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❘ Revealed: 2023-03-14T19:59:42
❘ Up to date: 2023-03-14T20:03:33
In an unique interview with Dexerto, Charlie’ Hicksy’ Hicks revealed why he nearly returned to Europe after spending a yr and a half on Toronto Extremely instead.
Toronto Extremely didn’t drop a single collection at CDL Main 3, securing the group’s first main since 2021. Neighborhood members touted the group from up north as a favourite heading into Fashionable Warfare 2. Nevertheless, a top-four end at Main 1 and a top-six end at Main 2 didn’t fulfill a company hungry for titles.
The Extremely shocked aggressive CoD followers by calling up Hicksy to the CDL beginning lineup as a substitute of Standy after the primary match of Main 3 Qualifiers. Extremely went 3-1 with the revamped roster, locking up the third seed heading to Arlington.
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You understand the remaining: Toronto took down New York, Boston, Atlanta, and the house crowd Texas group to win Main 3. Extremely silenced the Arlington crowd and everybody who doubted Hicksy’s means.
The lengthy journey from Challengers to CDL
Hicksy began his profession within the European Challengers scene whereas additionally finishing school.
“So clearly, I began in Europe 4 years in the past throughout Fashionable Warfare 2019. It went okay, after which Chilly Conflict issues actually kickstarted.”
“I used to be doing uni on the similar time; I completed faculty and joined Toronto Extremely in the identical month, in order that was loopy.”
Underneath Toronto Extremely in 2021, Hicksy earned the fifth most Challengers factors, placing his title on the map for CoD Vanguard. In 2022 Extremely created an academy group, which jumpstarted a number of CDL careers.
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Scrappy, Vikul, Scrappy, and MohaK gained three Challengers occasions collectively and positioned second in three others. Assault joined on the finish of CoD Vanguard and helped add one other trophy to the academy’s cupboard. Getting into the 2023 season, Vikul joined Florida, Assault labored his method onto LAG, and Scrappy obtained referred to as as much as Toronto’s CDL group.
“In Challengers, you might be within the pit 10 or 12 hours each day,” Hicksy defined. “It’s horrible when you’re enjoying continuous back-to-back.”
“Final yr with Scrap, we did rather well and gained most issues. I didn’t get the prospect in the beginning of the yr, however I knew if I caught round, perhaps I might get the prospect.”
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Reaching a crossroads in Hicksy’s skilled CoD profession
After watching three former teammates get an opportunity on professional rosters, Hicksy questioned if he would ever get a shot.
“I used to be near going house this yr as a result of I simply didn’t assume I might have an opportunity and go house and play once more in EU and attempt to win after which get on a distinct group.”
Proper across the time he contemplated returning to Europe, Hicksy lastly acquired a long-awaited call-up to the CDL roster, and he couldn’t consider it.
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“I assumed Ryan, the coach, was joking as a result of he’s such a troll. He simply got here as much as me after one of many matches and stated you might be enjoying and I took it as a troll. It was surreal in the meanwhile.”
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Hicksy slotted in seamlessly on Toronto, already aware of all three gamers.
“Jamie and Toby, I performed towards them in Fashionable Warfare 2019. They had been annoying to play, after which I performed with Scrap for all of Vanguard, so I knew all three of them coming in, so it was fairly simple becoming in, and I get together with all of them.”
Hicksy shines on the largest stage
At CDL Main 3, It was Hicksy’s flip to shine, and he made essentially the most of his alternative. The rising star grew to become the second player in CDL history to win their first professional LAN occasion since Scump at MLG Dallas in 2011.
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Within the Grand Finals towards OpTic Gaming, Hicksy completed with a 1.10 KD, going 26-18 within the opening Hardpoint and 10-5 within the second SnD recreation.
Hicksy did all the soiled work for Toronto, permitting Scrappy and CleanX to run and gun to their coronary heart’s content material. Scrappy dropped an astounding 134 kills within the six-map collection towards OpTic, and CleanX had 121.
The versatile SMG participant doesn’t essentially mild scoreboards on hearth, however his calm, cool, and picked up demeanor persistently places his teammates able to succeed.
CoD caster IHOLDSHIFT offered a enjoyable nugget, staying, Hicksy and Scrappy have by no means missed a grand remaining as a duo, putting prime two in 4 Challengers tournaments.
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Whereas the CDL options loads of expertise able to enormous kill performances, Hicksy buys into his position as a help participant.
“Each group I’ve been on since Chilly Conflict, it’s the identical factor. I attempt to make different folks higher. I do know my position; I’m not going to do something loopy like try to take over a map and mess up different folks. I do know my position. I attempt to play the sport appropriately, make all the things simpler for everybody else, and hopefully win.”
Hicksy believes he ought to have gotten this opportunity earlier however nonetheless credit Challengers for making him stronger.
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“I may have gone with out spending a lot time there, nevertheless it makes you way more resilient as a participant as a result of there are such a lot of ups and downs.”
Scrappy and Hicksy will look to increase that Grand Finals streak as a duo when Main 4 Qualifiers start on March 31.
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