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Unhealthy Information Eagles are as soon as once more within the prime 16 of a Main after cruising by way of the Challengers Stage of IEM Rio. Theirs is the kind of story that’s rising ever so uncommon within the CS:GO scene.
“They don’t seem to be a part of the circuit, they don’t seem to be there with the large boys, however they’re enjoying like them.”
As Unhealthy Information Eagles’ gamers leaped up from their seats and gathered for a bunch huddle, joined by supervisor James Banks, after soundly beating GamerLegion within the third spherical of the IEM Rio Challengers Stage, Australian caster Chad ‘SPUNJ’ Burchill, just like the CS:GO scene at massive, was left in awe.
There may be an unmistakable, distinctive purity to an underdog story, and through the years there have been many such tales at CS:GO Majors, from Luminosity’s 2016 win in Columbus, to Cloud9’s 2018 victory in Boston (the place Quantum Bellator Hearth additionally made a particularly unlikely run to the quarterfinals) after taking place 0-2 within the Legends Stage, to ENCE’s 2019 grand closing look in Katowice.
Most romantic underdog tales in esports are one-offs, unable to be maintained as a result of the particular set of circumstances that went into them are by no means seen once more. However that’s not the case of Unhealthy Information Eagles, who’re persevering with in Rio de Janeiro the fascinating story that they started to put in writing in Antwerp, nearly seven months in the past.
There’s positively one thing particular concerning the Kosovar-Albanian group, the primary to achieve a CS:GO Main with out the backing of a corporation since dAT’s ESL One Cologne 2014 look. Unhealthy Information Eagles have gained many admirers within the scene not simply due to their in-your-face strategy — harking back to 2015 fnatic, in response to analyst Janko ‘YNk’ Paunović — but additionally due to their sudden success despite restricted assets.
The Unhealthy Information Eagles tag was arrange in February 2022 after the gamers parted methods with BLINK following a breakdown in negotiations with the administration over contract renewals. A group made up of gamers who got here by way of the FACEIT Professional League — which explains their aggressive, pug model —, they overcame the chances after they certified for PGL Main Antwerp in Might and reached the Legends Stage, that includes the highest 16 sides on this planet.
They’d finished sufficient, the gamers thought after they returned house, to safe the backing of a corporation that would enable them to take the following step of their growth. To seek out some stability of their private lives.
The fact, nonetheless, was very totally different.
With playing and sports activities betting unlawful in Kosovo and Albania, many of the typical suspects — betting corporations with deep pockets — had been out of the image. There have been conferences with potential worldwide sponsors, however talks broke down because the advertising price range for Balkan international locations is often very restricted.
Quite a lot of esports organizations additionally got here knocking, however that, too, was a useless finish. Some clearly wished to benefit from the sticker cash that the group would earn sooner or later, whereas others, regardless of being properly meant, lacked the infrastructure that the gamers had been searching for.
Somewhat than make a cope with the satan that may include a heavy worth or accept lower than what they’re price, the gamers determined to proceed their journey as Unhealthy Information Eagles, utilizing sticker income and event winnings to assist themselves. The group has only one sponsor to assist alleviate the burden, Albanian digital retailer gjirafa50.
“For us as a group, wage is just not a very powerful issue on this resolution however the workers that a corporation has and the way they might help us develop out and in of the sport,” the group wrote in August. “One other actually necessary issue is the chance to bootcamp usually with out challenge. This for us is the place visas are additionally crucial.”
Working it again
Between the Majors in Antwerp and Rio de Janeiro, Unhealthy Information Eagles competed in a raft of on-line tournaments to pocket prize cash and stay related within the scene. There was additionally a small four-team LAN occasion in Prague, which they gained. “It’s been a extremely busy schedule, having all these tournaments, on daily basis a brand new event,” BNE participant Flatron ‘juanflatroo’ Halimi stated. “Attempting to organize for every thing, not catching a break, being exhausted on a regular basis.”
Such is the lifetime of a tier-two CS:GO group within the present panorama, the place ESL and BLAST maintain a good grip on the scene with their franchise tournaments. The restricted spots for non-partner groups are determined by difficult multi-stage qualifying programs that resemble a seven-layer cake.
The CS:GO Majors, with their open qualifying system, provide the perfect probability for a group like Unhealthy Information Eagles to compete on the worldwide stage. In order that they put all their concentrate on ensuring they had been in the absolute best form for the European RMR resulting in Rio. It was the end-all, be-all, for the group, they usually handed the take a look at by beating Everlasting Hearth, Astralis and forZe within the RMR.
It appeared just like the group may lastly catch their breath, however then their participation on the occasion got here underneath menace attributable to visa points. Ultimately, it took the well timed intervention of Kosovo’s Minister of Tradition, Youth and Sport, Hajrulla Çeku, for the group to beat one other hurdle.
Nothing has ever come simple for Unhealthy Information Eagles, however that’s a part of their attraction and one of many explanation why many rejoiced as they booked a spot within the Legends Stage with a flawless 3-0 file following victories over 00 Nation, BIG, and GamerLegion.
Exhausting work, consistency and persistence are the keys to Unhealthy Information Eagles’ success, group coach Klesti ‘stikle-’ Kola says. James Banks, who helps the group freed from cost, advised Dexerto that he sees many similarities between their mindset and the laser focus displayed by the Luminosity/SK group after they had been on the rise in 2015 and 2016.
Unhealthy Information Eagles have already equaled their end result from Antwerp (the place they went 3-2 within the Challenger Stage), and something that they get from the competitors now shall be a bonus. They seemed like a strong unit within the Challengers Stage: each participant did their half (although Rigon ‘rigoN’ Gashi and Dionis ‘sinnopsyy’ Budeci had been a transparent step above the remaining), and the group displayed an outstanding CT aspect (their 82.7% winrate was the best throughout the first two days of the occasion) that’s closely based mostly on instinct. stikle-’s job is looking for the fitting steadiness between aggression and self-discipline, however for now, this model appears to be working. And the group’s confidence is unshakable. “We’re not finished,” sinnopsyy stated after the victory towards GamerLegion.
No person anticipated a (comparatively) ragtag bunch of gamers with nearly no prior tier-one expertise and no monetary backing to make the highest 16 of a Main, and to do it not as soon as however twice is a exceptional feat. In a scene turbocharged by blood cash the place the hole between the elite and the remaining has by no means been wider, Unhealthy Information Eagles are a superb reminder of the sweetness that may be present in open circuits and within the tales of underdogs.
“The way in which I see our boys is as a passionate, devoted, and decided household,” Banks stated. “They’ve the starvation and drive, they know what they wish to obtain, that is their dream they usually’ve sacrificed a lot to get right here. However they don’t seem to be finished. We should not finished!”
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