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Frederik ‘acoR’ Gyldstrand is again on the prime of the CS:GO scene after a barren spell with MOUZ. He leads the cost for a younger and vibrant GamerLegion staff that wishes to impress on the IEM Rio Main.
acoR is a reputation that many CS:GO followers had seemingly forgotten about.
Virtually a yr away from the highlight — a lifetime in esports — will do this to a participant. They turn out to be yesterday’s information.
However as he landed in Malta for the European RMR — the qualifying occasion for the IEM Rio Main — he reminded everybody of the participant he was. He averaged a 1.21 HLTV ranking as GamerLegion, a staff ranked simply sixtieth on the planet at the moment, certified for the Brazilian occasion after beating Aurora, G2 Esports, and B8 within the Swiss stage.
Maybe extra spectacular than these victories was the best way GamerLegion performed within the two matches they didn’t win. They took reigning Main champions FaZe and CIS giants Spirit to their absolute restrict earlier than succumbing in time beyond regulation, losing 11 sport factors throughout these two best-of-one video games — an indication of the staff’s immaturity and lack of expertise on the massive levels.
GamerLegion are one of many nice feel-good tales heading into the IEM Rio Main, their staff assembled (a minimum of formally, for what it’s value) simply two weeks earlier than the RMR. It’s an attention-grabbing group of gamers which have one factor in frequent: A burning want to show themselves. Particularly acoR, who is set to indicate that his ill-fated MOUZ spell was not an correct illustration of his inventory.
“It feels actually, actually good to be again,” he tells Dexerto.
The Danish AWPer is feeling on cloud 9, even when he doesn’t are inclined to let his feelings take over on the server or in interviews. Along with marking his return to a top-tier occasion, IEM Rio can even give acoR the prospect to have his title added to the listing of Counter-Strike legends with autographs within the sport. (PGL Main Stockholm, the primary Main he certified for, solely had signature stickers for the gamers who reached the playoffs.)
“Each participant needs their very own sticker within the sport,” he says. “That’s what quite a lot of gamers play for, profitable a Main or getting their sticker within the sport in order that they have one thing to recollect them by after they’re carried out.”
The dearth of a signature sticker in his first Main outing was simply certainly one of many issues that didn’t go his means throughout his time on MOUZ.
A forgetful interval
When acoR signed with MOUZ in January 2021, there was an excessive amount of hype surrounding the transfer. He had established himself as one of the crucial thrilling up-and-coming AWPers throughout his time with MAD Lions, with whom he had received the inaugural version of the $1 million Flashpoint league.
MOUZ appeared like a pure match for acoR to show his mettle and proceed to maneuver up the CS:GO ladder, however he couldn’t replicate his MAD Lions type and was inevitably dropped to the bench in favor of academy participant Ádám ‘torzsi’ Torzsás simply in need of a yr after his arrival.
Hastily, a profession on the quick observe had floor to a halt.
“I went into this break attempting to determine what I might do to enhance,” he says. “I believed, ‘What’s the smartest thing that I can do to assist myself sooner or later on a brand new staff?’”
Throughout his time away from the highlight, acoR did quite a lot of soul-searching to attempt to discover a proof for his disappointing performances for MOUZ. It is a staff that has traditionally acted as a gatekeeper or a measuring keep on with anybody who makes an attempt to interrupt into the senior echelons of the sport. Did his struggles imply that he was simply not reduce out for tier-one Counter-Strike?
acoR’s time on MOUZ was largely irritating and got here to an finish after lower than a yr
Wanting again, acoR says that “a combination of issues” explains what went improper with MOUZ throughout his spell on the staff, the place he took up the AWP from Chris ‘chrisJ’ de Jong. He joined MOUZ throughout a time of transition as veteran in-game chief Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen was on his means out to rejoin FaZe. His substitute, Christopher ‘dexter’ Nong, took a while to adapt to the European type and likewise shortly turned a goal of criticism for not with the ability to put within the kind of numbers he used to on Australian groups of their worldwide outings.
There was additionally a transparent lack of cohesion among the many gamers, who at instances seemed like they had been taking part in for themselves and never for a standard purpose. acoR acknowledges that he, too, was responsible of this. He regrets not taking a extra energetic function within the staff.
“I want I had taken extra initiative and extra management of my sport,” he says. “The system was fairly open for me, however I used to be extra laidback and didn’t assist out loads. No matter dexter was calling, I might simply do it and not likely give it some thought.
“It was extra of a staff downside, for my part, despite the fact that I didn’t play even near what I can do.”
acoR did have his moments throughout the first half of the yr, however issues took a darkish flip after the participant break. Because the AWPer, he was the one anticipated to drag the staff out of its slough, so when he struggled to carry out, the neighborhood turned in opposition to him. There have been insults, even loss of life threats made in opposition to relations. The sheer quantity of toxicity he needed to endure finally turned insufferable.
“The issue for me was that I knew I performed actually badly and I didn’t hit any pictures in any respect, and on the identical time I couldn’t open social media with out being bombarded with messages and flames in every single place. I couldn’t even open HLTV to look at a CS:GO match with out seeing my title in 5 locations within the boards.
“Usually, I’m not a man that will get affected by it, however in the long run there was a lot of it that I couldn’t ignore. Even when I attempted, I couldn’t. In the long run, it turned an excessive amount of.”
Discovering his groove once more
acoR says that the distinction between taking part in for MOUZ and GamerLegion has been night time and day. “I’ve much more belief from my staff,” he says, including that he has rediscovered himself within the sport after being shrouded in self-doubt for therefore lengthy.
“I’ve much more initiative and much more confidence as a result of I really feel I’m in interval,” he explains. “This helps me learn the sport extra simply.
“Confidence generally is one thing that’s actually underrated. You simply don’t care. It might be NiKo on the opposite aspect of the wall, you’re simply going to go and peek as a result of you will have a lot confidence.”
GamerLegion IGL siuhy praised acoR’s impression inside and outdoors of the sport
However his contribution to GamerLegion goes past his fragging output. The staff’s skipper, Kamil ‘siuhy’ Szkaradek, says that acoR’s professionalism and impression exterior of the sport have additionally performed a big function of their fast ascent.
“He’s at all times placing in hours when wanted,” siuhy tells Dexerto. “Working with him has been a pleasure from the beginning, and he’s one of many key components behind our success to date.”
GamerLegion’s staff are at present bootcamping in Berlin forward of the Main, the place they’ll face South American aspect 9z within the opening spherical of the Challengers Stage.
His staff could also be one of many least skilled in attendance (with simply two Main appearances between the entire squad) however acoR stays optimistic. In line with him, one of many causes for the RMR success was that opponents had no materials on his staff, no strategy to anti-strat.
“Now we have quite a lot of new stuff that we will take to the Main and shock individuals with,” he says matter-of-factly.
The IEM Rio Main would be the first alternative to see this GamerLegion lineup lock horns with the world’s greatest in entrance of a crowd — a useful studying expertise for the staff’s younger gamers. Identical to on the RMR, they’ll come into this occasion utterly freed from stress to succeed. And given the match’s upset-friendly format, it’s not out of the realm of chance to assume GamerLegion can take a giant scalp or two and transfer on to the Legends Stage.
On the identical time, the Rio Main might be one of many final probabilities to see this lineup, such is the best way of the CS:GO scene, the place rising groups typically turn out to be victims of their very own success and are unable to carry on to their prized property. acoR and Mihai ‘iM’ Ivan have been GamerLegion’s standout gamers, and siuhy has earned himself a popularity as an in-game chief on the rise — a priceless commodity in in the present day’s CS:GO market.
acoR says that he’s joyful at GamerLegion, however he doesn’t shut the door on a transfer to an even bigger staff. Earlier than he joined GamerLegion, there was a quick curiosity from Complexity. The North American staff ended up not qualifying for the Main.
“I don’t need to depart GamerLegion, but when a extremely good staff exhibits up I’ll in all probability take the provide,” he says. “I actually need to win a Main sooner or later. It’s certainly one of my objectives. Individually, I really feel I’ve the extent to compete in opposition to the very best gamers on the planet.”
Forward of the Main, acoR feels able to compete in opposition to the very best on the planet
acoR’s time on MOUZ was nothing however a pit cease he’d quite put behind him, although it helped him to mature and to turn out to be stronger and extra impervious to stress. A yr later, he’s again at a Main, bursting with confidence and happiness, able to do what he couldn’t in Stockholm.
And this time, he’s lastly acquired his personal signature sticker to indicate for it.
“I acquired a lot hate prior to now that I simply need to present everybody that my time on MOUZ was not near what I’m,” he says. “I need to come again and have a extremely good time. Win tournaments and return to the highest 20, prime 10. I need to win in opposition to good groups.”
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