Gambit’s CEO: I’m confident in every player that’s part of our roster
HLTV.org spoke with the organization’s CEO and interim head coach ahead of their ESL Pro League campaign.
Konstantin “groove” Pikiner took over Gambit’s coaching duties on a temporary basis after their head coach was suspended for using the spectator bug, combining with his role as CEO of the Russian organization.
The Russian isn’t new to coaching as he is a former 1.6 coach, having guided teams like Moscow Five and Meet Your Makers after playing professionally for several years. Under his guidance, Gambit ended 2020 on a high note, taking home the title of DreamHack Open December and breaking into the Top 15 world ranking. groove and company surpassed the wildest of expectations when the team went on to win IEM Katowice, netting the grand prize of $400.000 after a dream run with victories over big teams such as NAVI, G2, Virtus.pro, and Spirit.
Before Gambit’s ESL Pro League campaign which starts today, HLTV.org had the chance to speak with groove about how it is to work with such a group of young players and the possibility of losing some of them.
When asked about how it is to work with a group of young players and follow their growth, groove answered:
“The most important thing when working with young players is patience and willingness to invest in the long-term. Gambit was the first professional esports organization for Ax1Le, interz, nafany, and sh1ro, and when they joined our team they were only 16-17 years old. Over the course of the past two years, we have gone from a beginner-level youth roster to becoming champions of the world in IEM Katowice 2021 – it was an unforgettable experience and incredibly emotional."
Besides talking about how it has been to follow Gambit’s young players growth, groove picked his brain on the possibility of loosing some of the team’s most prized stars as many organizations definitely will keep an eye on the players moving forward.
“Gambit is a storied organization with a list of international titles in various competitive gaming disciplines. Our experience and resources allow us to provide all the necessary conditions for our players, and I’m confident in every player that’s part of our roster.”
Gambit’s first match in ESL Pro League will be against the Brazilian squad from MIBR at 12:00 (CET).
