yeah i had years of looking at it front on um so when we were doing that one and the i think that was yeah i i don't know what the initial ending was meant to be because frank had that planned and then the ending wasn't obviously the donna thing and then donna worked the last week and then he repurposed it so
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It had to be Justin to get replaced and NAF stay because if they replaced Justin, they would have had to have played in the European MRQ. So like, let's say that Justin's, I don't know, like the team wanted to keep Justin, but there was no way they could have because it wouldn't have made any sense whatsoever, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
They would have had to either play in the Asian or no, it would have 100% been based off the way the rules work, the European MRQ. Why would you sacrifice that? And especially with what Jason, well, was it what you just said, Yanko? About the two players. Yeah, it was what you were saying about the two players.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Like they're so similar in terms of what you can get out of both of them from the stats perspective and what they deliver in the server that you would take NAF, like undoubtedly, right? You wouldn't risk that. You wouldn't have that up in the air. Why would you? It doesn't make any sense. But I don't think anyone's picking Justin up now, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Like nobody, no one's going to come out from Liquid and say anything positive about Justin for him to get picked up. Like there's no benefit to them there.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
right like it's just it's done it's over that's it and the whole angle is just gonna be yeah he had shit stats so look at what i just linked yeah i saw it yeah it's like like it doesn't matter what he did it doesn't matter like anything in terms of what he brought for like the team's preparation or outside because nobody knows those things and i can't say him because if i say him then no one's gonna believe me they're just gonna be like oh yes you may right nobody from liquid's gonna come out and say the positive things about him either so
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
justin's benched at liquid though right and like the thing is i i don't know i i don't imagine liquid are going to be kind and let him go right like a lot for what i've heard about the finances at liquid it doesn't sound like they're going to be nice if they're fucking offering 37k to road jay in 2021 like no fucking surprise
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I know Jason Salley, when he was their coach, and he fucking took him to the cleaners, man. That's how this guy's renovating his house.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Tiled from fucking floor to ceiling, man.
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Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
If Steve has any honor, he'll let him go for free.
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Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, I guess.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
You guys get to cover Liquid in a couple days' time, right? Yeah, tomorrow. Here's the final thing I'll say about the change. This is a good change. Twist was obviously not cutting the mustard as the in-game leader. I had hope based on conversations I had with him and the conviction that he had when I spoke to him that he would be able to pull this off. but obviously not up to the task, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
We saw there was really no developments in certain fields from what they were. They were changing positions. They were trying different styles. Those things weren't landing, right? It wasn't working. The same problems persisted within the team, like losing unlosable rounds, giving up number advantage situations, losing rounds to ecos, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
That one worked out pretty good. I don't know if I'm in for an Oscar against Trace's acting, but we'll have to see how the year shapes up, really.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
That they should never have been... Like they were in matches that could have been competitive. That could have been like confidence building breakthrough games for them, but they always fumbled the easy rounds. And that's essentially... You know, you can only sustain so many of those losses up to a point where something has to give. So this change, it's a good change.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Shuey's the best available option on the market right now. I think that he's going to come with a lot of zest because he's going to feel like he's got an axe to grind based on this mouse thing at the start of the year. So he's got a fire lit under his ass. He has a great arsenal of players, right? I think Nerd's obviously in the mix with Twist and NAF. That's class.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
We're still yet to see consistency out of Ultimate. Some days he's hit, some days he's missed. That's the player that I think needs to adapt and evolve the most. I don't think with a player like Shui in the team, obviously I don't know enough about him, but he feels like he has a strong will of how he wants to approach the game.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And maybe that's why there was the mixing of philosophy with the rest of the team on Maus. Now that the coach they have in lieu of getting rid of Mitha is Jay Lee, so Demars DeRova. He's more of an analytical guy. I want to say more of an analytical guy. He is an analytical guy. He just runs the data and will go, okay, guys, we're better off doing this or better off doing that.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
He's not going to sit there and design the entire philosophy of how they approach the game. He's not going to be designing the defaults, all that type of stuff.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Well, that's, we should run like, like we should come up with, because obviously HLTV's awards like all serious and stuff, but we could actually, I know Richard used to do like an awards, right? But it was always like.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I think the one thing I hope is though for Twists is it's not a poison chalice, right? Like, so he tried to do it. It didn't work. Look, from my perspective, device and twists, picking up those mantles has ruined my belief in a star player ever again, saying that they're going to be an in-game leader. I will forever for the rest of my life be against them if they're successful.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But it was like the worst stuff. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
then I will change my tune.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I'm not believing it until it's done, right? You climb Everest and then I'll say you can do it. But until then, right? You're just fucking... Because I don't even know why I believed. I don't even know. I think I just discredited how hard being an in-game leader was. I haven't played professionally in almost 10 years. Now I must've just forgotten.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
yeah i just i don't know why i left it like that because he's only 24 or 25 right so it's like that was one of the big qualms is it was he's 25 it just felt early on within the career but i remember i had some some chats with him and he said the conviction was at an all-time high so i i was i don't get me talking to a cult leader i might just start buying in man like if i talk to a scientologist or some shit i could be you guys don't know i could be me 24 hours oh fucking hell
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I only learned what that Kool-Aid reference was about, Jason, because I was watching this new TV show called The Studio. It's like on Apple TV and it's with- Seth Rogen. Yeah. And the first episode is talking about, is it Jamestown? Yeah. Yeah. And apparently they committed suicide by drinking Kool-Aid.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Maybe we could find something in between, you know, maybe not best, maybe not worst, but like just things that are, I don't know, best crowd moment.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, I only learned what that meant. Thanks to a TV show, guys. So they can be good for you. They can teach you something. All right, we're done with Liquid Convo? It can be done with a Liquid Convo, I think. Yeah, okay. What else is there that's happened that's big? Those are the three big ticket items that have happened in the Aurora stuff, Monacy, Liquid. There's been some other news.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, hit me.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Joel had a lifetime ban.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
That's good. Well, apparently he was cheating, like cheating, cheating. Legitimately cheating. Using hacks. Like, you're a hacksaw.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
yeah so it's good that he's gone uh lifetime ban for him um passion ua kane is out tc is in kind of wild right does tc speak speak ukrainian we didn't know it not that i not that i know i didn't get to talk i didn't get to ask sam about it uh she's here she's tight with tc you know i'll get some i'll get some insight for your child for the next episode nice
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Well, he's a doctor. You never know. Maybe he's learning it right now.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, that could be a thing. I wouldn't mind it. Did you guys see this drama around teams playing the Yellow Compass Qualifier, but then they're not going to play the actual event because they were just playing it for points to play the MRQ?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Kind of sad.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, well, they wouldn't be able to do both. Right, right, right.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
You're talking about my Counter-Strike career right there. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Ah, boys, it's good to be back.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
What do you boys think of this though, right? Because I asked Striker what he thought the solution was yesterday and he said, yeah, that's the one. My problem there is it makes you less flexible because I think that these events should be land, right? Like I understand if, and I went on my soapbox about this yesterday, so I won't get on it as big today.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But essentially, I think for the smaller regions like Asia and the Americas, that the event should be LAN because we need to prop those regions up a little bit more. So Valve should help the tournament organizer to run LAN events in those locations. I don't think that the MRQ should, first of all, be online. If it is for Europe, so be it, right? And people are going to be, that's crazy.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But they've already got the most representation. We already have like the best servers. We can all be worked out in Europe, right? If everyone could go to some, everyone can go to ENAP, that bootcamp there and play the thing online. And you know, it's all good in the hood.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But in Asia, the fact that we have like Eastern Asia and China and Oceania and all broken up in that fashion, then we have to include, which aren't getting included, which kind of sucks is the Middle Eastern teams. If we just had a big LAN, like a 16 team LAN, with representation from all those regions coming together for the five spots, whatever the fuck it is. And that's huge for the region.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It would mean so much for the region to be able to have an event like that. So I think that Valve should really make it so that Asia at a bare minimum has LAN event for the MRQ in the future. And I understand that's going to put a dent in the calendar, but it's a region where those teams most likely are not attending the
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
the big events anyway, because they're not going to be high enough in the rankings, right? There's less likelihood you get the overlap of those events. And then if you can do it for the Americas, I think you should too, right? I think you should, because the way that it gets divided, it's not even a number of teams split at the moment. And then how do you work at who gets more?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And is that a fair way to do it? I think, and it's also good for North America. North America needs more events like that. We need to try and stimulate North America as well. So- South America, I love you guys too, but you guys have a healthy scene, especially Brazil. But I think that should happen in the future. I would like to see that as the next evolution of this.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
yeah it was it was either fur or cold zero one of them had the same brazilian dream team as what we've discussed a couple of times i don't know if it was true it was one of the two um i thought you definitely said some shit about yes that's what i thought you were bringing up yeah he dumpstered him pretty fucking hard
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, so it's interesting to see the pundit scene down there grow from the ex-pros, right? Because there's quite a few of them down there.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
The amount of news that happened within the last, what it would be like 24 hours, right? It's kind of wild because we're doing HLTV Confirmed yesterday and it was just like wrapping up of Lisbon, which is a little bit late, but it's because of all the travel stuff I spoke about.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah. So LinVision forfeit a game to give more points to Rare Atom so that they would have a higher place in the ranking. which would then give China the two spots for the major.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Do I think that it's good that Lin Vision did that? No. Do I understand why they did that? Yes. Do I think that it's important that these things get fixed by Valve going forward? Yes. Is the solution to just have everybody play together on a LAN like I just spoke about? Yes.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And then, you know, you're looking at Bucharest, which you guys are both at right now to be working, starting tomorrow, right? And you're thinking, okay, yeah, well, we're midway through the season, all this stuff's unfolded. There was already like a decent amount to be discussed at that point, right? Like there was that small update with Banana on Inferno changing.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Apparently, I missed some good interviews that happened recently. One of the things that... Where is it here? Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. The rivals thing upset me a little bit from Blast. That upset... Like, twofold. Obviously, they are no longer doing it in Mexico. And I...
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I can get it right because if you look at the flow of events it would have been Bucharest a lot of those teams or some of those teams going to Australia right for Melbourne then some of those teams not many because it's only an eight team event going to Mexico and then from there those teams having to go to Astana right Astana starts on the 10th of May the Mexico event finishes on the oh no
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
fourth well still finishes on the fourth of may yeah but you have to travel on the eighth you have to be in a stand on the eighth yeah okay well that that makes sense so yeah okay well time it's a flat circle um when i saw so seeing that i was like okay well that sucks because it was meant to be a crowd event um and we didn't really get much of a reason of why it wasn't happening right
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
You guys are gonna get to see that in play, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
This is what it says. I'll read it so that we will hold some people's hands. Blast Rivals Monterey update. Due to unforeseen logistical challenges, the upcoming Blast Premier Monterey Rivals event will now take place at the Blast Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
We remain incredibly excited about the Rivals format and are committed to delivering an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike. Does that mean they're going to do a crowd? While we won't be in Mexico this time, we look forward to returning in the near future. So if they're not going to do a crowd, then for fans, they mean the viewers at home.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And it's like, like we had EPL as a studio event. We're about to have Bucharest now as a studio event. We had Bounty as a studio event. And the reason that this one for me kind of irks me up the wrong way is I am so against the fact that Valve gave them an exception to run this format. Like this format is bullshit. This format goes against, in my mind.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
A lot of... Oh?
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Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It's an eight team event. How many other tier one tournaments are eight team events? None. It's four teams wildcard invites, right? Which is bullshit because they can essentially pick whoever they want. And this hasn't, like, I don't know where this is currently at, right? But I know that some digging was done because based off of the way that they do their incentive structure, it's what was it?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It was appearance fee, right? Like based off of where you're invited to a tournament with the blast structure, we've gone over this plenty of times earlier in the year, you would receive a certain amount of money based off where you were invited, not waste based off where you would place like prize money or the club share.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Oh, I thought you were... No, no, no, no. I thought it was about Monacy. I was like, is this happening already?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
So the issue with this one was that the wildcard teams, the way that I was looking at it was that the wildcard teams would get the appearance fee, which was, I think it was the same for all of them, one to eight. I'm pretty sure. I can go and double check right now.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I'm pretty sure it would get 80K. And with the wildcard teams, sure, there's certain level of restrictions that you have to go through to invite these teams, right? So first of all, it was regional based and then there has to be something to do with like how these teams are placed in the period of time, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But essentially within those confines, you can pick and choose whatever team you want it to be from those regions to come to your event. And the way that I read it was that those teams would receive that appearance fee, right? So that's 80K. You get to pick who you want to come out of four slots of an eight team event and you're essentially gifting them 80K.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Well, I don't think these are the names that Blast would have wanted to come. So it actually makes me a little bit happier that it's paying Wildcard and FlyQuest. Obviously Falcons there too, but they don't fall into the same category. But then when I was talking about this on HLTV confirmed a while back, Lucas was like, oh no, but the way this is worded is you have to be ranked one to eight.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Well, I believe, and I don't know the outcome of this, right? So I don't want people to sit and take this as like full condemnation. There needs to be like someone who's an actual journalist talking to Blast and getting this out there from a public perspective or Blast need to set the record straight.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But what I had heard or what I was told based off of some digging, asking Blast was that no, like you, The teams, regardless of place one to eight, right? So the top four, everybody would get the 80K based off of what I heard. So that goes, I think that seems bad, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, it should be nice. And obviously you're missing Vitality, missing Spirit, missing Maus. But the way that Striker framed it was the sense that it's a chance for someone else to win a trophy, right? Because all the teams that have won trophies in 2025 at Tier 1 events so far... none of those names are there. So it's that opportunity.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Like you can pick who you want as a wildcard team within small confines and then you give them 80 grand or whatever that is for the, I'm pretty sure it was 81K or something along those lines.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Like they can just play under... But the problem is, Janko, the problem is when the initial stuff came out from Valve and it wasn't fully fleshed, Blast were the first ones to the table. with their circuit. And even with the things that weren't fully fleshed out at the time, they announced this format and it didn't play by the rules, the limited rules that were available then.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And this was back in what, like September or October of last year, maybe even a little bit earlier than that. So it was like, even with the base level rules that they had, they still made this format.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But with this news that's gone down, now it's like probably G2's last event with Monacy or potentially, right? The Aurora thing as well, that comes with a different measure to it because have you guys seen the tweets coming out from some of the players? They feel like remorse-laden tweets. It's like, we're sorry that we had to leave, but we needed to go and get more support, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, but look, I don't want to get into political talk, but it always seems harder to get onto that side of the world. I know the major is going to be on that side of the world. Hopefully that doesn't get canceled. Holy shit.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
That's true. It would be nice to know.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah, I guess the thing is that we can try and investigate on our side, but it would be good to know because the one thing that we hope, I guess, for the longevity of Counter-Strike is for it not to be so European dependent, where we're in that at the moment. We have been in that for a while. There's a lot of factors that play into this, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And we could sit here for hours upon end talking about how we got into this scenario, but that's not really the crux of the issue. The idea is more about looking for solutions. And if we don't know what the problems are, then how are we meant to be able to find said solutions? So... It would be nice, I think, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Was it you in the past, Jason, who brought up the idea of swings like they do in tennis?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah. I think, you know, this all, there's a lot of factors that all compound into this, but yeah, it would be nice to get some transparency on it, but I don't imagine we will. So that's just the way she goes. What else we got here? What else happened? Well, we didn't talk about Lisbon. With the podcast you guys did, was it after Lisbon ended? No, it was before. Well, we could talk about that.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
We could also talk about Bucharest.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
They're on top of the Christmas tree. They're the star or the angel or whatever you want. But then next down, the favorite baubles, Spirit and Mouse. But Mouse are slightly higher.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Because I was looking into it Apparently, all of the betting sponsors in Turkey are government owned or government backed. And you can't have betting sponsors outside of that or maybe they're a little bit more murky. I don't want to say matter of factly because I'll be wrong, but...
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Am I out on FaZe too early? Because you just said FaZe is not a bad team by any stretch. But I feel like I'm out on them. I don't know if this roster is... When I say work, I mean to FaZe's caliber, like a top three team in the world, entertaining Counter-Strike, having deep runs, making grand finals. This is a team that's been in back-to-back major finals.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Sure, they didn't win them, but they were still in them. And then they also started CS2 as the top dog. And then after Lisbon, Kerrigan makes this tweet. This is a disappointment. The way we lose way too many advantage positions and rounds is insanely bad in this tournament. Basics are in the bin. Back to practice again, again, again, again. See you next event. Like... I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
The team, am I out on them too early? Should I wait until this event where we don't have the top dogs?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
The field's just weird, though, don't you think, Jason? We have three teams that feel like we can trust upon. Top three teams keep them there?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Well, it hasn't been a big adjustment at the moment. For me, it goes Vitality, Spirit, Mouz, Eternal Fire, Mongols.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Like, that's how good it's made.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And the field is weak.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
What do we do?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Oh, there you go. We'll take Bitt as well. Let's go.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yep. That ain't bad. That's pretty good. That sounds pretty good. Yeah. Sounds pretty good. Well, all right. Do you want to talk a bit about Bucharest and then wrap it up?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Okay. So for our audio only listeners, they're our favorite listeners. They always have been and always will be. Mongols, Aurora, G2, Aurora, aka a ton of fire. G2, FaZe, Falcons, 3D Max, Virtus Pro, Astralis, Liquid, Gamer Legion, Pain, Furia, Complexity, Rare Atom, Apogee, and Legacy. Those are the teams in attendance.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah. We've seen some of these names before. That demo we've seen before. I think we've seen this. Which one? Huh? Nothing.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Format, it's 1.25 million. We have 16 teams. It's Swiss best of three. Eight-team playoff bracket on the Sunday. Third place, best of three to side out, best of five grand final. So that's the studio event in Bucharest in PGL Studio. No days off, start to finish. Are they doing something special with the teams once it gets to the playoffs? Do you guys know?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I just meant the playing area.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But in the past, it's just kind of been like booths, right? Yeah, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Oh, that's cool. That's nice. That's a nice adjustment.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Oh, well, we shouldn't get into that then if he's doing that because we need Janko as part of that conversation, Jason. So shall we go through some smaller news bits that Janko doesn't care about anyway? Let's pivot to some tiny ones.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
That's fixed. When you say you don't know if they can, do you mean like within the rules?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
That would be who I'm hoping to win.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
They're on a big winning streak at the moment, Complexity. I know it's online Tier 2 Counter-Strike, but still. Got to start somewhere, baby. They have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 games in a row. Oh, that ain't bad.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
With a 13-0 in there.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Janko's boys.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Wait, so you want us to talk about it? Oh, no, I don't understand. What are we doing, Janko? Should we wait? Like, we can keep talking.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
You know what's crazy, though? DeMau is only 21. Lato is only 22. And then the two more, obviously Lux came in. He was part of Pain. He's only 22. It's a very young team. Average age of 22.3.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Who... So, outside of... So, we've got the main field, right? We've got the two national rosters at the tippy top, the Mongols and Aurora. Outside of that, G2, who potentially could be going under literally a team-shattering roster change. FaZe... Falcons, they're your next string of international teams. Then you've got 3D Max, Virtus Pro. I'm not going to bring Astralis into the conversation.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Even though they're ranked 12th, they're not ranked 12th in my mind. They don't play comprehensive Counter-Strike. I think that they're off of their past results, right? Virtus Pro and 3D Max are interesting to me. I think it's nice to see VP starting to get some attitude about them. Yes, I'm getting converted. Jason, how about you, Jason?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
The problem, though, was their T side of Ancient, which did make me hate everything about them again for a moment. I don't want to see them play like such little bitch asses on that map again, like not fighting for mid control, not going for B lane, just sitting outside the doors the whole time. They did it in multiple games. It wasn't just one match.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Okay, okay, okay. Well, obviously, Jason, some of the biggest news of the day is Nick at Oz joining a confirmed edition of OG.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It was like, okay, is this just the way you guys don't actually know how to play Ancient on meta at the moment? You're not going to change the meta.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yes.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
They also, they beat phase like 13. Oh, right. Which is crazy. I don't think, I don't know how many of those caragans suffered in his career. I don't think it could be many. So, That's a huge victory for them as well. Their map pool, they don't play Nuke, which is fine. I think there's a lot of good Nuke teams at the moment. That's something we don't need to see them picking up.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It's surprising their Mirage isn't great. They play Rare Adam in the first game. It's like, can you lose to Rare Adam? How bad can things start?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I agree with your sentiment about having Na'Vi there because it would really expose how bad things are for Na'Vi if they were to go in this field and then struggle again. Because obviously the teams, if you look to who they've lost to this year, it's Spirit a couple of times, and that's okay. Like you were saying before, Janko, with the FaZe comparison, it's fine. That's okay.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
You're losing to another top dog, but again, it's about how competitive it was. So these are the teams that they've lost to this year. Spirit in Bounty. They lost to Spirit in Katowice. Both of those were 2-0 games, but still, that's Spirit. They lost to Mongols in EPL. All right, studio event. Mongols are a good team.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
That's true. Yeah, but... Let's knock out that one.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I think mostly... They got blown out by EF, and they'd never lost to EF before.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And they went through two little peaks, right? One was, oh, their amazing team Counter-Strike wins them the Major. They win the Major by winning less rounds than they lost. Oh, my God, this is crazy. But they played really good team Counter-Strike. You can't fuck with that. Then they went in a bit of a lull. And then it came back and it was like, wow, JL's having a massive game.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Bits turned to have a massive game. Oh, look, IMA's now playing well. And every map you turn to, someone was popping off or a new duo was getting it done. And now it doesn't even feel like you're getting the crazy team play because... And they say all the stuff coming out in the comms, right, it doesn't paint a fair picture. I can't argue with that. That's their angle. They can say what they want.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
But, you know, you look at the way that it looks within the team, it looks a bit fiery. And then you see that the team counter-strike's not there and the individuals aren't delivering. It's like, well, they've lost a lot of what was making them good.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I don't know. All right. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Okay. They haven't broken through that glass ceiling though. EF, sorry, Aurora or the Mongols. So it's hard for me to put... I would like this to be the event where one of the two do that, right? That would be what I would really like to see them in this field with the type of counter-strike these two teams can play breaking through. That's what I want to see. But...
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
because i want to see that it probably won't happen um so it's going to be someone else it's probably going to be fucking g2 on the i wouldn't i wouldn't predict him but i'm with the ankle i want i want mongols to win i don't know if i would point a finger and say this team is going to win it but i my heart would like to see mongols win yeah i think a lot of the counter-strike world is probably aligned there yeah if they've gotten their dust to a little bit better and that
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
What do you mean? They like coming back from 9-3-0. That's 10-2 scorelines. That's their favorite thing to do. Here's one that we didn't consider, though, because G2 are obviously going to be mentally hamstrung by the idea that Monacy is leaving or could be leaving. Falcon's also going to have the inverse of the problem with Dexter knowing he's not in the team anymore.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Or, well, yeah, he has to be the replacement, right? So...
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
um falcons and g2 will both be affected by that news i want to put like money on a 3d max slash vp deep run like a top four for one of those two okay when i say i want to put money i don't bet so what i mean by that is you want to put i want to say friendly friendly five dollar bet on it no no money jason uh the the bills that keep coming in left right and center provisional tax all right fucking yeah i'll take vp or 3d max though
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Okay. Well, boys, we got much more to say. No, I'm all good. I'm gravy. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Six. I don't know. I think it's fine to call them Eternal Fire every now and again anyway. I'll let you know. It's fresh.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And they'll be in the MRQ, so that's cool, right? That's a good opportunity for them there. And I like this Krizin kid. Buzz, I think, had some moments. He obviously got hard done by over there at Astralis. And he was really early on in his career. He's back. Nice. Okay. But now we don't need to talk about OG anymore.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
No, it's just like, it's one of those things. We went G2, when Niko went to G2, when Niko went to Falcons, I'm pretty sure I was saying that wrong in the beginning. There was definitely some players who I was doing that in the early days. It was like, oh, well, fuck it. It's a big change. It's going to take a while to get used to. It will. It's going to take a while to get used to. All right.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Cool, boys.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Okay, where do we want to start? Aurora?
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Since we're already on that.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Look, again, I don't want to act like this is gospel because I'm using, and I know people hate AI at the moment, but we're not getting into that conversation on this fucking show. But I use AI just as instead of a search engine right now.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
It says private gambling companies, including online betting sites are illegal in Turkey and the government activity blocks access to unlicensed foreign gambling websites. So they wouldn't have been able to get a gambling sponsor, which I understand a lot of people have problems with, especially now that stuff like this Jacob thing has come to light.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Maybe we can talk about that later in the episode. But in terms of esports or Counter-Strike and types of sponsors that you have, a gambling one is a main one for a lot of top organizations. And they have a massive fan base, of course, but if you're unable to get any sponsors, these guys are out there representing their country.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And that's why the laptop is always the last bastion of hope. You have it there just in case. That's the thing. I don't love traveling with my laptop because it's big and it's heavy. And then I need to take a whole extra bag and shit. And then all these fucking microphones and everything. But it has to be done. It has to be done. It has to be done. And there's no other way around it.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And that's the great thing about the brand of Eternal Fire was the representation of Turkey out there in the Counter-Strike world. And people were getting behind it in a similar fashion as the Brazilians.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
And I guess that's why some of these messages that are coming up from Woxic or Magic have had a bit of a remorse in it, because they probably feel like there are people who are going to feel betrayed by this. But that's not the case, right? They're out there. Like, I understand what they're trying to do, right? You should be getting paid well.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I think Woxit kind of did. Let me see if I can find his message.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Maybe there's something political there.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
Gentlemen, I haven't seen you in a while.
Talking Counter
Episode 130: EF/Aurora, m0nesy and niko reuniting, siuhy loaned out, PGL Bucharest
I'm not certain how up to date all of that is and I don't even know what type of leagues that these teams are playing in. So I can't really speak to that. But the thing that is probably the most gutting about this is the same way as the Mongols or the same way as Brazilian teams in the past, they are essentially the representation of their country to the rest of the world.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah. Yeah. I was thinking, right? So I was telling you before we started that I had a bad night of facing last night. I had to play until I'd won a game before I went to bed.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It was just a tough night. It was a tough night in the office. And I had to keep playing until I won a game. But it's not about the keep playing until I won a game. It's about then not being able to sleep for the four hours after. I couldn't sleep. Really? No shit. You're right back to it all the time. You're so passionate. Because people go, oh, do you miss playing games?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
professional counter strikes like well i don't really miss like being in the prac room for like eight hours a day and all that shit but i missed the feeling of competing so even like losing a pug i'm like fuck man like i like it you know that's that's we all have that vibe but i was it got me thinking is there ever is there one match that stands out to you that you lost that like kept you up all night that you couldn't stop thinking about like fuck man i shouldn't have done this or if i just done that or if i got this one kill
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
yeah like compared to malta i don't know well i think malta is like i've just given malta a bad rap there even though i live there uh the the problem i have is because i used to be a plumber i walk around and i say yeah yeah once upon a time i walk around and i see what the the building standards look like and i'm like mate if their building standards are like this what could their health yeah let's be like but i think overall it has pretty good health care
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
yeah because it's it's still people yeah it has to have a certain level of of stuff so and there's a lot of british people there and you know how those fuckers complain mate so i i live in cyprus so there are also loads of british people but they yeah so you have this technical stop in your country You do what? When I fly to, like, Dubai or whatever.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It's not a bad spot. Come say hello, mate. I will next time I get off the plane. I've never been to Cyprus. Is it nice there?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah, true. X-ray, because we can see it coming. Right. And for these guys, they're swinging into the end and bang, boom.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Everybody's been working really hard compared to last year really really hard like you've never seen Vitality in the park room that much as as much as we we do know in world of work to get away from the kids Esports dad vacation Or did apex say he was gonna talk as much shit as he did like against mouse was he like man? I'm gonna go after low time this time like
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It happened before with Snappy and Sphinx as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
I'll say this. You guys, Na'Vi and Spirit all weren't at PGL.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Right now. G2 as well, no? G2 as well. Liquid. Falcons are inferior.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Right now, Falcons are one series away from being eliminated. And Maus could very much not make it as well. Like the game against Liquid. They are the favorites against Liquid, but they could not make it. So, you know, like they won PGL, sure.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
We tell, like, when I say we, I mean, me, Henry, and Alex, like, when people come to Malta, they're like, oh, where should we go? Like, don't go to St. Julian. Like, well, it's not St. Julian. Don't go to... It's so cute.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
That's not a fun place to go. Conflict, they don't listen. Conflict gets kicked downstairs, you know. Twice. Things happen out there. And then you would have... You'd have seen like, it's like loud music, bright lights. Yeah, people like to rub your wallet. Yeah, it's a good place. We're not there anymore, though. We are in Sweden. I know.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It's pretty straightforward though, right? If you like being around people, then you'll be around. That's why I'm never in the green room with you.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
When I was asking yesterday, your manager, if you can come do this, she said you're a late riser. She didn't expect you to be up this early.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah? How do you know? Well, you told us last time. Oh, okay. I just remember. Shut up, Phoenix, who was at Pro League one time with NIP.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
He plays some key positions though, right? Like, you know, The positions where he feels like he has to deliver at least above the standard amount.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Well, yeah, but you're never playing the... Yes. You're always towards connector.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
You do a lot of B apps pushes and stuff. You were with Spinks, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Or anyone from Israel at the moment in Counter-Strike, besides Anarchist. Everyone else is good, apparently.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Do you think it's the way the game's being played or do you think it's the game itself?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
But that's why I asked you, is it the game or is it the play style? Well, you've said a bit of both because like you think about it, a lot of things you just brought into the conversation, they're like heroic, being really active. There's no statically holding an angle anymore. You're always jiggling or you're always like preempting. Okay, so I'm going to do that.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
I'm going to crouch in, then I'm going to reset. I'm going to do the same thing again. And then you hope you catch the timing on when that player comes. And like, look, in 1.6, we weren't doing that. Obviously in 1.6, if you got shot, you would essentially just get completely slowed, right? Like you wouldn't be able to move and stuff. It's not the same in like source.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It's not the same in CS2, CSGO. But because players are doing a lot more, you guys are communicating a lot more. There's a lot more moves. It's like, oh, they do this. Well, this is the counter. But not only is this the counter, we have three other options we can do.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
And like you're doing your counter on your side of the map while your teammates know what the counter needs to be on another part of the map. So the game has never been as high level in terms of the reactions or the understanding of the patterns. And then the awesome moments that happen because of that is the chaos.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It's like the players that you were like, okay, they'll do this and they think I'm going to do this, but instead I'm just going to run through this fucking smoke and it's going to flash for me. And then your mechanics come into play and you're like bang, bang, bang. It's like sick. I think like this CS2 edition with the smokes is probably the best thing that could happen.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It's so dynamic now. Because to be honest, I'm glad you said it because I remember back in the VP days, I'm on the cast going like, This is boring. And people being like, you just don't appreciate good Counter-Strike. It's like, no, I do. It's boring though. It doesn't mean that it can't be good Counter-Strike and boring.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
I think like for me when I look at Anubis I go okay the problem in my mind is mid because the CTs can't really hold it right they can't really hold mid so if you give the CTs a better way to hold mid then there's not going to be so much pressure on the extremities to push but the sides are still going to be easy to get the util in so maybe they need to change like get rid of some of the fucking windows it's going to be a tough one to change like I feel like they have to think really well to change this map maybe give more like make it closer for the CT to you know like the people that can come middle faster yes because right now
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Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Really? I reckon he pretends that his English is worse than it is.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
I guess that's why we're in a T-sided meta right now. It feels like all the maps are pretty T-sided. Janko said he doesn't think that maps are CT or T-sided.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
You just brought up... Because Jason had to do the lobby with Spirit, which is tough. Quite tough, yeah. Because fucking...
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
magix is the translator zontix zontix just he him and you are polar opposite human beings he's sitting there like i hate my life i don't want to be here fuck everybody i don't want this guy talking to me i don't want him here who is this guy why am i even playing counter-strike why am i on this earth for what is the purpose of life and you're bouncing off the walls and jason goes are you excited to be here for esl pro league and he just looks at jason like you fucking idiot what kind of question is
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
this was after all the cheating accusation stuff and everything like that. And I remember this is when I just started being an analyst and I was like, fuck it, I'm going to be on Rops camp. So I was just in the Go TV at the time and I would just watch Rops. And he was just so mechanical on every angle he cleared. Sure, it cost him seconds, but it rarely cost him his life, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
And that's back when it was, you know, truck drivers and plumbers like me who were all just like W-ing, right? So when he's come in and he started doing that, he's the first one kind of bringing that level into the game. And I actually heard the conversation you did with The Device and Fallen. And they were talking about that.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
They were talking about the way that players take every angle now and why it's harder for AWPers. Because back in the day, players just swing it and the AWP has plenty of time to hit those shots. Now it's like the pre-aim is there for everybody. And also the precision on the keyboard.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
like keyboard to me was like yeah we got a keyboard we needed to move around and shit but like now it's the way people are just on the A and D and like the level of precision on that I use what oh actually I can't you probably got a gear sponsor I can't ask
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Start with the W. You can say whatever you want.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
He's like, oh, Flamesy's the devil. Say this. Well, he's already got himself, Apex, one devil, and then Flamesy, the other devil. You guys are just going at him. I love it.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Well, why not, Chad? That's my boy, right there.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
No, what I mean is... Or you're baiting the game. That's personal. What I mean is something like, go to the gym, you fat cunt. I'm talking about degrading them as a human being. I like that. No, no. That's bad.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Shut your big mouth. We're not friends. That's probably fine.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
He's normally the most reasonable guy. There is a limit.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It's just mean though. That's all. Yeah, it's mean. I think like calling... Listen, you have to hit the nerve, Chad. Yeah, but I don't think it's funny. I think calling him a beta hits a nerve. You don't think? No, I do think. Yeah, exactly. That's why I would say personal. I don't think that's personal. Okay, so... Because that's counterintuitive.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
It's like if you know the way someone clutches all the time. Well, he understood...
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Is there a team that you don't like to play against? Or just like, because you're a nice guy, you're personal with everybody, but is there one that you're like, fuck these guys?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah, it wasn't a lot. I don't remember. It wasn't as much. Didn't win any of the three biggest ones.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Jason's married to a Korean and he loves Korean food. He's an alcoholic.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
We always say, yeah, pound a bitch. Pound a bitch.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
What is the next nickname? Get in there. We just call him Jason O'Toole.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
so you have like a head that doesn't look like you have like a strong head thank you man yeah yeah i wonder how you were i i did i shaved it when i was doing the he looked good he looked good too the hair transplant yeah yeah and you you liked it once i was in the surgery right the thing is you can either try and do it around the leftover hair you have or you can shave your head and i was like let's shave my head i didn't i was like actually you know what i could probably pull this off you
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
You're Australian, I assume you... Well, what's the thought process behind the stache?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Look, I haven't really looked into the etymology of the two words you're thinking of. I just know that it's easier to avoid controversy by not saying those things.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
right erring on the side of caution is always the safest thing to do so many changes yeah because that's the thing you don't know because the thing is you're always going to offend someone with something you say like i noticed because i do a lot of podcasts and stuff and there's little things that i'll do that are just super mundane and it'll piss somebody off yeah people pissed off at jason yesterday because he had his fucking shoes on the couch right people are they yeah okay i don't know what the fuck well yeah but but the my point of bringing that up is like
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Essentially, no matter what you do or what you say.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
So that's why it's like, that's why it's safer just to... Yeah, but also like, not about safe, it's about like, you want to be respectful, you know? Sure, yes.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Did you see what happened to the guy in Valorant?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
He was on a podcast like this and called someone... A return. Yeah, wow.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
well I mean yeah yeah Jason's using it as the example yeah but and then he got cancelled he had to apologize yeah so he had to do a full tweet apologizing he chose to apologize well yeah but he was under a lot of public scrutiny because of it yeah fuck him they're wrong well we're gonna have to delete his part from the vote anyway he thought that he thought that word was back it wasn't back yet
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah, well, if you're using cunt, like the Brits do it as well, right? It depends on... What is cunt?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah. So when you say you're a fucking cunt? Yeah, but it doesn't mean that when you say it, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
like can i see your cunt nobody's no that would be very crass yeah yeah i don't think i don't think that would work either i think you'd have a tough time getting that one past the key yeah okay yeah but like the way you would you know the naked man the way that you would the way that you would use it like in america it's really bad like in america it's a really bad word that word is really bad to the hardest standard that was rough yeah okay but you never that's a word that on broadcast you should never say
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Podcasts are closer to down here. Would you get fined? What, if I said it on air?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Thanks, Jason. So Matt had a couple of indiscretions over the years.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Sadicus, yeah. So he had a couple of moments where he did some things that I'm sure he's probably not the most proud of. And they led to him no longer getting hired.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. He did things. So one of the things he did was at an event at Rio. The other was on a stream.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
what's his episode uh award yeah flower yes a racial slur and then in rio he just caused so many issues outside of the broadcast at the hotel that it was just like okay can't fly anymore so like any employer right if you if you cross that line enough times the thing with matt is he's extremely talented at casting right like i'm sure you've always heard yeah it was a good question which is why it's like sad to lose somebody who
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
did he do who did the the the big apple and snacks is hungry him that's him yeah yeah yeah so there's like a lot of moments that matt have done over the years that would be some of the best casting lines yeah in any game right like he's got some some really like some bangers the one that he had with you shepherd staff takes down the goat yeah it was yeah with modesty versus with simple
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
I'm thinking about fun ways you can use the names, right? Like, it's not for me.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
He had it the other way. But because... because Montessi got the kills, he used it in a different con... it was... the line is never like... Ah, he wanted Simple to... Well, it could have gone either way. But I think it was designed for Simple against Montessi. This is what I... Yes, yes, yes.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
I think you did a good job because he blocked you and then you were like, well, you know, it's this and it's that. I thought you did a good job. The way you handled it would have been better than how some other people would have handled it. So I appreciate it, Jason. I did my best.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
and it's like a thread that you build throughout the match so that the viewers are the stories building for viewers but we don't actually say i have these five lines prepared for these moments or these players i think it's dangerous if you have too much stuff prepared because then you try and crowbar it in so like let's say you've got something for you and you get the first kill of like a 1v3 and then you start building for it unless you can play it away yeah right but if you go too hard and then you don't win the round or whatever yeah you know
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah, that's true. What are you doing with your jaw, mate? Are you mewing? What's going on here? I've never looked at your side on like this before.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah. But you guys sit in this, it's probably the same as it used to be back in the day. You know, you're jumping a server and you're like, oh, hey, like come check this angle with me. I want to see when you can see me and like, what can you see of this? And if I look like this, that's all the shoot.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah, they screw. Did they put you under for that?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Look, like you said, entertainment. Some liked that I did it. Some didn't like that I did it.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Yeah, looking the wrong way. But it's... That's what I reckon happened in the 4v2 yesterday with the tunnel fire on train. Oh, boy.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Anything you want to say before we shut it down?
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
oh well yeah i was gonna say you don't have much weight to lose anyway at all so the fact you lose it's a weight i was like what is he doing here for because we spoke to you on the couch at one point at one of the events regarding um you'd lift in some weight so it was the award show yeah and you're back in the gym the other day too so that's in cyprus yeah that's not that's in cyprus but no in so actually i stayed in serbia so that was there in serbia okay
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
So I think it's... I don't think you've ever lacked confidence.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
He says that, and I immediately think of that Michael Jackson. No, he said Michael Jackson.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
Michael Jackson. Michael Jordan, from the Bulls, I think it was on fucking Netflix. Last Dance. Yeah, and they got bullied by that team. The Pistons. Yeah, that's the one. Then they all go in the gym for the off-season and they come out and they're all put on heaps of muscle. Yeah. You saying that, I never thought I'd hear an answer like that.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
I never thought I would hear that about like, it's true though, in terms of, you know, once you're physically more confident, the way that you walk around in the world, it's not that you're like trying to rip people's heads off and stuff. You're just more confident in your skin.
Talking Counter
Episode 127: Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
And I don't know if Germany... This guy's just a bit of a specialist. So he went to Turkey to learn how to do it. Yeah. And he is the only doctor doing it or not. Well, he's pretty much... Yeah. And he takes a lot of pride in his work. The guy even knew Counter-Strike. He was like, oh, does Fallen need a hair transplant? I can do his.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I think a lot of that is going to be dependent on the reunion of S1mple and Alige. Here we go! Alige equally has a similar reputation of being upset when players aren't seeing the game the same way that he sees, like struggling to keep composure at times, those issues. going back through Liquid for years for his entire career that haven't been answered yet.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
So, yeah, you throw those two guys into the mix, and let's see. There better be great people skills going on within the FaZe team to help calm that one down. Robin better be around at all fucking times. If he makes this one work, I'll vote him coach of the year to rectify 2022.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
No foreplay.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
So have you. Don't lay this all on my feet. Some would say more inflammatory. Chad brought it up first.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Well, that core of young players is all gone now. Broky, Ropz, Twiss. And that felt like kind of the future of the team. That core felt like kind of the direction of where FaZe was going to be going in the next five years, with all of them now gone.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Is there anything to talk about? Reign is in doubt. Is there anywhere to go with that one? With potentially Skulls as the sub?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I think I want to see him. I want to give him to the major. I want to see what we're going with. Oh, yeah. I don't mean they made the change. They won't make the change soon. No, but I think he had that hot start. He had the letdown. And I think he's been working his way back. His recent form, I think, has been solid, hasn't it?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
His last event he played in, I really liked what I was seeing out of him. Still developing and still some mistakes.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Oh, shit. Inflammatory clickbait headline. I don't think what I said was inflammatory.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And I know what I'm going to get out of him once we get there. Yeah, that's intriguing. Maybe, maybe it, uh, I wonder if it would like light a little bit of a fire under ultimate. Like if you, when you see this news, I wonder if that's like connected in his head where he's like, okay, now that, you know, a former offing teammate of twists is on the market.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I better, I better have a banging ass major. I better be cranking it up if I haven't already.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Could you explain to me? I saw that Reddit didn't enjoy it. I saw the first 10 comments and it was all, what's this fucking moron talking about? So I just checked out of that thread. So what's inflammatory about the tweet I made?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I don't know, he's another guy who likes to get stuck in chaos. It felt to me like there were some areas where they would have meshed well.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, it's super exciting. I'm pumped to watch it. I'm pumped to see it. Even in Dallas, I'm just excited to see it get started, even if Reign isn't there. Where do you think they place the Major with this move, if you had to put it right now? Because I would probably say, I know you hate these kind of predictions, but not making playoffs with this, surely?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I don't think they do either.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Hot damn. Okay.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
what what you're going to now is was my whole thing about like why the head what do you think 3d max is going to beat them yeah let's get back to this let's get back to chad's inflammatory he's been spewing out there into the world now look i was you got away from this i was doing a podcast with maui i was doing a podcast with maui and and duncan so naturally it was a fiery environment you were just going along for the ride you have swept away by the emotion
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
It's a strong headline.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, it was a very strong framing.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
It's crazy, dude. I thought that team was going to have such a hot start once he joined. I thought that first three events was going to be top four finishes the whole way through. It went the complete other direction, which is just mental.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
You know, I had a moment that I kind of forced, you know, away, but I had like a thought come into my head when I was reading this tweet, the one where he's like talking about welcoming simple. This is the all-in move. We are going for the trophy at the major, even if such.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I had like a little like voice in my head that like almost like made me like read that in a tone that was like Kerrigan retiring. We're going for one last ride, one last swing at it. And I was like, that can't be true. That can't be possible yet, right? Like that has to be maybe the second major of the year, maybe.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
As many as they want, really. I think the nature of doing one more dance makes it potentially the last dance, if you just keep saying it. That's true.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, I feel the same way about you. I don't think he'd go into coaching. It seems like it's a great idea. And I think he'd actually be probably pretty good at it. I think he'd probably have to learn, you know, a little bit more authoritarian tendencies and a little bit stricter in certain areas than he currently is.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
But I think more than anything, his retirement is going to be I want time to do other things for the first time in, you know, 15 years of grinding professional CS for sure. But I'm with you. I don't think this change is going to give him any extra length on his career. You know, the way other players have been able to adapt and add years onto it. This is going to do nothing for him.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Those series are so sick. That's the best Counter-Strike has to offer right now. It is just the best right now. It shows you how high the level can be in today's Counter-Strike. But unfortunately, I think those are the only two teams that get us there at the moment.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Okay. Yeah, get to the tweet. Bring it up. Throw that shit up on the screen. I'll edit that in, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
uh i i throw in a hairy episode uh hairy intro tastefully i feel you know like when it when i feel like it's gonna have the most impact yeah could we get maybe like a poll uh in which of the intros which people like more yeah
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I mean, I'm going to say I'm not, I'm not, I think mouse is a very, very good team. And I think, I think they're right there. I think I'd probably have them, you know, you said it doesn't matter third or fourth, which is true for the most part. I'd probably have them third. If I had to pick one of them, I think that, I think they're right there.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
If you look at the past two months, they've only lost to Falcons and vitality, but they've been right there for the last three years, two years, three years.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Wait, no, I want to hear what's inflammatory about that first. I'll elaborate. I'll go all day on that.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I mean, you're right. I don't know where they're going to get that next 10% to be able to beat those two teams on a consistent basis, but they're playing these maps close. Overtime losses, 13-11s, they can beat them. It is in them to do it. A good day, and they can overcome that.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And I don't think there's any reason to panic because they're beating everyone else beneath them the past two months as well. They're just... They're sitting there. They have to find a way to get the trophy, obviously. And I think more than anything, that's going to come from, I think, Jimmy getting back to a really, really strong level.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
When he has good performance, it's not the crazy carry one that we had, but when he gets to a strong anchor level, I think that's going to be a huge step up to them where we saw him winning the MVPs at Pro Leagues.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I think when he gets back to some of that game and has a little bit more of that swagger in his roles, I think we're going to see this team potentially be able to take one of those top two. But how can I complain about a team that has only really lost to the number one and number two team
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
months i think yeah now they're they're in a weird position where sometimes you can get that extra 10 from a roster change but i think if you look at this team there's you're not making a roster change
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Fucking Bob's getting some love again.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
What would I have Simple do? I think, I mean, the first thing I'd want to see more than him joining any of these teams, and I think it would be more beneficial, is go grind FPL. Like, honestly, go grind FPL and get your game back. And show teams and show other players that are competing that you're willing to put the time in.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I haven't gone back and watched the Spirit games the way I want to yet. Was there any change in the way they played at all? I know that's kind of like throwing a bus at you guys for some hardcore details.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Like if they have some really good days, I feel like the differences with mouths, I guess the fundamental question was the Brolin IGL thing. And he kind of answered that question for us. The fundamental question for spirit is kind of like, do you have enough after donk to maintain or to like win? And I guess that question still hasn't been answered in any way for me, you know?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
That would maybe be the difference.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
If I go to his Faceit page right now, he played two games on the 28th, two games on the 25th of April, one game on the 22nd of April. His last grinding day of, like, seven games was April 1st.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Do you think there's maybe some... I guess maybe like... Maybe not frustration, but I think part of it with Spirit is... there's almost like a build-up to where you almost feel like they have the solution in their back pocket, right? Like the Kyosuke, how are we saying that name again?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Kyosuke. The fact that Kyosuke is right there in the organization, feeling like chomping at the bit and showing good forms in the competition he's playing in, it feels like the solution is kind of there and easy and simple and obvious. And I think that's where something with Spirit is kind of like...
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Um, I mean, like, no joke, I think, yeah, funnily enough, but like that, that I think would be more beneficial to simple was if he's grinding FPL, if the Reddit posts that we see on simple are like, holy shit, look at the grind he's been on for the past six days versus here's him rage quitting a stream, you know, in the middle of a Counter-Strike game.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
i don't know it's it's off well you can understand why they don't make that call right like giving them this season it's not an easy call to make exactly especially because you're busting up you don't want to do a chiron situation do you yeah yeah and you're also busting up like the team that kind of got you there and there is like a certain special you know nature to to breaking up that constitution that accomplished so much
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Like, that's what's going to be beneficial for you is showing the community and showing the professional scene that you're getting back into the grind and getting back into the mindset of competition. You're trying to get the edge back. No one's going to doubt this guy's skills. Like, I don't doubt that he's an incredible player and that his skills can be just as good in CS2 as they were in CSGO.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I doubt the mentality. I doubt the mentality more than anything. And I think first step for him should be showing that the mentality isn't going to be an issue. Show us that you're going to grind FPL for six days a week for three weeks straight. Show us on stream that you're not going to rage out and close the stream when you get pissed off and frustrated. Show us that you're working on your game.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
No, I mean, I didn't want to I didn't want to get into it because it's like I kind of agree with your your sentiment. I just I'm not as like I'm not as impressed, I guess, by like kind of the quick ramp up here. That's sort of what I expected with someone like modesty coming into it.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And obviously, I mean, because you're right, it bodes well, but I just didn't look at that and say, oh, fucking sick, you know, like because I. I expect a player of his caliber and one of the best players in the world to be able to come in and adapt and have impact very, very quickly.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And then I also just think after you mentioned this too, which again I agree with, I think just maybe the way I got to the conclusion, I think with the way that Counter-Strike has just been homogenized over the past six, seven years, I think players just have a quicker period of getting acclimated into teams because...
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
especially on a map like train where they would have liked you know they sort of know what it is that they would need to do but they don't have it installed right where they can call it like and if you improvise it it's probably just not going to work and not going to go as well i think i think the time that the more time they get together is going to benefit them like i don't i don't think like a you know just as just as a cheap example just i don't think like a 40 page strat book is going to increase their level exponentially i think the areas in which they'll they'll most improve and get the best out of and
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I think that's going to go way, way far. way better in terms of him being a prospective player to bring into a team, a risk to take than joining teams like Falcons on loan for two months.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
yeah, this is going to come easier with time is, and this is just because it's on my brain. I was watching it last night, the new game where they were, I think hitting the lower bomb site, ran back up to like go back out towards mini and then came back down to with like, to like that indecision and that like back and forth. And I don't know what could have caused it.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
If I had to guess, I would say maybe like Nico and kicks and got caught in a moment where Nico wanted to take over in a mid round and kicks and wanted, I don't like that. That could be an explanation. It's definitely calm. They could have just been changing their idea based off what they saw. But those things will get cleaned up.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And I think those are the areas where that time is going to give them the biggest boost.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
When you have a team that is slumping, when you have two players on that team already underperforming that have lost their game and you're coming in as like the, like someone jumping onto the Titanic at its last, like the last 10 minutes. You know, like there's massive issues in face. So once again, he's coming to a team where there's no guarantee this is going to make him look good.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
trying to hit you with a bus or anything but weren't you saying like nico's further away from winning a major with this move i did i did say that that g2 was going to be put i said potentially it was going to be his best chance at winning a major in shanghai over the next two years so how do you feel about that now i feel like i might have been a little bit off on that one to be honest i'm not convinced yet but it feels a little bit off
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I just wanted to revisit it. I didn't necessarily think they would get Montessi this quickly. I didn't think the rest of these pieces would work out this well. I didn't think bringing the heroic core was going to be this... I think there's a lot of conversation, obviously, around Nico and Montessi coming into this.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
But I think also this is maybe the first time we've seen Kikson really kind of live up to all the excitement and hype around him as an IGL and all the opportunities he was given after the Paris Major. which is a huge step.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I think Tess is obviously finding a place within this team where, you know, he's coming out of that heroic team that had the issues with like kind of performing at big moments and he's performing at big moments. So it feels like they had a lot of things come together at a perfect moment. This Falcons team to really capitalize on the two star signings.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Can anyone tell me that his his prospects before being a stand in for Falcon were worse than they were afterwards? Like they got worse after the stand in situation.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I catch myself when I'm casting doing something like that. I'm like, oh, you know, in my head, I'm like saying they've only gone to the B bombsite, like, you know, once, or that's the only bombsite. I'm like, it's actually only been one gun round, though. So, like, you know.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
A massive buyout. And yeah, there's obvious issues. And I don't envy the position. I know it probably feels like he's in a lose-lose. But I don't think this is the play of not playing, not grinding counter-strike and then going to be a stand-in. When a team that is crumbling and falling apart before our very eyes needs a stand in because they just made a desperate roster change.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
That was that was that was the result of months of mediocrity. You know, like this isn't the conditions for simple to come in and thrive.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
It's beautiful. I think for me, it's like when I look at ZywOo in 2025, I'm like, he's finally done what we all wanted him to do, which is give us some attitude and some emotion. But what's cool about it is he's not doing it in interviews and social media and content. He's doing it inside the server. He's so much more...
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
assertive right now he's so much more willing to step into a situation and take control of it and be the guy who bails them out of the situation i was watching rounds last night in that final where i feel like two years ago i would have seen him holding a passive angle and he's actually stepping up and getting ready to turn a corner and being aggressive like in 3v3s so like it's it's beautiful to watch i think it's great and i think i think at this moment he's going to go down as the greatest player in counter-strike i think he's going to overtake simple i don't even think that's i think
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Uh, I mean, at this point, I don't, I mean, I think, I think it's not going to help him get to where he essentially wants to go. Like, here's the thing. Do you, does he want to still compete at the highest level or not? Like, do you actually want to is the first question because I have doubts about that. I imagine teams and players have doubts about that as well at this point.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
He's got the aura to pull it off better than, better than most.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
ZywOo might have already just won the best player of the year. We might as well just call it right here.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, I know. He can't lose it. He's done it.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And it's honestly fine if he just comes out and says, I don't really have the heart for it. I don't really, I don't really want to be on a top team. I don't really want to compete with, with that kind of a schedule, but like we're in this weird bouncing area where we're not seeing him work hard and maybe he is behind the scenes. I don't believe it to be the case. Maybe he is.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Think about that.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Dude, that'd be like Liquid levels of winning to the point where they'd have to change the rules to the Grand Slam. They'd have to be like, you can only win one. You know they would.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Liquid is like, we cannot have teams winning a Grand Slam in 63 days. Now we can't have it in just one year. Yeah, that's fucked.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Well, so they've got a, I mean, they're doing Dallas. So they're probably like heads, you know, tucked down, get through the grind, get through this. And then they're in stage three of the majors. So they'll have what, like two and a half to three weeks off in between Dallas and the majors?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
But he's not actually increasing his value by these standard situations where it comes in, the team still struggles. He doesn't improve the results. He doesn't particularly look great. He's working in a system that already has a lot of confusion in it. I don't think this is necessarily a bad decision in terms of it's going to make things worse, but it's not going to get him any progress.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And then you got to go play online.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
uh i my my opinion is yeah i i have no ability to rank them against because i mean this could be this could be i mean it doesn't look like it will be this could be a first half of the year flashing the pad and then second half of the year could be not that great you know it could happen doesn't seem likely but it could but i mean i'm nowhere close to being able to say this is like a vitality era that's obviously what they're working towards but what am i what am i supposed to do compare them against if they win the major i think it's it's probably fair
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
We just, because of, you know, if they win the major, I don't know if we've ever, have we ever had it? I think we asked in the last one, has there ever been a team who's done like five, six months straight winning every event they've attended?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
They've won every event they've attended and every S-tier event on the calendar, except they didn't go to Cluj, I think.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I was going to say, Fnatic's right there, dog. What are you doing?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yes, I know.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I mean, from a big picture like MetaSense, even outside the game, they probably helped facilitate turning Counter-Strike what it is today because they made that transition so much smoother by having a team and a fan that you could just latch onto as a dominant squad.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I think also, I mean, discounting that run also discounts the strength of some of those French teams back then with like Existence, NBK when he was like star player level, the early Kenny Estes as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, like discounts how tough and how many slogs those two teams had. I don't know. These conversations are always fun to me, but only when they're had in good faith. I don't know if you caught this at Bucharest. Maui was asking this question a little bit. He asked me in the green room one day. He just basically said he thinks that current-day Maus would beat prime 2018 Astralis in his series.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
and it's and it's like i don't even care if you think that's right or wrong or agree or disagree but like just to illustrate the complexity of this is like okay are we talking csgo or cs2 now are we playing in the astralis are we playing in 2018 are we playing like are the weapons balanced like 2018 like there's so many x factors that go into it that make it impossible to compare them in any reasonable way so all you're left with is like the fun side of the conversation of the strengths and weaknesses clashing against each other
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
It's the one example they have from back then.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
There's been nobody that's been... The closest would have been Navi end of 2021, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Probably a lot of recency bias. I think, well, I think there's a couple other factors too that probably lend to it as well. I mean, this team feels like they're kind of repeating the path that the FaZe team took early on. We're like, yeah, as you're mentioning all those comebacks, right? The exciting kind of counter-strike, no quit. Everyone fucking loves that. But also...
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
You're going to get higher in vitality because look at the people on this team. Like how can you not fucking love flames and his goofiness and interviews like apex is a character and he's been polarizing in the past, but when he's winning his emotional antics, everybody loves them and loves the shit talking and are having fun with it. And he's a great personality to listen to in interviews.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
ZywOo, always been beloved best player in the game, and now you've got him a fucking sidekick in ROPS as, like, a duo where you see, like, them giggling with each other during games as they just kind of destroy people. And then you have Mezzi, which is also another guy where it's like, how do you hate him?
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
The guy just shows up and does his job, doesn't complain, nails it, has good things to say during interviews. Like, this is a very likable team on top of being very fun to watch, playing an exciting brand of Counter-Strike, and having strong star power.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, I don't see one.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
i loved it watching that that mirage game i mean obviously the comeback was super exciting but just watching it i was like like you were like kind of like deep into the deep into the overtime and it's like they're still coming up with ideas like right like the intensity of this game and the fact that you have all these experienced players they're still still coming up with ideas for boost to try and find an opening pick for like a little piece of aggression early on to be disruptive like no one just kind of fell back and played standard counter-strike in like the intense moments they still were coming up with ideas and things to do and things to make things difficult so
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, those two teams playing against each other is fucking awesome right now. It's awesome. I love it.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Don't stress, Seb.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
There was a little bit of a delay, but it's not terrible. It doesn't feel as bad as it has in the past. It feels like it's been halved from what it was like during COVID.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Most exciting storyline...
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
It feels like Navi, Aurora, and Mongols, you could all clump into one group and be like, all right, guys, show us a little bit of life. Like, show us what you got now. For different reasons, I guess.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
This thing, the thing that sucks is it's like we're just in a time loop back to like three weeks ago with Bucharest because it was the same conversation. It was like a bunch of top teams are missing. This seems like the perfect opportunity for Aurora and Mongols to show us something. And this one now has the added crowd. But we just saw this play out and they both disappointed the last time around.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
So...
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, that's a good point.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
That is a funny mental image of Hooksy, like, stumbling into the Astralis office, like, all jacked up. Like, hey, guys, it's been a while since I've been on a team. I'm fucking excited to be here. Let's get to work majors in two weeks. And everyone's just, like, haggard, like, oh, this fucking sucks here, dude. Like, I don't want to be here anymore. Like, poor guy.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Could you stop being so happy? Just give it a rest.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
right they're all playing for like the brazilian teams or whatever that are at the major it's like okay well you guys are here but we don't expect you to do anything in the major maybe you can move up a stage that'd be great otherwise who the fuck knows i mean there's those teams we just labeled yeah there's that certain stretch of teams where like the biggest story around you is the roster change you've just kind of made and like that that's sort of telling in and of itself right if the hooksy thing is the thing we're most excited about watching the furious thing is is this like a fury everyone's tuning in to watch the car crash
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
It's like you're hearing the wheels fucking screech on the street and everyone's turning their head to make sure they get to see the action. G2, I think the same thing. Obviously, the loss of Monacy and Hades coming in. So, yeah, it's just like a bummer for those teams where it's kind of like that. This is just the situation you find yourself in where there's not much exciting to talk about.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
VP, I was with.
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Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
At least six more before you can discover that it's not a coach that's the problem, I think. They've got a few to burn through. Unless it's you or me, Jason. Unless it's you or me, in which case we all know. Yeah, I don't know. But this seems like the last event where I've been positive. Maybe not last, but I've been so positive on them and it just hasn't come to fruition with this team.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And what sucks as well about it is we didn't even get to see that storyline come to an end because they had to use a stand-in.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I don't know, the Ugly Dog Bowl.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
This is the Ugly Dog Bowl. We have like the Super Bowl of Ugly Dogs, the world's ugliest dog competition.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
But Janko's going for, like, the Super Bowl's the world championship of the best of the best. He's talking about what's the world championship for the worst, not, like, what's a low-profile... Ah, for the mediocre.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
I don't know if Furia signs five-year fucking contracts.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Hang on. I got to find the stop button. Stop button is not there. Where's the stop button? Where'd it go? Here it is.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Okay, sure.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Yeah, I mean, I think that's a good point too because I feel similarly that, you know, despite like the kind of downward angle on the simple side of things, I'm actually really excited to see what this team does too. Like anytime simple comes in the server, despite the fact that I think he's going to struggle and hasn't had enough reps, I'm excited to see what he can do.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
And that's kind of the power of simple. And that's what's made him such a fun player to watch over his career. So, I mean, look, if he can come in and help bail them out, that's going to be crazy. And that would be an incredible show.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
Absolutely, and I'm glad Kerrigan just came out and said it was a Hail Mary because they are in a situation where you do take the risk of an admittedly incredible player of all time who is going to have to work himself back into shape, is going to have to update himself on the game, is notorious for having some attitude problems and in-game issues.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
You know, you know, we should do we should open up an intro making competition.
Talking Counter
Episode 134: FaZe -broky +s1mple, inflammatory comments, BLAST Rivals PGL Astana, Vitality v Falcons
So, I mean, you've got some things to work with, but the payoff, if it all works, can be incredible. So, I mean, I think it just shows that... yeah, this team is kind of just broken apart and, and they just need something to see if they can add some extra firepower to give them a lift.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
Can't go anywhere.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
That's YNK.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
Okay, so 20. So between the ages of 70 and 20. Because in America, you can have a beer and then that's okay. Okay.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
Is that what you meant?
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
I'm not too picky. I will sleep with you.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
Yeah, I opened it for you. Oh, thank you. You have two neighbors who are in their 70s and they're sisters.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
And Chad, we're going to bring in your first ex-girlfriend.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
I did see that. Yeah. What a great idea.
Talking Counter
Episode 136: IEM Dallas, s1mple hath returned, mouz peak, Falcons shaky, Vitality still haven't lost
Contractually?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
She looks like a five-year-old, bro. She's huge.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
She's, like, running around and talking and seeing my parents with a kid and the amount of stuff they're doing. Oh, let's pull out this and let's get the cars going and where's your dinosaur? I only saw the kid for two hours. I was exhausted. So if I ever actually had any thoughts of a kid, I'm off. I'm done. Like, just looking at my niece, I'm out. Yeah, you're off the ride now?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I'm fucking out, man. I was exhausted after a day. Yeah, man. I didn't do anything.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I'll be in Serbia soon. We're looking at like, I'll be there, I reckon, on the 9th of January. I should get there then. I leave here on like the morning of the 8th. I think I get there on the 9th and then I leave on the 12th. But I'll be there for the award show, right? So I'm going to fly there and then fly straight back. And then...
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And I hate those. I don't know. I think for the four days I've been home, I'm turned off. I'm done.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Can I get grim? Because again, I am a little bit fucking- You can get grim, yeah. I'm on the source right now. What happens if you have a kid and they, like, I'm not saying that you neglect them and they die, but like, what if they like choke and they die? Like, what happens? Yeah. Do they just die? I think they just die. Do the cops come after you or what happens?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Do the cops do an investigation? They must do an investigation.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Who do you want to look into, Chad? There's some topics tonight that are going to be a bit tough that I didn't want to do, but we're going to have to do them, aren't we?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, and I sat and I actually thought about it for once, and I was like, okay, I know what I'm going to say. At least I did know what I was going to say, so we'll see what comes out of my mouth when we get there. But where do we want to start the discourse, the dialogue, the discussion?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
There were some slight tech delays in the Malz versus Spirit game. I think Torji was having PC issues, and that was about it, really. Me and Alex were doing that one, and there were slight delays on that. But otherwise, it was pretty straightforward, pretty standard.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
When games would end, they tended to be about an hour depending on like the schedule wasn't really adhered to in the arena, which is fair enough because like teams need to go out and warm up.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I saw backstage that they had like, not only did they have a room for each team to chill in on their own while they were waiting to go and play, they also had setups available so they could make sure that they were, if they wanted to, they could warm up before they were playing. What else did I see? In the hotel, I was on the eighth floor, and I could see down to the fifth floor.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
If ESL ever get back to us, I'll probably be working out of it. So I don't know. Who knows? It's a mystery over there right now. Shout out to Joey, the Joe Boy Miller one time.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
The fifth floor was where all the prac rooms were, and I could see into some of the prac rooms for the players. But yeah, overall, I'd say for the playoff bracket, the only thing that was a bit strange was the crowd on the Thursday, and then they kind of picked up as the weekend went on. The crowd was a bit more subdued. It was full, but they were subdued.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And they had a high-level appreciation for the game, but they were a bit more quiet. And maybe that could have been G2 wasn't playing on the Thursday. FaZe wasn't playing on the Thursday. So those were the two teams that they really liked a lot. They seemed to like Twist and they seemed to like JKS a bit.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They all enjoyed Donk, obviously, but they were making the most noise when G2 and FaZe were in the arena. But yeah, I think that the sentiment of overall was pretty good.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I think for the people at home, I don't know how it was for you guys in studio, Janko, but there was some tech issues regarding the feed that was being sent, especially on the Thursday, but PGL were able to rectify that, at least for the most part, for the remainder of the weekend. But all in all, yeah, I would say, Pretty damn good. At least from my perspective, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Which is obviously different from the general viewer's perspective, but I thought it was pretty good.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
It helped being in the server because I could see what all the problems were, right, when I was in the CST VIP because the players were just tied to each other, what was going on. So, like, I had a pretty good scope of if there were tech issues of what was happening. And then every day I'd go have a discussion with, like, Shev or Jay.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like, I messaged Jay on WhatsApp, like, every day when we're at an event to kind of see what's up and get those kind of comms coming through. But everything from that angle was pretty good. I know that, like, so the way that it worked for the setup was they arrived on... the Monday, I think it was, they all flew a day earlier than me, Alex, Mohan and Connor.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So the production was there a day earlier and they walked in and there was essentially just a room with tables and then they had to go through Perfect World to be able to get like all the things they needed, the PCs, the network cables and everything.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And then when we were doing the teardown on the final night, like just the amount of stuff, like the amount of cables there, it's fucking crazy and screens and everything. But like perfect world, they had a bloke that was essentially our translator. His name was Josh. And he was like, he was our liaison to perfect world.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
If we ever needed anything, we chatted with him and it always was pretty straightforward and they got everything that they needed. And I know from Thursday to Friday, like me and Alex went in early to watch the first game. just to hear the crowd audio, right? To see from like a commentary perspective, what would be nice to change so that like we could give suggestions to the sound guy.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, yeah. Jane will be there too if her passport gets figured out.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And the sound guys were actually guys who used to work for DreamHack. And now they work for that Bumble, whatever company, which then I guess they get contracted out by Silvio to work for PGL. And then one of the blokes was Eric, which I don't know if you guys remember, but Eric used to do like all the sound mixing and stuff for DreamHack back in the day.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
We're going back like four or five years, but he's a good bloke and he had it all absolutely nailed. So it was really nice from, from that. And we could just go have that conversation. So that was pretty cool. And then I guess from the games, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like, I think we had, if you, if you let the only team that would have been better to be in the playoffs and obviously they've made their own beds, they got a fucking line or I was Navi, right. They woke up way too fucking late and that was their own problem. But that was the only team that we were missing from the year's worth of Counter-Strike within the playoffs.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And they could have replaced either a Heroic or a Liquid. And probably a Liquid, really, right? Like, let's be honest. Liquid were probably the team that they should have been in there for. Heroic actually played some gritty Counter-Strike and looked like they had, like, a few more punches to pull. Shout out to Degster.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I think on the last episode we did, you know, I was questioning some of his decision making and I'm not vindicating him from all of that, but him in the clutch and his impact that he was able to make in the last few matches that they played was great. Like he had found the form of Degster that we had from CSGO, at least in that regard, impact wise.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, Malbs had to come in huge, right, within that series to be able to get across the line.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
It was Mirage where Malbs had his impact, yeah. But, yeah, I think that it's not that I had ruled Heroic out. It's just that, like, I know the pieces, but I just didn't think it would be enough for them to be such a force. But they had a really tough run. They were competitive against everybody. So they exceeded my expectations probably the most out of all teams, I would say.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, it's just the thing that I see with that team is that there are good pieces to it. I just imagine that that'd be one of the farm teams that I'd be going to if I was a bigger name, trying to get like a Kikson or trying to get a Nertz or somebody, right? So we'll see what happens with them throughout the break. But yeah, I don't know if they'll stay as is. Maybe they will.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I don't know. I think we need to change our framing, right? So what are we... Within the course of a year of Counter-Strike, right? Because... I am as guilty as every other human being with this. But from event to event, we kind of change our view on all of these things. Like, oh, they're not informal. These guys aren't performing. I think that we're very quick to judge in that sense.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But with the pillars now being set of the majors at the end of the season every single time, what you do in between is obviously important. Like you need to be showing good form and trophies are nice, but if you don't win every event, it's not necessarily the end of the world, right? Like as long as you're still a championship caliber squad, you're making deep runs, you're getting top four.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like there was some games, like the Furia game for Spirit was so worrying. You're sitting there going, what the fuck is happening here? Like they're getting destroyed by Fallen and like this doesn't look mega convincing, but you only need to time that peak consistently Right? And that's essentially what they did. Would they have beaten a Vitality or a G2? I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Well, that was more like, I'm not saying that level, but I think that what his output was more like the old version of him than the one we've been having more recently. Because he's not a bad player. I don't think that's a fair surmise of him overall.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
all right that's good news the the americans they they probably don't like me i'm pretty harsh on the americans i give them a hard time you know in terms of counter-strike or just yeah yeah yeah in terms of counter-strike right i'm always talking stuff and like they're easy to upset the americans you don't get upset like you don't seem like you give a fuck but i've upset like and you got a lot of people there you know and i want to make reparations you know what can we do how can i mend this bridge how can i how can i repair this fence
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
when the pressure mounts and sort of playing ahead on the timing or yeah, going for a fight that it isn't ready yet because they haven't made a, they haven't done the fake or they haven't put pressure elsewhere. Yeah. Yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
You've got to bend the knee, Chad. I don't know about that.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I think it's the guy he killed, he thought, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But we're in a really competitive era of Counter-Strike, right? Because like the conversation with the whole is like more big picture than just one team. So obviously Spirit like hit a nice peak to win this event, right? And I'm definitely not trying to take anything away from that at all. But we're in one of the most competitive years in Counter-Strike that I could possibly remember.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I'll make you a deal. You guys work out what the fuck's going on with these drones, and we'll think about bending the knee. If you can sort out this drone situation, Jesse, because I'm getting a little bit worried about these drones.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Because we came into this major and at least as far as I was looking at it, there were six teams who truly had an opportunity to win it. And then Heroic actually threw their hat in the ring to potentially be that seventh team, right? Because all of the top names besides Na'Vi made the playoffs and Na'Vi rocked up to Shanghai fucking a week too late, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
For whatever reason, they weren't playing their game. It wasn't as it should be. Like they didn't look like they were mentally in it. And then finally in their last series against Soroka, it's like, oh shit, the players are here again. They're trying again. Like the communication is there.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And then they couldn't, like there was some shit clutches played and then they lost and they didn't make it, right? But, um, otherwise in those playoffs, like there was a lot of hype around Mongols and we'll, we'll get to that. But out of, there was a lot of names that still could have had runs.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like you look at the side of the bracket, the spirit came from, it's like, okay, well, I don't think liquid would have made it, but maybe the mouse could have got there or Mongols could have continued to have the miracle run. For example, on the other side, it was like, an absolute gauntlet with such big names down there, right? You had FaZe, G2, and Vitality, obviously, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But at the same time, it's not anybody's... Like, we are going to say at the end of this, oh, it was somebody's year, right? Or this was the best team, or these were the best players. But it wasn't a dominant year from anybody. Like it was probably Na'Vi's year, but at the end of the year with our most recent event, they weren't present, they weren't there. But it was very competitive.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
We had a lot of different trophy winners. We had only a couple of teams that won several big trophies. So I thought it was hard to call which is better. Like I much prefer that because we're going in and we're looking at all these different things. However, it does make it for conversations like this. It's like, oh, well, this was Spirit's event and they peaked.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And it's like, well, yeah, I guess that is what happened, right? The fact that FaZe made the final is telling of some of the issues going on, like, within G2, because Janko was talking about G2 there and maybe more of the minutia.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But, like, I look at that last series as well, and maybe the moment got to the better of some of those bigger players, especially Monacy Niko, knowing that Niko's going to be leaving and everything, that maybe that got to them and started to play a bit of a role. For Vitality, you saw Apex put that thing out on his Instagram story, and he was like, oh, it was pretty hard when...
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
You know, you don't really feel like a team for the last couple of months, which is obviously due to Sphinx. At the same time, it's like Apex, bro. You've won a major before. You've won multiple majors before.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Well, I was just in China. I'm telling you, it's not their drones.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, we were sitting down. We're having a good chat. You know, obviously, Australia and China, we get along very well. They own half the country. So basically, you know, we already have...
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
That's the problem. Whether or not it's all being used correctly is a different conversation. And also interesting to see what type of player they get to replace Sphinx within the team. Obviously, there's going to be a lot of names potentially available. But we'll have to see how it all shakes out. But it's very disappointing considering they went 3-0, 3-0 RMR and elimination stage.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And I understand the opponents. But the thing is, the way the seeding works and the teams who win the games...
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
like people like oh i hate the argument if you can only play who's in front of you but they literally can only play who they get matched up against that's not their fault they did however not play up to their full capability against phase and that's that's without a doubt i think the crazy thing is like with them wasn't the stat going into the playoffs that like they'd been in china for like 25 days 28 days and they played 28 days and played four days of counter-strike like that's
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I went for breakfast. Well, as you do. Multiple days when I went for breakfast, the Vitality guys were sitting at the table. Now, to be honest, Apex and Sphinx were never there. But the other guys were, right? And when I get there, I'm walking and Flamesy, the little rambunctious kid that he is, he's like, hey, Winston Churchill. And I'm like, yeah, what's up, man? He's like, come take a seat.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And we sit down and we're talking and shit. And they have an Aussie bloke who's their sports guy. His name's Jack. He used to be a rugby player. He's jacked. He's fucking big. And we're sitting there and ZywOo's there, Flamesy's there, Mezzy's there, and we're just talking. We're just shooting the shit. You guys know how Flamesy is, right? But every time China comes up, Jack goes, we love China.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Now, here's what I will say. I will say shout out to everybody from New Jersey. If anyone's watching from New Jersey and you're an American listener, I love you guys. I love New Jersey. It's a great place. You guys have an awesome accent. Anytime that I can come to New Jersey, maybe try some. Jason, what food they got there in New Jersey? I think Coney dogs are the big thing in New Jersey.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And everybody else at the table goes, yeah, we love China. I'm like, what the fuck is this about? And like, well, we've been here for so long. Like, we don't want to have like any negative descent in the ranks about like how long we've been here in this. Like, we just want to, we just say, yeah, we love China. Like that's, that's it. Like that. And I was like, okay, fair enough. Like, I get it.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like you, you mentally, you're playing a game, right? Like, I understand that, but it's important to do that. And because of the amount of downtime you've had that like, yeah, we got a prac lined up against Atox. We went to play against them yesterday, but they didn't have any time in the net cafe. So they couldn't play. And I was like, what the fuck?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Because like, obviously you don't want to play against all the teams in the bracket and stuff. But just the meows of time that they were iced out. They couldn't play. They weren't playing officials, so they were just playing pracs, and you can only play against other teams.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And you're also like, yeah, you're kind of in like a boot camp environment, but it's for the major, and you're not getting reps and stuff in. So I imagine that's hard, but at the same time, you're not showing any tape. Like you're not showing anything that you're working on or showing –
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
If you win two best-of-ones and two best-of-threes, sorry, four best-of-ones and two best-of-threes, and you don't drop a map and they're not close, in the game that was closest against Furia, you're not having to go deep in the strat book. You're not having to show all your maps. You're not having to do all those things, which I would imagine is a bit of a positive.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But yeah, just didn't cut the loss of it against FaZe.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
i know they wanted revenge against phase because phase knocked them out of copenhagen so that was something that they were like was big on their like list of things to do um yeah well hey you know didn't didn't they maybe like i know this sounds crazy maybe they're expecting phase to go to dust too but even still like you only have to prepare for four maps in a series in a best of three series right like if you have a pretty good idea of how the video is gonna go you have four maps so if you weren't prepared for anubis like what are you doing
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I will come clean before we start because for me it's 8 p.m. I was just at the pub down the road with a couple of... I'm three beers deep on this Friday. Happy Friday, everybody. Happy Friday. I'm three pints deep on this Friday afternoon. We have a beer in Australia. Well, actually not Australia. It's a Western Australian beer. It's called Single Fin. It's delicious. It's great.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I'll smash some of those. We'll have a great time. So shout out to everybody from New Jersey, Atlanta, New York, LA. I could name all 50 states, I guess.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They lost a 1v2 on the A site even, but that's fine. It was just ultimate left against 2, and he killed one, and then Shiro traded. But there was another bad round that they lost. They lost several bad rounds in that Anubis game, which was their pick.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
what's what's holding you all back then it's the reference yanko of going into the bathroom right in a public bathroom right and you're a little bit shy you can't use the urinal if there's another man standing next to you you have to go into a stall where you have the safety right and that's that's it that's it it's stage fright can't can't take a piss under pressure that's it that's it
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Is China cool? I like Shanghai. I know that's a controversial take, but we've been to China a bunch, right? We went to... We went to Chengdu earlier in the year. I thought that was good. Went to Shanghai. Just as long as your apps are working, boys. That's what it's all about. If your apps are working, you're fine.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Jason, I don't know about you, man, but the round in the Liquid series that made me the saddest was when Shiro saved an AWP, Spirit took a timeout, Donk bought an AK, someone had dual Berettas, the other two had Glocks. They'd done what they had to do. They had broken Spirit. Spirit were essentially on like, I guess we'll call it a half buy. But it was like they'd done it.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They'd broken the finances. And then for some reason, Liquid think it's a good idea knowing there's an AWP in the server to try and set Ultima up for a pick. They nade open the mid door smoke so he can look for a fight with the AWP. You're against a saved AWP and you don't know what else is being purchased. Why are you breaking the smoke, searching for a fight? Why are you not just playing 3-2?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Why are you not just locking down B? Why are you picking middle? Against a saved AWP. If he just played towards car or mid long, like game helper, and he had the AWP, Shiro would have baited three of his teammates. He probably would have got a couple of kills and they probably win the round. But instead it's like, oh, let's get ultimate's confidence up.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Let's break the mid smoke against one saved AWP that we know is a saved AWP. It's like, I get it. You want to make plays and you want to look sick. You look fucking dumb. And then you save 4v5 against two Glocks, a pair of dual breaders, an AWP and an AK. You fucking idiots.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Hold up a second, hold up a second. You kill the AWP, right, on Dust2. Where now becomes your easiest choke point as a T? Short A.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
He's still going to blow off two cunts' heads. Like, Twist has, if he backs himself, some of the best aim in the world. Like, I know it's not the optimal fight, but I'd still prefer that than a fucking four-man save. Anyway, I'm done. I'm over it. I'm over it.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
If you're like me and you have a beard on your passport photo, you don't have a beard, you're going to have a hard time purely because when you try and do the facial recognition on the scanner because once you start spending a decent amount of money there in China, they want to know who the fuck you are. And apparently I don't match my passport picture. So shout out to me one time.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
He was going out long and entering every round. But the thing that's the most annoying about that is if you watch it, if you look at it, if any normal human being was playing, he would have seen Magix on the corner. But because his eyeballs are literally in the screen, he didn't. It was late reaction. It did. It's dumb.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
The strap books out the window at that point. And not just cause it's the last round because they were like, what was the score? 12, six.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
12-5. They were in the bin. They were in the bin. At that point, the calling, I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but it's a lot more free-flowing.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
He didn't know that pit side was clear. He was clearing pit side. He knew that what? He didn't know pit side was clear. He was clearing pit side. He was looking pit side. That's why he got caught. Otherwise, why would he be looking pit side, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
The thing is, though, the fact that Spirit won both of those Dust 2 games, 13-11, and both of them, the opponents, like FaZe and Liquid, both started crazy comebacks.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But I got on the phone. There's like a help desk there. So essentially this hotel that we were staying at, it was only people who were there for the major, right? There was two like security checkpoints. There was one like at the main gate where they kind of kept all the fans outside.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
910 is great as well. I really like watching 910 AWP. He's very confident with it. And he hits some really nice shots. He's precise. He's fun to watch. It's more well-rounded of a team now. Senzu was the biggest disappearance.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And then even as you're entering the hotel, there was some guy who was like making sure you had your badge every time. Um, so there was like a double security check to get in and you had to have a badge around the hotel. Like I never seen anything like it in my life. Um, and then I had a badge for setup day and then a badge for arena day. So there's a lot of badges going on, which is cool.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I spoke about this on HTV Confirmed because I saw some discourse on Reddit and the HTV forums and stuff because I love reading those things. They made me feel really good, and it's amazing dialogue. But the way they donk walking over... And waiting while FaZe, especially Karrigan and Rain, crushed after their fourth major third defeat. And Donk just walks over.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I don't think people like this strut necessarily. But people are like, oh, what's he doing? He doesn't understand social cues and shit. Why does he walk straight over? This is evil. I just took it as he's a sportsman. And the first thing you do after a match is over is you shake hands. That's what you do. You go, all right, well, yeah, we won. You're like, fuck, yeah, let's go shake hands.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Cause I like to collect the badges, but yeah, it was all right. Uh, once I was able to work out how I could, could pay, but you use DD, use WeChat, use Alipay, you get all that sorted and away you go. The language barrier is something, but they just see that you're a Westerner, right? Or that you're, you're a foreigner. Yeah. You know, it's, Man, I've been to China a shitload of times.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
i did i didn't know yeah so i couldn't talk about it during the cast obviously like i'm not going to sit there and go well actually alex broke he missed the tunnels smoke um but like and actually somebody vu did a video which is great because i during htv confirmed that i said i haven't seen a video can someone make one and then vu made one i don't know if he did that because i said that shout out to vu if he did it's a gross miss it is it is a disgusting video
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But I saw, Jason, your favorite person, James Bardolph, also known as Harry Jr., or Sr., it really depends on how you want to frame him. He retweeted from another gentleman. I have to find it. I don't even know what Bardolph's Twitter is. I followed him. I don't have it for you. Wow, Jason, how come he didn't make a thread about that?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, I guess. That must be nice. So the guy who makes the YPRAC maps, he did a video retweeting the video Vu did and said, your grenades will bend if you start moving within approximately eight ticks after releasing it.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Your grenade will bend if you start moving within approximately eight ticks after releasing it. Oh. So that's what happened to Brokey. Oh, I don't like that. Now, look. If it went tunnels, there was nobody tunnels. But when they were coming through doors, they had less room to work with because the smoke landed just outside the doors. So they were kind of coming through a gray screen.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Not really, but kind of like it definitely made just enough to throw you off. And you had to worry about tunnels. Whereas before, if it was smoked, the guy would have to push through. Right. They also threw the second smoke, which is the one that landed in mid site. Oh, dude. But also that frozen fucking he played like shit.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
just to shout out to that one time he his aim looked like mine like that and that's your aim can't look like mine i'm 35. no that's true that last map too it feels like yeah like he was he was good on ancient but the last map he did he definitely wasn't there Second major final, second loss, that's going to suck. Sad.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
It's not too much of a culture shock for me, but it was good fun. It was interesting, obviously, having a bit more of an intimate production. There was two Swedes. There was three Romanian production blokes. And then there was Silvio, the boss man, was there as well. Then there was Shev. There was Jay. And then there was, obviously, the four commentators that we had there.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
It's like Conor McGregor, but he's, like, gangly. Like, for a small guy, how is he so lanky?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I saw a part of the video where Where they're in the shuttle on the way home after they'd won. And Donk goes, we won Bet Boom Dacha and a major in a year. Nobody will ever top that. This kid's got a sense of humor, man. And then he's like, I want McDonald's. And then their manager next to him is like, oh, you want nuggets and fries? And he goes, yeah. And I'm like, fuck.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like, take him out for a happy meal. Put him on the slide. Like, what are we talking about?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Oh, God. Jason, we're double his age. We're more than double his age.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Youngest player ever to win a major and MVP.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I think the fact that he's likely to be the best player this year and he's a rifler.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
He's definitely back now. Hi. Hey. So, my internet connection is 5G, not from my phone. Like, I actually have a box that sits there. And I was told I'm in a very good connection point. And none of my tenants, while I've been away, have complained about the internet. All right, guys? So, I just want you to know that it's... Tenants?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So it was a bit more of an intimate crew that we had going on, which felt a bit more old school, but in a good way, not in a bad way.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I own this apartment. And I rent it out when I'm away.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So, yeah. I've had some tenants, Jason. Not just one. Some tenants. Multiple. All right? Good for you. I was saying before you two rudely complained about the internet connection that the fact that he's a rifler is the most exciting part because he'll be the first number one player in the world who's a rifler since what? Like, would it be Coldzera?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
How much money do you reckon he gets as a salary a month?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I reckon he probably gets no more than €5,000. Probably not.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Maybe he's paid really well as well. I'm sorry, Spirit, if you guys pay him really well. Maybe you did after they won Katowice, but I would assume based off of the way things go, but maybe we're wrong. It's okay to be wrong.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Got a fucking ladder right next to you, motherfucker.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But he has only nine, only 16, 16. God damn it.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
You got Donk, then Monacy, then ZywOo, then what, Niko fourth? I think you'd put Niko in the top five. But then who do you have after Niko, I guess is kind of Janko's point.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
No, no, no, no, no. They didn't achieve enough. They didn't achieve enough. You have to look at teams who achieve something, right? Yeah, but this is always my question.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Ima was too bad. Ima might not be in the top 20 at all. Ima was too mid. Ima's not going to be in the top 20. He really struggled.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
According to Striker, a lot of these changes were predicated on Monacy going to Falcons, which is apparently not happening anymore. And the reason for that is Jimmy was going to go if Monacy was going to go, but now Jimmy's not going to go, apparently. So now it's just Niko and Magisk, right? And then it kind of keeps everybody where they are.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But if Sphinx is leaving Vitality, which I think is a fair... especially with Apex's Instagram story, then he has to go somewhere. So like Spinks into FaZe, like Ropz or Spinks into G2. Like Ropz could go to Vitality. Like there is potential for movement. I'm just curious as to where that movement will be. And I think right now things are still definitely getting worked out. Like I don't know.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
where everything's going to land by any stretch of the imagination. I'm kind of just talking based off of what I was discussing the other day. I was expecting an action-packed offseason, and I still kind of hope it goes that way because I would like to see some changes.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But I was just down the road literally five minutes from where my apartment is here because this is where... I started playing Counter-Strike at a LAN cafe that no longer exists. But the cousin of the owner I was hanging out with, one of the guys he used to play with, and there was even another bloke.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Jimmy had a bad major playoffs, for sure. He didn't look. But at the same time, he's only 18 as well, right? I hope we see more Jimmy, because I think just talking to the kid, he seems like a good kid, and he plays some good CS as well.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, and I think that he can be on any of these top teams for sure because he's so young, and he can add a lot of impact. I think it would be... I'm not saying he can't stay on Mouz. He can stay on Mouz, right? But I think Mouz have other issues. Like Mouz, I don't know how Mouz get past their problem. Janko could probably... I know he loves talking about it.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Let's talk some more about their facility with the speakers because I'm sure that'll make a big difference. can we, can we talk about, I want to make sure we talk about this before we finish. And I know that we're an hour 20 in and maybe we keep going for 40 minutes more. I don't know.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But the, the one that, that we probably have to talk about today, and I don't like talking about things traditionally as soon as they happen. Um, I, in my older age, I have been less knee jerky, um, because I don't feel that you have all the information when you react immediately. I feel that you kind of need to let things settle and get the full picture and full information and then kind of, um,
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
have a conversation or make a decision or make an opinion about these things. But obviously it's to do with the blast bounty invitations, right? You guys know what I'm talking about?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Okay. So this is like not a fun or easy topic because it's very divisive within our community. But I think we need to talk... Obviously, this is to do with Imperial Female. That's what they're called, right? I will refer to them as women, but they're called Imperial Female. And them being invited... Well, Janko, you never know these days, mate.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
You've got to look at this invitation based off of the VRS, right? So just to get everybody up to speed in case you're just joining us and maybe you haven't been watching Counter-Strike, you don't know what's happening in 2025.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So, yeah. That's kind of it. That's cyberspace. That right there is cyberspace.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
The Valve regional standings will be used to determine the invitations for the events that are tier one events and tier two, but of a different ranking point for 2025 and onwards. So where you're placed within the rankings will determine if you're eligible to be invited to tournaments. And the Imperial female team were invited to the Blast Bounty event.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And I'm curious to see as well if maybe they'll be invited to Katowice. And they were invited to that event and they accepted the invite. Now, there's a few things that we need to establish here before we can get like stuck in and we should probably divide certain points. So the first point is, let's start with this.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Okay, so in the Counter-Strike circuit, there are female exclusive, sorry, women exclusive tournaments. There are no men-exclusive tournaments. There are tournaments for everybody, and then there are tournaments for women only, right? Am I correct, gentlemen, in that?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Okay, just want to make sure. You are, in fact, correct. And the way that Imperial Female collected their points for the Valve ranking system, Valve regional standings, were by playing in women-only tournaments.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And you said it was by Sherwin Williams. Yeah, that's the one that's here right now. I found it.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
and they were able to accrue, because we know it's based on prize money or not exclusively, but it is a big part of it, accrue enough of the necessary ranking points to be in the top 32 teams to be invited to the Blast Bounty event. Now, the first point of all of this is that this should never have been allowed in the regional standing. So this is a Valve shortcoming.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
This is their fuck-up, exclusively their fuck-up. Whether it was brought to their attention or not, or it was just an oversight, it doesn't really matter because the impact is going to be felt going into this first tournament of the new circuit.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They should never have been able to be ranked that way because the entire point of the change of philosophy for 2025 and onwards is based off the idea of not having partner tournaments, which essentially, that's what the women's circuit is. It's not partnered, but it's exclusive to women only. Women are the only ones who can play in that. Men cannot go and play in that tournament.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Whereas women have the opportunity and ability to play in every other tournament that's out there if they're good enough to qualify, right? So the money that they earned really shouldn't have been contributing to the Valve regional standings. And for next year, it won't be an impact because the type of tournaments that they will be playing in as their own circuit won't be considered Tier 1 events.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So they will not be contributing to the regional standings in the same way that it did for this year. So we have that first issue that's popped up. And that issue is a shame that it happened and that Valve didn't address it before we got to this point. Because that in itself, like if we're just looking at Counter-Strike players, is unfair.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
That there was one thing where it could only be exclusively one group of people could play and earn points, but the whole body of people couldn't. And the whole point of the rankings was so everybody could and then try and qualify. And we didn't get that. So that right there really sucks.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And also it's kind of made me realize that the point I just made at the start of this whole dialogue about, you know, wanting to sit and wait and then express my opinion after a certain amount of time, it's going to have to change because I'm going to have to go back to the version of Chad that existed, uh, before I was berated off the internet by one of our colleagues for working for a certain company that everybody else does.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Um, so I'm going to have to go back to the version of me. that makes some noise and says some things and comes out and gets vocal. Because the only way we're going to be able to police these shortcomings in the future is by making noise and by having sensible dialogues as opposed to not having these conversations. That's the first point.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And I would love to take any points from you guys on what I've stated just here and see if you agree, disagree on that. And then we'll continue into the other stuff after.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
You can't have exclusive tournaments to one group of people that would then play into the regional standings.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Exactly. And it's a pretty ridiculous problem when you think about it because it's... It was pointed out, and I will put my hand up. I was one of those idiots who went, well, yeah, I can see this is happening, and I can see it in the rankings. But surely Valve are going to go, well, this doesn't count.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And that's why I said I have to return to being a vocal member of the –
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
That's what it's all about, is how cool it looks on the camera. If we started about half an hour earlier, we would have had a sick sunset going on, but we missed that, so... I was having a nap.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Explain why you don't think they should have it.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Because Janko pointed it out, right? To avoid the, what's the word?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They're not getting backlash, they're getting hate. It could only get worse here, Jason, right? Like, Janko's right. He presented both scenarios. So one of two things happened. They can either be competitive or win, right? Which is great. That is huge. That's what we're looking for.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
We are looking for women to be able to be integrated with everybody else and not even playing exclusively in women's teams. In my ideal world, we get to a point in Counter-Strike where men and women are both being able to compete on the same team and we're just talking about good players. We're not talking about... Gender or sex, right?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Oh, it's cold where you motherfuckers are. It was 36 today.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I know, I know, but look, I understand where you're coming from here, but the negative is, if they go into this and they draw against a good team, this is single elimination best of three.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Even still. Yes. Okay. If they get owned, Jason, if they get destroyed...
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
The dialogue will be more vicious than it has ever been because, right, even though it's not their fault that the way that the VRS was set up that allowed them to get an invitation spot, essentially other people, because of the negligence of Valve, have been cheated out of the opportunity to get to play in this tournament and potentially earn points. right?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
If they get owned, we already know that the discourse... We've all played a face at Pug and had a woman on our team and heard these fucking dickheads on our team just shit on her because they're all immature kids, right?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And we've had to tell these kids to shut up or tell the woman to mute them or whatever because we find ourselves... And also, I don't want to speak on behalf of the plight of women in Counter-Strike because I'm not a woman. It's not my fucking place to do that. But I know that from my experience of being in the server with them, it doesn't seem like a fun time, right? Like, most of the time. So...
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They're already in a horrible position in the first place. But if they go into this and they get owned, like if I'm talking like losing games like 13-3, 13-5, right? And they're not competitive at all, right? There's a handful of it. They win a pistol round, they get a conversion. Okay, great.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Five inches. Jason, you wouldn't know what to do with five inches.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But if they're not, think about the discourse that is going to come out on the back of that. They should never have been in this event, right? And it's going to pile on on top of the conversation that is already had, right? And the whole point of like impact and all these events is to put out there is to present a space that they can compete with one another and get better, right?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
where they don't feel like they're being like the world is against them right that is the whole reason that they kind of have their own circuit is so that they feel they're in a place where they can compete and feel more comfortable about things at least that's my assumption on the way things go because we want to get them to a point like video games were back in the day were heavily it was a predominant dude thing that's not the case anymore right like there is a lot of women that play video games across the board but when you're a woman and you jump into a game and you're getting harassed and abused the whole time i can't imagine you really want to log in again and
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
it's a fucking nightmare yeah so so this whole environment they find themselves in is is one that can help them get to a certain level then where hopefully they can be integrated but right now if they go here it it has the potential to set back where we were headed because they are making progress like you know you you look at some of their players they can fucking frag
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
There he is. He's had his beers. He's had his beers. I joined this podcast room thing with my name was Sammy Average Dick. Why?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
How are the integration is meant to come when it's merit based? This isn't merit based.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
What are we... Oh, I was going to make a gag at America's sake there. I won't do it. You can go for it. No, we're friends, me and America now. We're going to have a great time. Yeah, sure, sure. Me and the Americans are going to be friends.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I'm not even predicting they'll get destroyed. I don't think they'll win. There is a world where they could be competitive. Look, here's what I'll say. And this is crazy, but I'm going to say this because I'm fucking loopy Chad. They call me around. He's all ready to go. I'm sobering up now. Um, If I was them and I had that invite, Christmas is canceled. News is canceled. Oh, absolutely.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I'm practicing now. Grinding. And to some people, that's going to sound insane. Oh, you know, but it's a holiday time. You are representing an entire gender right now. Like, not just yourself. You are getting the opportunity to potentially do something groundbreaking in the new era of Counter-Strike. Pioneer Leagues are dead. That's over.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I thought like if I weren't big dick, like what are we saying? What am I compensating for?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And if you go in and you beat any team of any reputation, you will get points and you might even get another invite to another tournament and you can fucking go again. So if I'm them and it's right now and it's the fucking 20th of December, I don't give a fuck what day it is. Days don't matter. It's how many days until bounty starts.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Because if we give a fuck about competing in Counter-Strike and wanting to be the best and show that women can compete with men, then let's get in the fucking server and let's grind. And let's play every single fucking day. And let's get in there and let's shut up all these stupid little cunts out there. And let's show that we have what it takes. That's what I do.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But if I see any of them out there celebrating any fucking holiday... No, that's fine. They can celebrate Christmas with you.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But my point is, you've got to be grinding. You have to seize this fucking opportunity right now. Because the way that it can go, either way, it can have big ramifications. Because I really worry if we're getting back-to-back 13-1s. If we get back-to-back 13-1s, Jason, I don't want to read the internet for a week. I don't want to be on it. I don't want to have anything to do with it.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, and I don't know who Sammy is. We better be nice to Sammy. We don't want to fucking give him too much of a hard time.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I don't want to be there. Because you know what it's going to be like. It's going to be horrible. It's going to be fucking horrible.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Who are you picking? I haven't looked that hard, Jason. I'm on vacation. Who are you picking?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
we want to be kind to him we want to be kind to him uh yanko can i say something those those mornings when you're on the analyst desk i thought you wanted to kill everybody on the panel with you man i was looking at you like are you gonna pull a knife and stab someone in the neck is that what's gonna happen am i gonna see yanko because like i look i don't know why i just thought you looked you looked like you had some business to take care of that's what it looked like when you were doing the major desk i was like yanko's here for fucking business he's not here for shits and giggles
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, but they definitely have at least three players.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I just think the Falcons announcement is interesting.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
We don't need to go into too much detail about it But I don't think there's any surprise at least in my mind that wildcard one of the wildcard slots went to fucking Falcons at all like of course that was gonna happen and like people are like, oh they don't have a roster Of course, they submitted the certain amount of players guys. Like what are we talking about here?
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They have Niko, they have Magisk, and then if Monacy's not going, they need an AWPer, maybe they keep Sampaios, like he's actually good. It's just the team was shit. Well, actually, let me take that back, because I can imagine the comments. Sampaios had a 0.99 rate. Sampaios can be good, and I imagine with good players around him, he'll probably want to be good.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Not in like a dead-end team that was dead since the beginning. Another AWPer who was better than Sampaios.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
i think the thing with that is that dialogue is like a cure is is a curious one right and i don't really want to get into the nitty and the gritty of it but i think the one thing is true that it was the right mix of personalities and people right like yeah yeah depending on who did what or who provided what or who was the mastermind of what that group of people was the successful group of people and that's essentially what counter-strike is it's a team right but
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
for a coach in implementing a system, we're shifting away from it being... There's definitely room for coaches who are personality-based and bring out the right elements of players in teams, for sure.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like, don't get me wrong here, but I think when we're looking and talking about coaches being elite level or, like, a coach to be the one that is kind of, like, such a difference maker, the new model for that has been set by a blade. And I think that somebody else that falls in that category is an ash, right? But right now, those names are still... Well, no, no, no, not... Come on now.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah. But what he provides for his team is like a clear system, right? Like they have a philosophy that the coach has such a big impact of how they approach the game. The same with Blade. That's kind of the point that I'm making.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Whereas like you have to start to question with some of these other guys who are legendary with different rosters in the past, if they're bringing that same type of pedigree, which I imagine they're probably not, right? They're not bringing that same level of thing, getting everybody by and they're trying to maybe do things a bit more old school,
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Well, I'm going to be kind. And not just because that's the thing to do. Because I actually think he made progress in the last six months. Genuinely, they won Atlanta. In the last three months, he had made progress. He actually looked like he was...
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
becoming less of a liability for the team which is setting the bar extremely low but he didn't look out of place as much he wasn't getting caught with nades in his hand and one of the things that i would give credit is he never like kicked up a stink right like he was never like oh like maybe privately he was like oh all these guys like them for you know and and
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But publicly, from the outset, he always kept the same kind of demeanor. It was clear that he was trying to put his head down and work. So I give all the respect in the world to that because you could easily go the other way and, oh, woe is me. Everybody's against me. This fucking sucks. That's what I did. Whereas he just, you know, he worked hard and did make improvements to his game.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And the team made it to the major, which is what they didn't manage to do at the start of the year. And they were one series away, which to be fair, they weren't really close in those series, from qualifying to the next stage of play. To see him get replaced, it is immediately the question of, well, who are they going to replace him with? And I think I'll be right again. I would imagine...
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
99.9% of me says it's going to be an international player. There is no Australian player that they would add to that roster. You wouldn't replace Ali if you were going to get another Aussie. You just wouldn't, not for an AWPer. So it will be someone international, whether it's European or American. I'm not certain. Maybe even someone from Asia because Urquhart is the coach. He's Mongolian.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So there could be some Mongolian players with decent English that you could consider. But yeah.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
He didn't play competitively or anything, but he used to be at the LAN cafe, and I was just hanging out with him for a bit before we started this. So I did have a 10-minute nap just to recalibrate myself before we got into this, because Jason, you just woke up. Janko, it's the middle of your day. But for me, Friday's over, guys. Friday is done, and I'll let you know that the future is bright.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, that's what I felt, right? So I kind of question it in the sense of it must have been one or two things or maybe a combination of both. The progress was too slow, right? there was progress but maybe it was too slow and it meets the the x the axis of evil no of uh the of that they have a potential pickup that is going to immediately have a comparable if not higher output
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I'm not saying it's a star player or a known entity, but it could just be someone who's more acclimatized with the style and the meta that is necessary to be playing at that level of CS.
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Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I think Ali and Liaz were the two that were probably the most likely, if not, maybe looking at a coach position as well. But that Sami guy just got released from, or maybe not released, did he get benched over there on Sangal? So I saw that and I thought, well, maybe that guy. I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
than sammy yeah i don't know like he's not he's not bad i'm not saying he's great like i'm not i'm not coming out here and i'm not singing all these praises and shit but it's also like i mean they'd probably love to look at a higher higher tier opera than that as well but then you also got to think which higher tier opera is going to be willing to go play with the aussies as well well i think the thing is like so i had spoke spoken to papa smitty a bit um and so
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
it feels like one of the things that I would say is I feel that the team needs to be in Europe more, right? Like you guys have all heard this from me before. So I'm curious now, like if they have gone, all right, boys, well, we've given you the year and you've done things your way, but now we're going to do things our way, right? And I'm curious, like, I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I could be way off base, but I imagine there's probably some organizational pressure that comes into play here. So that type of an upgrade or maybe where they find themselves because they're playing in the bounty. So FlyQuest, they're going to have to head over to Europe early.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
There you go. On the 9th, they're having dinner as well. Are yours?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Sad, man. But yeah, that's an interesting one, at least for my region. So I'm curious to see what comes out. Yeah, you feel like they should make two, no?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
you can like you could get away and then you could keep the core three right and you would still be able to maintain these invites and stuff um maybe they don't i don't i don't want to say they don't have the money i imagine flyquest does have money their league of legends team is pretty good isn't it jason they should also stickers and everything like should be fine but yeah but even like a little bit of this what the hell oh of course never mind um
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
No, I mean, there was like... It's probably a bit more... No, no, no, you're right, you're right. I'm just looking at the time.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Well, that's the thing, right? He could leave six months later. Isn't that the conversation? Is that Modesty could leave within six months, within the second season of the year? I thought that was the dialogue around this.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
You know, it feels like... It'll be over for G2 if Mondesi and Niko win. It'll be fucking GG.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah. No, I was talking to... There was a player manager, not a player manager, a player agent who was in China. And he came and sat down next to me and Alex while we were watching one of the series. And we were talking about all this stuff. And I don't know all the players he represents. And I won't say the players he does represent, just so I keep his identity hidden.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But he said he reckons that Falcons would pay up to $3 million for Monacy. He said they would probably spend that much.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So the fact that G2 would be turning down that type of money is because I think exactly what Janko is saying. They need to kind of protect the team that they have right now because otherwise it would be like when you moved away from French Counter-Strike, right? You are starting again. And the last time they did this was with the crazy acquisitions, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Like when they had Hunter and Nexa come over and then they merged them with the Frenchman.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Monacy and Malbs is a good base, though, don't you think?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And then the next round, he looked at his hand like he'd heard it. I was like, bro...
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
No, no, the 26 states are all right, but it's the club stuff.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
There's one that's like event-based and there's one that's like the Blast Frequent Flyers, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
They do get paid €20,000 a month, so they should probably just shut their fucking mouth.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
The fact you even woke up for the second game is impressive though, really.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Well, well, well, gentlemen, it all comes back to this. If only the players had their own organizations and were just five dudes and a coach and a manager, and then they could go to whatever events they wanted. I wonder which genius had that idea previously. I don't know.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
This feels like a loophole to me. No, this is, in my opinion...
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
different companies trying different business models to see what is profitable because you need to keep in mind the rationale behind a lot of this is to draw the best names to your product to keep uh i i agree with you 100 and i'm and i agree 100 with everything you just said it does it just still feels like a loophole that that is that it that it counts for the vrs
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
But it's not a loophole, Jason, because here's the thing. Previously, there was partner leagues, right, where they were getting paid directly from Blast and ESL. And then whatever the players got of that, we don't know what type of split there was there. But it's because the players get paid such a premium. And I said this before. I spoke to management of teams back when we were in Rio.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And some of these teams had conversations with their players. They said, listen, PGL are offering a shitload of money. They're going to pay you out immediately. If you want to go to these events, that's fucking fine. But the trade-off here is you will have your... you will have your salary halved because we are not getting any guaranteed revenue as your employer anymore.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
So we can't pay you 20 grand a month, but we can pay you 10. And then guess what, guys? If you want to go out there and make the same type of money, you have to win. But of course, players are going to take the safe route. Why would I want to win when I could just be top eight?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
get paid 20 grand let's just do that shall we that seems like the better option right if you're putting people in a position of security of salary security the amount of money that they earn in a year of course these guys are going to go the safe option so that's why they're at the mercy of their organizations and that is the way we find ourselves and again if we all listen to chad and we just had six dudes traveling around the world called
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Tom swinging dicks, then they could earn as much money as they wanted if they were the best. But guess what? You want to play big business? You got to play by the big businessman's rules, motherfucker. That's capitalism. That's 2024. That's 2025. That's drones. That's fucking UAPs. That's Alex Jones. That's your country, Jason.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, I don't know. It was like 1.3 million, which was about like 600,000 or 500,000 away from what Copenhagen had.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
With those drones. Can I just say one last thing before we're done? Absolutely. All right. So this is not directed to the two of you. This isn't directed to 99.9% of our viewers. This is directed to our friends at ESL. Guys, it's the 20th of December. You're running out of time. We would really like some form of a reply. I spoke to you in Shanghai when you were there.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
And if any of you are listening, it's probably Mark. What's up, Mark? Just give us, just say no. Like, that's fine too, guys. No is fine. I'll take a no. I just don't want a nothing. I have to plan my year. So let us know because you're upsetting me now and I don't want to be upset. That's the end.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I don't like Chad being upset. That's it, that's it.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Shout out to all the Americans one time. We love you, USA. We fucking love you. Let's go.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yeah, that's a good point. But I don't know. I was talking to Valve. They were there. Same crew as always, like the same four blokes that were there. And like they know the figures of the markets, right? And they seem like it was something that, you know, there's a big market in China that they're, or at least in that part of the world that they were servicing. So like, yeah, sure.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I think the angle I take on it is, We've had 21 majors. So if every 20 majors we do one in China, it's probably fine, right? It sucks, right? And I get it hurts for the Europeans and the Americans more so based off what Jason's saying there. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. Like, it just... I think it...
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
If we want to try and be more global, we need to be able to embrace these different time zones.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
Yes. Well, it won't be because the next two years we know where all the mages are. Jason, where's your mic stand?
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
I have my volume low enough that it's not bothering me. I can hear that he's making external noises, Janko, but it's not loud enough it's going to bother me.
Talking Counter
Episode 119: Shanghai Major Conclusions
uh gonna be two years in January okay so you see my sister's kid is two and a half yeah and my sister's tall she's like just a little bit shorter than me and I know I'm not a tall man but like for a woman so she's like five ten right yeah her partner is like fucking I don't know six three so they're like it's not bad they're up there this fucking two and a half year old or my niece as I probably should refer to it
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
It's just a remade RMR. It's even eight teams less that are good. Why would you pay for them to go online?
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, in that case, maybe. But also, you would also have to justify doing it for one region, not for all the regions. Maybe that's also a requirement. It has to be the same for every region. Well, yeah. In La La Land, preferably, it would be that way. But in reality, I don't really think.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Seeing everybody that you saw like three days ago in Katowice.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, I think you see it in a lot of things still. We're just lacking in terms of the infrastructure for all this on so many different levels, right? Whether it's the most basic stuff like getting the data in so it could be counted in the rankings, whether it's an independent body that's going to, you know, control all of it, where it's a players association still.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, this is low-hanging fruit. But I think also it's to be expected when it's the growing pains of a new industry and a new ecosystem. And it's hard to compare to anything because you have a developer that sits on top of it all. And they... Can change a lot depending on how involved they want to get as we see this year with the VRS and the change that we have. So it's going to be difficult.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
It's going to be complicated. And we'll see what adjustments they make and when.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, in theory, you could. The problem is if the scene is developed enough because you have the tier one, you know, with higher rewards come higher costs. It takes more to run a team like Liquid or G2 or, you know, Maus than it does to run Endpoint or Ants or Saw, right? Sure. I think the mechanisms are still sort of being developed in a way, but that's the thing.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Like, I think, again, Chad compared it a few times to the tennis tour, to the ATP tour, and there, I mean, you know, the players in the top 400 make money. Sure, the top 10 make, you know, or top however make millions and millions. These guys might make less, but they're still... you know, making money.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
So I think probably the question, if it's a little bit more to tier one teams and teams that could like go on and win the major. Sure. That's like, you're not going to have 50 teams that could show up or even 30 teams. Even now you have what four or five teams realistically who you expect to, to be in the conversation.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And those are the teams that have some of the best, most expensive players in the world. Right. So, For me, that's all right. What do you think? The underlying problem is that below Tier 1, things are underdeveloped. There's not enough TOs and tournaments and circuits that are designed for Tier 2. And the problem is, most likely, they don't have the calculation.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
They don't have the equation where they make money to do it or to run it.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Why are you just immediately assuming that I did not do something fun? I don't have a true story. Once you have a kid, your life is just boring, Chad. Is that your philosophy?
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I had a haircut. I got a haircut. I played Settlers of Catan last night and also organized a weekend ski trip. in Serbia, albeit, you know, it's nothing like far away.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And I had to change the tires on my car and the brakes.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Well, that's why people say it's much harder to stay on top than to get on top, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, absolutely. It's a fucking pain in the ass, but someone's got to do it, Chad. But yeah, for Spirit, I mean, it was... There's so many layers to that.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Maybe she started and then was like, fuck this. Fuck me. But... Yeah, I mean, it's their fourth final in a row, and it was like... People will say the player break happened, but it was like five weeks in China for them, pretty much. And then, you know, you have to prepare for next season. I don't know. I think it's a little bit of a lame excuse. Like, you need to find a way to deal with that.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, I think Jason's probably went to the gym one time.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Sure, on one side, you suffer from success, but... How many opportunities are you going to have? You could have made a similar argument for Na'Vi on how they lost to Vitality in the Cologne final, right? You could have said something along those lines. And you look at how the season for Na'Vi went after that, it wasn't too great. So who knows how the...
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
year or the season will turn out for spirit i mean obviously a lot of things almost everything went wrong for them in the series they failed to win a single pistol felt it wasn't up until map three that vitality even had to eco and then when they did for the first time they won that round So, you know, when you always have to play from behind like that, their map pulls match.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
So Nuke is a great map for both teams. Spirit Pick, Dust, it's not a bad map for Vitality. Mirage, good map for both teams. So the first three maps were the strongest, it felt like, for Vitality, and they were going to run into problems past that point, but they managed to get it done in three. You know, Chopper had six kills on T-side. He was having a really tough time.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
You know, like you could point out pretty much anyone and say how they struggled. Donk was getting... I mean, also, no one's going to play well when half of your rounds are...
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
half buys right and some hodgepodge hero ak or you know force with galils and and pistols anything like that is going to be tough going up against the full buy and going up against like jason said vitality who's in the honeymoon phase bro also just after that map one and the performance that robs had oh yeah yeah yeah yeah Dude, that just set the tone.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And he did the same thing to G2 three years ago in that final, that phase one, right? It was Inferno that was the first map, and he had that quad kill, or was it Ace, to take them into... From Porch, right? Over time, yeah, from Porch. Right, and then that set sort of the tone for the entire final. Faze also, I think, ended up winning 3-0 after that Mirage that had 70 rounds or something. So...
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, I don't know. I think Vitality will be pretty fucking good this season, though.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
No, I don't think they made a mistake in the veto, just how the matchup is like, and they learned that lesson as a Copenhagen major with FaZe, where they did try to, you know, they ended up going for Vertigo instead of Ancient, lost the shitty game instead of just playing the map that they were better on, but...
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, you know, luckily they're skipping Cluj so that they'll have that little bit of extra time to reflect. I don't think... This is the thing. When you get smashed like that, there's not too much to look back to. Like, sure, some of the counters, but for a lot of stuff you can say, well, we just got reset. You know, we lost a close 2v2 in a reset round, right? Like, that happened multiple times.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
It was like some... Vitality was just better. Their players were just better. They were delivering those moments. So I wouldn't hit the panic button if I were Spirit. I would try to figure out the sort of motivation slash energy sort of thing. Because you can't get complacent for a second even. So many other teams made changes to take you down. Na'Vi is the only one that didn't make changes.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Every other team did.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
What's the equivalent of the Eiffel Tower in Austin, Texas? No, we did it right at the Moody's. Just hitting the 6th Street bars?
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, it was good prep from Vitality, but also to be able to do that need good economy, right? Like to have all that utility when you have to pick and choose and also... on the side of Spirit, if you don't have it, you need to take more risks in those defaults, right? Like, it becomes easier for your opponents to play.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
They're playing rounds with more confidence because they know, okay, maybe there's no op here. Maybe they don't have a ton of utility and they've used their utility and you sort of have a read on what they're trying to do, right? So... It was just, yes, one of those where everything was, it's like they only started playing in the last half of the game.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And I'm happy that it happened that way and it was 11-11 and then Vitality won two rounds because it still showed that, okay, you know, they were not going to, it wasn't just Spirit playing like shit. It was Vitality was playing well and they got it done in the end.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Oh, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
My players suck.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, they also got dicked by fucking ROPS on Dust2, and that's going to happen. I mean, this vitality is better than the previous version of it. So the thing about what can you do when your players aren't playing super well, the only thing you can do a little bit is in terms of the calls, have them do stuff more together. and more brute forcey, which is obviously far from ideal, right?
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Because then you're just sort of throwing numbers at them and you're just hoping that there's a spark. You just get them into a post plant, whether it's a 2v3 and a 2v4, and you're hoping that someone will step up and sort of give you that spark. And they were never able to get that. They were never able to break the money of vitality and get a breeder and sort of make the game close because...
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
There he is. The Booze Lounge, of course.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
It's so easy playing from ahead the whole time. That's what Vitality was doing. Sure, there were a couple of close rounds, but if they lose that round, the score would be 6-2 or 6-3. It wouldn't be that they would be losing or that it would be tied 10-10 and all of a sudden you need to make a decision whether you're buying, whether you're ecoing, what are you going to do.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
They weren't pressured at all until the second half of... Mirage. So it's tough in that way for you to do all that much.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I think it's sick for the whole team, man. First of all, just having issues within the team, that's not going to be fun to play with, no matter which players you have, right? That's just a shitty environment to be in. So first you get rid of that, then you get Robs, one of the fucking Gs in the game, especially when it comes to big games, to arena games.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
He was probably in a little bit of a rut over there in FaZe, so a fresh start for him. So you get that. You get a sick player that for Apex, he gets a guy who can call his own number, who is a nerd and can help him with a lot of little detailed stuff and help the other players. You get an insane guy in the clutch, which is what they were missing. I said this so many times last year.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
If Apex and Zyvo are dead, I don't trust the other three guys to win a fucking clutch. I just don't. They just freeze. In big moments, they just crouch and hold the angle. They don't do really all that much. They all swing and fight clutch. Whatever it is, I just didn't trust him.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And I think Apex didn't trust him in terms of how he set up the game because a lot of stuff is just aggression on the CT side together on timings and grouping up a little bit more on T side and trying to hit timings as well.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
rather than letting the round develop a little bit more, take map control, see what your players could potentially do, where the space is, which is something that they will be able to do with drops. And then as an end note, what Chad pointed out, it's like it frees up Mezzi in terms of some of his position and just not having to have all the shitty spots all the time.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And, again, having a guy like Kropso on your team frees up everyone else to sort of play with a little bit more freedom. Like, everyone had their moments. Flamesy, Mazzy, Apex had a great final. He had over 90 ADR, was super consistent, had a big clutch on Dust2 with the P250. He was a tone setter.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
yeah and and then zywOo was playing like yeah he is the best player in the world like just in the terms of the fight the fight he was the fights he was taking the moves he was going for like he wanted to make his presence known and it was definitely you know felt
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
by team spirit like whenever we talk i said this on the desk too is like whenever we talk about zywoo and say we want him to have a little bit of an ego i don't mean in fucking interviews he's always going to be a nice guy yeah i don't know i just played the game and i just want to see it on the server you know i want you to play as if you are the best player in the world i want you to
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, you could put either or I can put three more teams or we could just make it five teams that we can talk about because there's a lot of teams. I mean, there's also G2 and Furia. Well, yeah.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
One per hour. Or two and then just get it done in 12 hours.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Well, the thing is that I was going to say the problem is it felt like when Nico left, he took half of Modesty with him. Yeah. Because he has not been the same player. Yeah. Right? And I don't know if that's... I don't think too much of that is due to Niko just leaving and now he's not on the team anymore.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I think actually it probably has more to do with how they're playing, which doesn't necessarily suit him fully or maybe he disagrees with it. And that's also what Niko would have...
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
disagreed with and now he's lost that other guy who was sort of feeling the same way and now he's just in a position where he kind of has to play that way and what I mean by that is I didn't like how many set calls they had on T side on Mirage for example I think they need to play more default it feels like after with Nico gone you know maybe a little bit more of
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
free slash control for snacks plus Taz and they're trying to push it a little bit that way but I don't think that's a way to win on the highest level on a consistent basis right so we'll see because now they're in a shit situation where it's going to look like, oh yeah, you're playing like shit, but then the guy who was also the second best player in the world last year isn't playing like one.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Were you nervous?
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
So if Monessi was on his form from last year, would it look much better? That's the big sort of question. I said that I thought they were going to make the most playoffs, but not win tournaments, and then they go and they don't even make the playoffs in Katowice.
Talking Counter
Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
yeah i think it's also in that conversation about what am i saying when you're like when you're like they're not gonna find food i'm like don't they fucking eat grass and hay like isn't that shit just everywhere Not the good stuff, Jason.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah. But I think it's also in that conversation with Nico and, you know, what he'll do a lot is it's not that he'll call his own number. He'll just tell the whole team what to do kind of from the position in which he's in. Like, he'll see what's going on and say, hey, can you guys do this so I can make this move or I'm going to do this and then you guys just explode on this side, right?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And that's something that takes a lot of reps and a lot of experience.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
that's just one trip. He's trying his best to get that major. It's the NA major, Chad. You know, Jason wants to be there.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
um yeah but yeah it's that and then i don't know i think definitely they should get sure just because he's a young igl and what's your long-term plan for the igl position is snacks who needs him more though liquid or g2 who needs to be more liquid's not gonna get him twist is the igl who needs him more not g2 okay yeah i think it's g2 as well really yeah i do
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
okay and i think for some of these other teams man it's just you know australis now in the doldrums of online conversation they did qualify for lisbon they have to play heroic for the last dallas spot i think yeah they have to play heroic that's i don't know when that game is i think they said it's on the 20th it might be after kluge finishes yeah it is on the 20th if liquid make a roster changes i want them to go get another fucking nerds level badass
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
What do you... Yeah, nice Astralis conversation.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I just think it's funny because you see that, you saw that round where KDN runs into library with the bomb, right? And I just, I don't know. It's not clicking. Like he's making too many basic mistakes, like too many fundamental mistakes.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Is that the circle of breaking the record in 24 hours?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
If you nailed that, I'm so impressed. I was like, am I not cultured? And then Jason was quiet as well. Lily Phillips. Lily Phillips.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, also, I think I was going to say, like, Astralis beat, I said Astralis beat Furia so bad in Kato, they knocked them out of Cluj as well, like, because they accepted the invite and then turned it down to, like, focus on getting visas to the US or something, which is just, like, bullshit, really.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I think they're trying to figure out if they can make a roster change without losing, like, too many points or if they can get anyone mid-season.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
When you decline the invite, then you can't get in.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I like that. I was going to ask, is there any punishment for Furia for not showing up after accepting the invite?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Bless you, Chad, first of all. Thank you. Second thing, I had a little bit of a situation like that with the whole call zero thing after phase where it's like, if you see someone... say something in an interview that you just feel is untrue, you do kind of need to undress it. Undress it? Sorry, my girlfriend just walked past, so it influenced my statement. But
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
You know, then you need to address it because of your reputation as well. If it's something that's being, you know, that's not true and then it's affecting it, you have to address it. But you can do that in a respectful way. In general, it's better off to just stay away from statements like that. And some players did it from time to time.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
But the Zeus one, first of all, also surprised just like Jason because I didn't see him as that sort of a guy. but also some of the stuff he says is just ridiculous like in that whole thing like the whole dunk situation like where he said the twists wouldn't get dunk if he was like that's just there's just such a ridiculous conversation to for you to talk about in a podcast
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And in general, I would always stay away from it because, first of all, you gain nothing from this. Except for some engagements on the internet or whatever, you gain nothing because there's always...
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
two sides to every story right like you saw things one way the players saw it a different way and zeus wasn't even i don't i don't think anyone was talking about him as sort of like being a big factor in that failure or that he did a terrible job or anything like that came out where he had to justify himself like he just out of the blue decided to start talking shit well there was a little bit of it but i don't think it was like to any kind of scale
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
didn't feel like it was warranted for what he did for what for yeah for the response for sure you know because like shit goes on in a team and in a competitive environment like a lot of stuff can go down you know things can be said at times and you know people can behave in a certain way but that's what you know that's usually heat of the moment stuff but then if you talk about it after the fact and oh yeah this thing happened without providing context or saying this or saying that
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
you're painting someone in a bad light which isn't you know necessarily how things happen so yeah i think just completely really unnecessary and yeah i don't know why he did it well the only thing that really matters in our space is if you talk first you set the narrative and then anything that comes after doesn't really matter so you know like we call that the jimmy b rule
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
You'd feel a bit under the billet. You have not been in that situation, though, Jason, so I somehow have a sense that you would fail to see the humor in that situation.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Where Zeus talked?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Central European time zone. That's my time zone, 8 p.m. over here.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
but yeah like it like still you know a lot of a lot of the stuff is you you you throw these things out there and you know he was probably he probably had some feelings about it he's talking about some fucking nba tickets like now i had to like open the thread again because i didn't listen through all of it but it's like bro what the fuck are you talking about i'll tell you i'll tell you yeah yeah he said that uh twist late from the end he's taking shots at liquid it's like bro liquid
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
was there for you felt like every step of the way for a lot of the the stuff you know gave you opportunity even this last opportunity sort of was out of the blue it felt like for people and then you're like they're being run by a kid it's like i don't know twists whenever i talk to him seems he seems pretty mature and smart and like he knows what he's talking about definitely is motivated and loves the game and you know like is he a perfect igl now no i mean i jail for six months
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
When was the last major you didn't work?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Oh, Antwerp?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
So what happened there?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
well either way if it's you know if you got nothing nice to say so nothing at all isn't that what what our moms used to tell us shout out to JC one time a little bit it's like I was I was at the at the start a little bit like you know you hate fake niceties and you want to be direct and then say it how it is and get to the point right with stuff to get things done but
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
In reality, that's not how things work, you know, and also how people work is if, you know, people don't want necessarily to work with someone or be around someone who's constantly, you know, an asshole or it just doesn't have a good way of approaching things. So just knowing how to handle that and how to like be a people's person, you
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
quote-unquote, is part of the game, you know, whether you like it or not, and part of the job. And when you do something like this as well, like, you're not doing yourself any favors in whichever, you know, direction you want to go in.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Thanks for the heads up, Jason.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
All right, so who thinks the Mongols are the main favorites to win Cluj?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Do you? They're the highest ranked team, Jason. Oh, here we go.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
That's fucked up. You don't have to pass their jacket from 2016, bro. You always talk about it when they're doing well. So I thought you would be their champion now when they're doing their best.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Frozen didn't take Ropz's roles in Maus when Ropz left.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, I mean, okay. But for him to make that change doesn't... You know, we have no inclination that he sort of... He's the player best suited to that in the roster.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Probably. But if he doesn't want to do it, you know.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, Reign would have to do it before Elisha would do it. That goes without saying.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, but... Ancient is... Well, that's a weird one. Is there really such a thing as an A anchor on Ancient?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Ah, so the one Major you didn't do it was because you turned it down.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
The problem is they had a really close series against Vitality. They lost in overtime, right? Double overtime, actually. They win that game during the playoffs. But then against Eternal Fire in the last game, they didn't even show up, so to speak, really. And that's the issue, right? Where do you put them? I think it's just kind of too soon for them with the new roster and all the changing around.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
When you look at the field, yeah. It's an 18 playoffs as well. It's not a 16 playoffs. So it would be a disaster for FaZe if they don't make playoffs at Cluj. Yes. what teams definitely won't make playoffs I fucking let's just first can you just tell me about Maus how do you think Maus will do dude did you read this interview with Sphinx yes
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
If he's going to keep beeping, he'll probably wake up the baby. So, that's why.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
That's why I asked. Spinks decides to leave Vitality. They go on and win Katowice immediately. That's just hilarious.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
am i i feel like it must be nice to be in jason's situation but never mind let's stop making this i actually have a story tired right now so like in in austin there was a tournament in 2016 and i think that was my second time in the u.s maybe the third time was it that was it the dreamhack austin it was the same time during the asia minor in korea oh i was playing that Yeah.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And he's in Katowice, actually, because they're bootcamping. They were bootcamping there, yeah. Yeah.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I think the Kirby one is still... History has to happen for us. I just think it just smells like with losing an IGL. No, Brolin has two IGLs. You bring in Spinks. It's just all over the place. It's a mystery. I think they'll be one of the teams that will do worse than they did last year.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I mean, Complexity needs to start winning some games. Otherwise, Jason Lake might have to pump another coin.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Okay. Oh, that's all right then. You couldn't move it 30 minutes, Jason?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
I feel like it would be a smart decision to make.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
So me and Jason went early a couple of days to the event just to sort of like hang out. Yeah. And I was like 23 at the time, bro. And we're going out and it's like, you know, Austin has this, you know, the sixth street where all the bars are at. I think we were there, you know, coming in early means we came on a Monday or on a Tuesday.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah. We'll do one next week.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
What am I? I'm not central. You're Eastern European time, I think. Yeah, of course. EET, I think, is the time zone. You're 9 p.m.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
There's not much to do on a Tuesday, at least at that time in Austin.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
so first thing we did was we went to some bar like whatever and it had like trivia or something and never mind we didn't even want you know we didn't even play we're just sitting at the bar having drinks and then this old lady lady turns to me and sort of asks like uh do you know the time and i don't know i like look at it i said 8 30 whatever the fucking time was she's like do you speak english
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
It was my first time in Texas. Jason just started slamming says like, Welcome to Texas, bro, or whatever. But the second night or later that night, we go to Sixth Street, right? And this is the first time I actually before that I was in San Jose, where I was an observer, maybe did a couple of death segments, and didn't leave the hotel pretty much right. I was still like super green.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And I was in Vegas that year. observing for the e-league like the ces thing that was that year as well the story from that event will tell it another time but that this is my third time and we're like going to a couple of bars whatever dinner i don't know and then like i just remember asking jason's like jason like can you answer me one thing he's like why are the hottest girls all bartenders here
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And not only that, I can also deduce that you just came back from the gym and you're having a little bit of protein powder to keep those muscles up, Chad.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
All the hottest girls we saw, our bartenders.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And Jason's like, bro, just keep an eye out on how quickly the tip jar gets filled and how much they get tipped. And I was like, in 20 minutes, she was like 100 bucks worth of tips. I'm like, Well, yeah, yeah, it's all computes right now. You know, the tip culture is absolutely insane in the US.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
So yeah, that was fun experience having flights of tequilas, getting brisket and Texas barbecue for the first time renting that Airbnb. We actually even had an Airbnb instead of a hotel.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
It was just four of us or someone else to
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
He said esteemed.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, he's the CEO.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
And if there's any listeners that see the Jake Saki interview, may as well stop fucking listening. Jesus Christ.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Never stop listening. Never stop listening. Just sort of rethink your life choices, guys. You know, just do that.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Oh, my God, Jason. I like him.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah, you like everyone. That's true. I forgot about that. What do you like about him the most?
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
The fact that he steals everyone's content and just reposts it as they don't? Or the fact that he promotes gambling sites without saying that they're actually ads? Jason, you're on fire today. I know.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
See, this is the fucking problem with esports. Because someone comes in and is like, hey, how you doing? All this fucking stupid-ass American small talk. All of a sudden, he's a nice guy. Doesn't matter what anyone does, you know, about the action show. But, yeah, because he's, like, super nice to people. Yeah, he's a fucking great guy. He's definitely a fucking net positive to the scene.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Can't wait for him to be an analyst at the fucking major, but let's go.
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Episode 124: BLAST Austin Major, IEM Katowice reflections, Astralis and mouz and G2 oh my!
Yeah. It was on Reddit. What do you mean by spaceship stage?