The Russian esports organization Extremum is according to Jarek “DeKay” Lewis and DBLTAP in talks with Aaron "⁠AZR⁠" Ward, Sean "⁠Gratisfaction⁠" Kaiwai, and Jay "⁠Liazz⁠" Tregillgas. The Australian trio has since 100 Thieves’ exit from CS:GO stood without a team.

Extremum is owned by private investors, and do currently not own a CS:GO team, but competes in BNS and Dota 2. The Russian organization is according to sources seeking two European players to round up their roster if they succeed to sign AZRm, Liazz and Gratisfaction.

The Australian trio is at the moment still qualified for the next major event due to prior results, even though the transfer of jks and jkaem has resulted in a 40% reduction of their RMR points. 

Liazz

Gratisfaction

100 Thieves

Betting on CS:GO is not a new thing. The past 3-4 years have been explosive – but the start was actually around 15 years ago.

In the mid-00’s the most innovative of the sportsbetting companies took betting on eSport on – as a natural development in the years that also saw the introduction and growth of online casino, online poker, and live betting. One of the first companies to hire an eSport product manager was Bet24 (later to be bought by Unibet), and it was also Danes who 15 years launched the first online betting site with a firm focus on eSport betting: XLBet. XLBet focused on betting on Counterstrike 1.6 – but although the idea was good … it was too premature. No sports punters really took it on – and the computer nerds weren’t really a betting target group.

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XLBet with betting offers for ‘Counter-Strike 1.6’, ‘Counter-Strike Source’, and ‘Warcraft 3’

After the less successful start in the 00’s the interest – and success – rose up through the 10’s. The two main reasons for that has been the commercial growth of the online game CS:GO and the live coverage of the matches.

Commercial growth: One of the most important things in all sorts of betting is that the punters believe that the bet is fair and square. That the results can’t and wont be tampered. The forming of the big tournaments commercially – with big price pools – helped a lot. Now ‘the sport’ had games where punters were 100% sure that everyone wanted to win.

Live coverage: Back in the 00’s it was hard to follow the sport, players, teams and games. But with Twitch and also traditional online/tv medias interest in showing the best matches live … the betting became much more interesting. To bet on something – to get the full experience, you will have to watch it.

More and more betting companies now started real marketing efforts in order to grow betting on CS:GO (eSport). Even the State-owned companies. Again Denmark was in the front, and Danske Spil launched eOddset as a special brand variant of their sports betting brand, Oddset.

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The eSport betting brand of Oddset in Denmark

Due to the commercial growth of the sport and the unique livestream performances of Twitch and others – eSport (with CS:GO as the clear no. 1) now is the 4th or 5th most popular sport at most of the big sports betting companies.

Late in the 10’s and up until now the market has seen a number of new betting company who – like XLBet 15 years earlier – have a sole or prime focus on betting on eSport and CS:GO. Two of the biggest successes are GGBet and LootBet.

Although the bets on a CS:GO match obviously looks like the bets of a football match – the new eSport betting companies presents the bets in a way that speaks to the CS:GO punter and player.

Try to take a look for yourself at GGBet.

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Want to know more about the history of CS:GO betting? ✔️Find everything you need to know about CSGO betting right here

The History of CS:GO Betting ⇒ Read all about CSGO betting here

If you are looking for betting tips CSGO, then you have come to the right place! On our website, you will find tons of necessary information regarding CSGO betting. We will present you with some essential betting tips CSGO, statistics, best CSGO betting sites, basics, CSGO’s variety of betting markets, and much, much more. Stay tuned and be ready to become a CSGO betting expert, because that is what we are aiming for.

CSGO – The popular first-person shooter game

CSGO, or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is one of the most popular games that exist out there. But what is it all about? In the game of Counter-Strike, a team of Counter-Terrorists who are the ‘good guys’, oppose the Terrorists in-game and fight for victory. Today, CSGO is also an esports discipline, which means tournament organizers are arranging massive Arena tournaments all around the world, with huge prize pools that teams are fighting to get a share of. For example, the popular Valve Major Championships offers $1m prize pools. As you probably already know, those are serious amounts and it is not surprising that bookmakers don’t ignore CSGO. CSGO betting and the whole Esports industry is serious business and many people are risking their hard-earned money in hopes of making a profit.

What to keep in mind before betting in CSGO

Before we explain some betting tips for CSGO, we want to present you with an approach to mastering CSGO. It is by far the best thing to do before starting to bet on CSGO.

Which tournaments in CSGO are the most important ones?

When CSGO was released back in 2012, the game’s developer and publisher, better known as Valve, announced plans for the CSGO Majors. Even though the CSGO Major Championships are the ones who attracts the most viewers and amount of attention, you can still find betting tips CSGO for many other kinds of tournaments and leagues. The CSGO competition hierarchy can be difficult to understand and even confusing at times, so here are all the tiers you should now, consider betting on, or even finding betting tips CSGO to.

: CS:GO Major Championships, ESL One, DreamHack Masters, ESL Pro League, BLAST Premier. These are by far the most popular competitions in CSGO and the ones who feature the best of the best. Most of the time, they are all played exclusively online, and often have massive prize pools up to $1M.

 DreamHack Open, Continental Minors, Moche XL Esports, Champions CUP, ct_summit, Game Clash Arena. Most of these tournament lead to a spot in the Majors or other S-Tier event that are mentioned above.

Telia Esports Series, ESEA, Rainmaker Open, Gamers Club Masters, Elisa Invitational, ESL Masters Spain. When these tournaments are ongoing, you will be able to find more volatile odds from the bookmakers due to not all teams and players being well-known. Many think that the B-Tier CSGO events are the best ones to bet on.

Baltic Masters, 99Liga, LEGENDS.BET L33T Cup, Lantrek, OMG.BET Series. Mostly national leagues and qualifiers.

You will probably notice that nearly all CSGO betting tips are usually targeted at the best teams in CSGO. It is therefore important for you to know who’s the best in CS:GO, if you are interested in being able to win your CSGO bets. This knowledge about the best teams in CSGO will help you choose the proper risk-averse bets, which you need to be able to create a stable foundation.

-          Natus Vincere (s1mple, electronic, Boombl4, Perfecto, and B1T)

-          Gambit (Hobbit, inters, Ax1Le, sh1ro, and nafany)

-          G2 Esports (JACKZ, NiKo, huNter-, Aleksib, and m0NESY)

-          FaZe Clan (karrigan, rain, Twistzz, ropz, and broky)

-          Team Vitality (apEX, ZywOo, dupreeh, Magisk, and misutaa)

-          Virtus.pro (buster, Fl1T, Qikert, Jame, and YEKINDAR)

-          Heroic (cadiaN, refrezh, Stavn, TeSeS, and sjuush)

-          Ninjas in Pyjamas (es3tag, REZ, hampus, Plopski, and phzy)

-          Astralis (Xyp9x, Gla1ve, k0nfig, BlameF, and Farlig)

-          OG (valde, nexa, niko, mantuu, and flameZ)

-          Entropiq (NickelBack, Krad, Lack1, El1an, and Forester)

-          Berlin International Gaming – BIG (tabseN, tiziaN, syrsoN, k1to, and faveN)

-          Mousesports – MOUZ (NBK-, dexter, frozen, torszi, and Bymas)

-          FURIA (arT, yuurih, KSCERATO, saffee, and drop)

-          ENCE (Snappi, Maden, dycha, hades, and Spinx)

-          Fnatic (KRIMZ, ALEX, Brollan, mezii, and regali)

-          Copenhagen Flames (HooXi, nicoodoz, roeJ, jabbi, and Zyphon)

-          GODSENT (TACO, felps, dumau, b4rtiN, and latto)

-          K23 (neaLaN, xsepower, n0rb3r7, X5G7V, and fame)

-          forZe (Jerry, zorte, shalfey, KENSi, and Norwi)

-          HEET (body, Lucky, Djoko, Ex3rcice, and afro.

-          ECSTATIC (FASHR, Daffu, WolfY, birdfromsky, and maNkz)

-          Complexity (JT, floppy, Grim, Junior, and FaNg)

-          Wisla Krakow (SZPERO, snatchie, jedqr, Goofy, and Sobol)

-          Sprout (raalz, Spiidi, slaxz-, Marix, and Staehr)

-          Dignitas (f0rest, friberg, Lekr0, hallzerk, and HEAP)

-          GamerLegion (Zero, RuStY, iM, eraa, and isak)

-          Apeks (STYKO, AcilioN, jkaem, nawwk, chawzyyy)

-          SKADE (bubble, dream3r, SHiPZ, dennyslaw, and Rainwaker)

-          BLUEJAYS (stYleEez, dan1, CacaNito, kyxsan, and aidKiT)

As with all kinds of sports betting, there are naturally plenty of good tips and tricks the become a betting expert. We have collected some of the best betting tips CSGO right here:

First and foremost, it is important to understand that CSGO maps can have a massive effect on specific matches outcome. There are huge differences on maps and there are any similar to each other. Each map in the CSGO map pool is designed to give either one of the sides (CT or T) advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you need to pay attention to how teams are performing on each map, especially the team you want to bet on. This will give you a great insight in specific teams.

2. Study the strengths and weaknesses of a team

Get to know the teams you want to bet on! Every single team in CSGO has their own kind strengths and weaknesses. This is one of the best betting tips CSGO. Don’t just bet on a team without knowing their potential in-game. Then you will probably end up losing your bets and hard-earned money. Maximize your winning chances by studying teams. 

When you have got a clear understanding of the teams and maps in CSGO, then it is important to research about how good a specific team is on a map, for example Dust2. You will be able to find all kinds of statistics online of how good teams are on several maps in the CSGO map pool. This will help you qualify your CSGO bets.

Compare past match results between two teams

If you compare the past match results between two specific teams, you will get an understanding of which one of the teams usually plays best or who are most likely to win. You can also check out player stats to see if any player had a stellar performance that helped them secure the victory. What if the two teams haven’t ever played against each other before? Then compare their statistics against other teams.

Be aware of the format regarding a specific match

In CSGO, there are different kinds of formats in which the matches are played. Most of the times, the type of format can very well influence the result of the match. For example, the Bo1 (Best of One) format usually have an increased chance of an unexpected result, where the underdog steals away the victory. In most cases, Bo3 (Best of three) format has an increased chance of the favorite winning. The notorious Bo5 (Best of five) format offers a hard test for any team in CSGO. It is very difficult to be consistent across five different maps in CSGO.

Do you want some betting tips in CSGO to get the foundation for your betting in CSGO? ✔️Find everything you need to know about CSGO betting here

Betting tips CSGO ⇒ What to keep in mind before betting in CSGO

Then you have come to the right place! Right here in this article about CSGO live betting, we will help you become ready to start your CSGO live betting adventures. This article contains information about CSGO live betting, basics of CSGO, CSGO betting tips, and much more. Stay tuned because we are going to make sure that you become a CSGO live betting expert. Our aim is to help you understand how easy it actually is to live bet on CSGO.

CSGO live betting is a wonderful experience. It allows you to watch a CSGO match before placing your bets. You have a good opportunity to hear commentators from the analysis desk talk about the match, which sometimes can help you get a good understanding of how the match is going for a specific team or player.

Live betting is perhaps the biggest upgrade that ever has taken place in the world of sports and esports betting. Live betting involves placing bets after a match has started. This form of betting offers bettors the ultimate betting experience by letting them place bets in real time.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CSGO, is one of the most popular esports titles for live betting. This is due to a couple of reasons, including CSGO’s simplicity and lucidity in gameplay, and rules. To effectively live bet on CSGO, you must first research the teams in the game as well as their strengths and weaknesses. This will provide you with particular knowledge about how to overcome certain challenges during the live play.

CSGO live betting is the same as traditional sports live betting

You might think that CSGO live betting is a bit different compared to traditional sports live betting. But the truth is that it is actually just the same. As you slowly start getting used to watching CSGO matches, you will quickly find out that CSGO live betting is just the same as betting on any other traditional sports. Making a bet live bet on CSGO or winning your live bet is exactly the same as making or winning a traditional live sports bet. One of the biggest advantages of CSGO live betting is that it is much more interactive with live-streaming, social media, CS communities and more from the CSGO betting bookmakers that makes CSGO betting a good experience for every single one of their users. There plenty of popular tournaments in CSGO with huge prize pools – You can live bet on every one of them.

This is one of the most important things! All your strategies and live bets get thrown in the water if you aren’t dealing with a trusted and well-known bookmaker, who takes great care of his customers. It is absolutely crucial to choose a bookmaker who is trusted, reputable, and offers quick and safe payment options, as well as good coverage of CSGO tournaments.

Things to keep in mind when live betting on CSGO

Here are some of the most important things you should keep in mind when CSGO live betting:

There are some great opportunities to make profit on CSGO live betting. Here are some of the methods:

 Many CSGO live betting sites will not provide you with the opportunity to round bet on live CSGO matches. But you should definitely take advantage of those who will. Be aware, that if you want to place your bets on round betting, you should study how the CSGO economy works. In general, bookmakers will only provide round betting on the third or fourth upcoming round, but towards the end of the match, the CSGO betting odds will start to get sloppy. This is when your understanding of the economy pays off. For example, if one side is losing a given round and previous rounds have been back and forth with neither one of the team being able to establish a good economy, it is logical to think that the side that loses the round will most likely save their weapons, or die in worst case. This essentially indicates that the losing team has between $1400 and $1900 to buy weapons with and simply can’t afford rifles. Your knowledge of the game should also tell you

 If you are a CSGO fan, you have probably been a witness for many comebacks in professional CSGO matches, or maybe even pulled off some insane comebacks on the server. The same with professional CSGO players. Especially, those who have played a lot on the maps where one side of the map is heavily favored compared to the other. On Nuke, for example, the CT-side is heavily favored, just as it is on Inferno. On the other hand, CT-side of Train is also a lot stronger than the T-side. In terms of betting, teams often don’t mind when only winning around 4-6 rounds on Nuke for example. That is a lot of rounds to work with, and most of the teams believe in their abilities to turn it around on the favored side. Be aware that it is not smart to go big with halftime odds. They are not as secure as round betting, but it is still a good way to make some profit on CSGO live betting.

How much should I start CSGO live betting with?

Starting out with an amount that you are willing to lose if everything goes wrong is a very good idea. Then you will know when to stop if you set a specific amount in your mind. For some people, this is $150, while for others, it is $5. Make sure you are comfortable with the amount you are starting with, so you can afford to lose if your CSGO live bet goes wrong. If you end up losing the full amount on CSGO live betting, you should consider taking a break for at least a week before returning to CSGO live betting. You should be able to handle losses at all times!

What should a good CSGO live betting site offer?

Every CSGO live betting site should provide you with plenty of different CSGO live matches to choose from. They should not limit you to only Major events for example. You should only live bet on CSGO live betting sites that are offering CSGO live betting on many different leagues and events. Due to the reason that you are looking for the best odds on CSGO live betting, you should only sign up at bookmakers who offer numerous odds on all kind of CSGO matches.

- Losing is a part of CSGO live betting, never get tilted when losing

Many bettors prefer CSGO live betting because of how exciting and interesting it is, but because of how profitable the bets actually are. The benefits of CSGO live betting are quite numerous; go on and experience it yourself.

One of the most important things to understand, like with all other types of casinos and betting, is that winning every single bet is nearly impossible. Tilting is a poker slang term that refers to when a player becomes frustrated or angry following a run of losses. Tilting causes you to make poor decisions, which you should never do and should avoid at all costs when live betting in CSGO. After a few defeats, even the most experienced and accurate CSGO live betting experts can end up losing their cool. Due to emotional and irrational bet decisions, this frequently results in a losing streak.

Here are a few pros and cons to CSGO live betting:

- Allows bets before big momentum shifts on the server

To live bet on CSGO matches or gamble in general, you must be over at least +18 years old. CSGO live betting can lead to addiction, so if you feel like you have a gambling problem, you should seek professional help. Play responsibly, and bet with your mind rather than your heart. Play only with money you can afford to lose; CSGO live betting should be enjoyable, not harmful.

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CSGO Live Betting ⇒ Learn more about live betting in CSGO here

Are you looking for some proper CSGO betting advice that will help you when betting in CSGO? Then you have come to the right place! On Pley.gg you can find a useful CSGO betting section filled with information and CSGO betting advice.

CSGO betting is not any different from traditional sports betting. Right below you can find some good CSGO betting advice that will help you become a CSGO betting expert.

- Get used to winning and losing your CSGO bets. This CSGO betting advice is one of the most important ones that you absolutely have to stick to. You probably think it is easy, but many people who at some point hit a losing streak will often get tilted and cannot control their emotions. This often results in losing bets. If you are able to control your emotions and don’t get tilted, you will most likely succeed. Always stay calm and focused.

- Do the necessary research. Never be lazy. If you are interested in becoming a CSGO betting expert, you have to do research and invest your time into it. Here are some things that you should research about when you want to bet on CSGO matches: Team form, map pool, past matches, odds comparison, and head-to-head.

- Learn about CSGO. If you haven’t played the game yet and don’t know anything about it, you will never succeed with your CSGO bets. Get an understanding of different aspects of the game, economy, weapons, statistic etc. You can read everything about CSGO here on our website.

- Find proper odds. This is a very important CSGO betting advice that will help you make profit from CSGO betting. You probably think that slightly better odds don’t mean anything, but over time you will realize how much money you have missed out on.

Live betting is when you make a bet whilst a match is already ongoing. This type of betting has been around for many years, but it is relatively new to the world of CSGO. For many CSGO bettor, CSGO live betting is even more exciting than placing your bets before kick-off. CSGO live betting provides CSGO bettors with a great opportunity to make more profitable CSGO bets. You might be able to figure out which team has the upper hand if you wait and observe how the early rounds play out, and then bet based on that bit of information. There is a chance that the odds for CSGO live betting markets will not be as excellent as they were before kick-off, but your chances may actually be better. The conclusion is, that CSGO live betting provides a good opportunity for CSGO bettors to bet on different game outcomes. This can definitely increase your excitement when you are watching a CSGO match.

- Pros: You can take advantage of the momentum shift in-game. Bet on higher odds when favorites are behind. You can also bet on the winners of individual rounds.

- Cons: Fewer CSGO betting markets than traditional sports betting.

Live betting and esports – A good match

Live betting and esports are like a match made in heaven. Many people really enjoy to live bet on esports titles such as CSGO. Some of the reasons for this might be that it is very exciting to watch CSGO live and everybody have the opportunity for making profits while the game is ongoing. Nearly all bookmakers will allow you to place live bets on any esports title.

If you search on the internet, you will always be able to find plenty of CSGO betting advice, and there is a good chance that you might even get overwhelmed by all of the CSGO betting advice when researching. On Reddit, a lot of people are discussing CSGO betting advice and predictions. By reading the CSGO betting advice threads you will get an understanding of all the important factors that can influence the outcome of a CSGO match.

If you are interested in starting your journey with CSGO live betting, then it only makes sense that you start watching the matches live on Twitch or any other streaming platform. CSGO matches and tournaments are being live-streamed every single day on different platforms. Twitch is typically the best plays to stream CSGO matches.

Nearly all of the tournament organizers stream all the CSGO matches from their events on Twitch. But in some rare cases, you may need to look for tournaments like ESL on Facebook. Another option that is available for CSGO live streaming, is through bookmaker’s website. Some bookies like Pinnacle, offers CSGO live streams on their website.

On Pley.gg you will find a wonderful CSGO betting section, filled with CSGO betting advice, tips, information, and much, much more. What are you waiting for? Jump over to our CSGO betting selecting right now!

A good CSGO betting advice - Only bet at trusted bookmakers

It is very important that you only bet on CSGO at trusted bookmakers, who have a good reputation in the esports industry. All of the CSGO betting advice that you have read about and strategies will get thrown right in the water if you are not betting at a trusted bookmaker. Some shady bookmakers do not take care of their customers and it is therefore very important that you select a bookie, who is reputable, offers great customer service, quick payment options, and good event coverage.

Proper CSGO betting advice can literally change your future when it comes to CSGO betting. If you do your research and have knowledge about the game, you will increase your chances of profiting from CSGO betting very quickly. Since CSGO is a rather complex game, there is a lot for you to learn as a CSGO bettor. Especially, if you don’t know anything about it or haven’t played the game. Study about the game’s economy and other important things. And make sure to analyze every single CSGO match you want to bet on.

- Make your own CSGO odds and compare to other bookmakers

A great piece of CSGO betting advice would be to never overthink your bets, especially the ones that are already placed. Doing good research on a CSGO match, planning your CSGO bets, and comparing relevant statistics and information is one thing, but overthinking your bets is a different pair of shoes. It is obviously a no-go. Overthinking your bets can make you counter them, which is a horrible idea. In most cases it will drive you crazy and make you lose bets. Always keep things simple and don’t overthink too much.

If you don’t know anything about bankroll management, now is the time to learn! Trust us when we say that you need to understand proper bankroll management. It will give you a whole new perspective on CSGO betting. In other words, bankroll management is the betting strategy that will change the way you bet. The principle is straightforward and very simple to understand.

Betting in CSGO and other esports titles requires knowledge and in-depth understanding, especially if you want to succeed in your CSGO betting endeavors. The learning process of CSGO betting is ongoing and never-ending. When learning the most important things about CSGO betting, you will quickly improve with practice. Pley.gg are here to provide you with all the proper tools to help you develop the skills necessary for becoming a good CSGO bettor.

If you are looking for even more CSGO betting advice or any other type of information regarding CSGO betting, then head over to our CSGO betting selection on our website, which include all kinds of information, tips, and tricks for CSGO betting. Be prepared to becoming a CSGO betting expert. Remember that gambling is only for people over 18 years.

We will give you usefull CSGO betting advice ✔️ Become a betting expert with our relevant betting advices for CSGO

CSGO Betting Advice ⇒ Get the best betting advices for CSGO here

Aaron “AZR” Ward is finally back in competitive CS:GO following a lengthy break on the sideline. With the transfer to Sprout, the Aussie veteran once again got the chance to lead a team to lead as we have seen him do at Renegades, 100 Thieves and EXTREMUM.

510 days to be exact had passed before we again saw him again compete in the higher tiers of Counter-Strike. A hiatus he’s used to visiting relatives and family down under and preparing for his long-awaited comeback.

- While it was nice to have a breather and reground myself, I’m really happy to be playing again, AZR says to Pley and continues:

- The break gave me a lot of opportunities to visit family in Australia for a longer period of time compared to the usual 1-2 weeks back home. I also spent quite a bit of time working on my mental health which was rewarding. So, after all this time, I’m definitely feeling motivated and ready to get back into the game.

On Sprout, AZR joins a super young squad embodied in the promising teenage trio of lauNX (17), Staehr (18), and Zyphon (18) with the Romanian AWPer XELLOW (22) rounding off the roster. Despite the age difference for the 30-year-old IGL, he still believes he has a thing or two to learn.

- It's a breath of fresh air that's for sure. They are all young, skilled and highly motivated which motivates me even more. I definitely think the potential is great within the team and with hard work and motivation I think we can take it very far… I almost feel like a youthful student of the game again which is quite reinvigorating.

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AZR explains in the interview with us that the deal between him and Sprout was decided after only a couple of practice days and a meeting with the team. Here all parties felt a good connection and “luckily we all wanted to move forward together”, he describes.

But he also notes that it’s a different task that awaits him now compared to his previous tenures at Renegades, 100 Thieves, and EXTREMUM.

- I first stepped into the role of IGL when I played on Renegades - A team that I had been playing with for years at that time. So, when I started in- game leading I had the advantage of knowing the players very well. I knew their strengths and weaknesses which is a key to being a good IGL in my book. This is the first time in my career that I’m faced with a new challenge of leading a new team who I need to get to know. I need to know how they play in order to lead most efficiently.

- This is also the first time I’m on an international team so I need to get used to the communication. All in all, excited to see what the future holds.

[image:{"source":"cloudinary","publicId":"players/staehr_Sprout_klicrr","originalWidth":2048,"originalHeight":1152,"customWidth":"100%","customHeight":"100%","cloudinaryAssetData":true,"cloudName":"pley-gg","format":"jpg","caption":"Credit: PGL"}]

Where he previously has had the comfort of leading a majority of Oceanic players, AZR now has to navigate between having a couple of Danes and Romanians each in his arsenal (Staehr at PGL Major Antwerp RMR)

We also asked him about his own individual level and how he has kept an eye on the CS:GO meta while being back.

- Watching cs and playing cs are two vastly different things. While I have been able to watch and learn about the meta now, I need to be able to play it. I'm currently putting in a lot of hours playing and watching Counter-Strike. Also getting a lot of input from BERRY who is catching me up on the meta a lot. I definitely think I can learn a lot from the team and its players… it’s been interesting to see how the meta has shifted in just the last 18 months.

[slugORMA:{"slug":"sprout-bench-former-in-game-leader","isNewTab":true}]

lauNX

Staehr

Zyphon

XELLOW

Sprout

Renegades

EXTREMUM

Yesterday Aaron “AZR” Ward was revealed as Sprout’s new in-game leader marking a long-awaited comeback to competitive CS:GO for the Australian veteran who have been on the sideline since October 2021.

[slugORMA:{"slug":"sprout-reveal-azr-new-in-game-leader","isNewTab":true}]

We have spoken with the renowned CS:GO expert and analyst Aleksandar "kassad" Trifunović who believes Sprout has made a great pick up signing AZR among other candidates in their trial period.

- Sprout made the correct decision picking AZR. He has been a free agent for some time, and he seems to enjoy being the in-game leader, kassad says although the 30-year-old coach may need some time to adapt, he explains.

- It’s going to take some time for him to come back for sure. I don’t think it’s going to be too long as Aaron tends to be very switched on when he is motivated. 

[image:{"source":"cloudinary","publicId":"Gamle billeder/kassad_csgo_uhfw3e","originalWidth":1920,"originalHeight":1080,"customWidth":"100%","customHeight":"100%","cloudinaryAssetData":true,"cloudName":"pley-gg","format":"jpg","caption":"Credit: Igor Bezborodov and StarLadder"}]

kassad has a deep knowledge of AZR after having worked together on several teams

As earlier mentioned, AZR has been away from the scene for quite some time following his benching on EXTREMUM. Something kassad explains like this.

- His issue was that he wasn't very engaged on social media, which made people somewhat forget about him. He certainly has another 2-3 years as IGL in him, so I'm very happy to see him back in action.

kassad then goes on to discuss AZR’s way of thinking Counter-Strike and how he sees this new look Sprout team.

- We have worked together for more than a few years and I think he has a very good understanding of the game and the meta - whatever the meta might be. He likes combining loose style with structure and that’s why we had a good thing going on.

- This Sprout roster has kind of grown on me in time and I think there is some potential there in those youngsters where Aaron's experience only helps that, kassad concludes.

[slugORMA:{"slug":"refrezh-was-lot-disagreement-how-manage-structure-team","isNewTab":true}]

Encore Esports Club, formerly known as LookingForOrg, has announced that Aaron “AZR” Ward and Sean "Gratisfaction" Kaiwai will be standing in for the Aussies at the Oceanic RMR for the Rio Major.

The profiled duo is therefore set to return to the pro scene after not having played a single official match since October last year.

AZR and Gratisfaction have gathered a lot of tier-1 experience so far in their career with the two having represented teams like Renegades, 100 Thieves, and most recently EXTREMUM. At the latter, they were released from their duties back in October together with Hansel "BnTeT" Ferdinand, Joakim "jkaem" Myrbostad and Jay "Liazz" Tregillgas after failing to qualify for the PGL Major in Stockholm. 

The roster eventually decided to split up with AZR and Gratisfaction being the only players to not have found a new team. 

[slugORMA:{"slug":"extremum-bench-entire-roster","isNewTab":true}]

Encore Esports Club will field the following players at the upcoming Oceanic RMR:

{cflag:AU} Aaron “AZR” Ward (stand-in)

{cflag:NZ} Sean "Gratisfaction" Kaiwai (stand-in)

Encore

LookingForOrg

In an interview with Betway, Australian rifler Justin "jks" Savage is asked multiple questions about his opinions on topics regarding Counter-Strike and his personal life. The 25-year-old was signed for Complexity Gaming as a replacement for "oBo" after the young American was removed from the roster. You can read more about "oBo"'s recent release from Complexity Gaming here: 

[link:{"url":"https://pley.gg/news/complexity-part-ways-with-young-american/"}]

When asked about the importance of a good diet when competing on a professional level in Counter-Strike, "jks" answers: 

"For me, it is pretty important. I like having fewer things to worry about when I'm playing so it is nice to have routines, in the morning for example. It is nice to have some things to activate myself and get my body warm." 

Whilst not having found his previous form yet at Complexity, "jks" is by many people considered to be the best Australian player Counter-Strike has to offer. When asked about who his favorite player from Australia is, he points towards his former teammate Jay "Liazz" Tregillgas and explains: 

Nowadays I would say "Liazz". He has the ability to become a really good player. Mechanically he is extremely gifted and he is just really good to watch." 

To learn more about "jks" and his opinions watch the full interview right here: 

compLexity Gaming

After months of speculation it is finally revealed that the former four players from 100 Thieves in Aaron "AZR" Ward, Joakim "jkaem" Myrbostad, Jay "Liazz" Tregillgas, and Sean "Gratisfaction" Kaiwai once again are going to be reunited, only this time with the addition of Hansel "BnTeT" Ferdinand who replaces Justin "jks" Savage's place. 

Alongside the acquisition of a new roster, Extremum have also announced that the players' former Head Coach Aleksandar "kassad" Trifunović will be joining the organization. In-game, however, it is going to be "AZR" who is calling the shots. The 28-year-old is not without any experience as he was also the in-game leader of the 100 Thieves roster. 

"AZR" explains in a statement regarding the news, how moving to Europe is part of the upcoming plans for the new roster: 

"They offered me the chance to help them put together a team and I accepted the offer. It has already been a great joy working with them and seeing what their vision for the brand is great." 

He furthermore expresses his eagerness to get back into the professional Counter-Strike scene as well as now competing against some of the best teams in the world in Europe: 

"I am so excited to play CS with my good old teammates Liazz, Grats, Jkaem, and kassad, and with our new teammate BnTeT, who will be a great addition to the team. We're looking forward to playing in Europe and grinding against the best in the world. The boys are back!"

Aleksandar "kassad" Trifunović (Head Coach) 

BnTeT

jkaem

Apeks announces that they have signed jkaem from 100 Thieves. jkaem has signed a 3-year deal ending in 2023 with the rest of the contract being undisclosed for now, but his agent Asgeir Kvalvik clarifies that “there has never been any agreement close to this magnitude in the Norwegian esports scene before”

The Norwegian star reveals that his plans for the future was to move back to Norway at some point, but didn’t know when it would happen. He explains how the dissolution of 100 Thieves helped him make the decision of coming home. jkaem further explains how “Apeks came with an offer that I was happy with …” and also how “the idea of contributing to help the Norwegian esports scene became the deciding factor”.

Anders Kjær, Director of sports at Apeks is very happy to have signed a big player like jkaem and believes that he will have a huge impact on the team. Kjær believes jkaem’s experience will be an extremely important factor going forward with a certain “know-how around how to become the best, both as a team and as individual players.

jkaem has previously played for big teams like G2, FaZe and Renegades, and this transfer will therefore on paper look like a step down the ladder, but jkaem is optimistic and believes that there is room for Apeks at the top of CS:GO. 

Apeks

A match up which on paper looks really close, with two teams both in good shape.

100 Thieves picked Nuke as the first map, which should prove out to be a very good decision. The Australian thieves had a lightning start to the game, producing a nearly perfect CT-sided first half that resulted in a 13-2 score at half time. They closed the map in confident style through a masterclass performance from Gratisfaction who put up a 1.98 rating and a 34-12 K/D.

The Second map on Inferno was much closer and the Brazilians began to show their true colors and managed to take avoid the 0-2 start by winning 16-14. On Vertigo, FURIA dismantled the 100 Thieves’ side and took no prisoners by beating them by 16-4.

Mirage was no different. FURIA with arT at the wheel ran over the thieves, putting the last nail in the coffin for the Australian roster. A strong CT-side conducted by their mastermind in-game leader helped the Brazilians to an 11-4 half time score. After the side-swap, 100 Thieves looked like a team ready to make the comeback. Their star player Justin “jks” Savage stepped up with crucial kills and helped them close the gap to FURIA to only 3 rounds. Although the good effort, did FURIA prove out to be too strong, and they closed the game 16-11, which means they now are qualified for IEM Global Challenge later this year.

This concludes the storytelling of 100 Thieves with this being their last tournament as an organization. A telling of a team that has brought many high points, but then again with a feeling of an unfulfilled potential.

FURIA

The grand final for IEM New York NA is set, with FURIA and 100 Thieves clashing in a bo5. IEM New York CIS features some intriguing group stage matches with only two rounds to go before the playoff.

You can see the full schedule here (CEST):

Russian esports organization rumoured to sign prominent Australian trio

The three remaining 100 Thives players have yet to find a new team.

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AZR after joining Sprout: I almost feel like a youthful student

kassad on the return of AZR: It’s going to take some time for him to come back for sure

AZR and Gratisfaction are back in action!

Video: Get to know "jks" better

Extremum announces roster featuring former 100 Thieves core and "BnTeT"

Russian esports organization rumoured to sign prominent Australian trio

Norwegian star heads home

FURIA wins IEM New York NA in confident style

Today in CS:GO - Sunday 18th 2020

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