Episode 58 — IEM Rio Review, Vitality's Grand Slam, and FalleN's Retirement

[BanKs] What is going on everybody?

[BanKs] We are back for episode 58 of the All About Counter-Strike podcast.

[BanKs] Thank you very much for joining us for another episode over here.

[BanKs] I'm going to do the usual and get this out of the way nice and fast.

[BanKs] It is the 24th of April, 2026.

[BanKs] It is 3.13 in the afternoon for me, which means it is 4.13 for Devwalk over in Sweden.

[BanKs] You actually look like you got some sun.

[BanKs] That's pretty good.

[BanKs] You look like you're in a bright part of Sweden right now.

[Devilwalk] It's like gray cloudy outside, so yeah.

[BanKs] He's looking out like,

[BanKs] Okay, in your room, it looks nice.

[BanKs] So I'll give you that it looked better than maybe what it actually is.

[BanKs] But that's a positive for you.

[BanKs] I'll start with you because I think you kind of know half of what I've been up to for the previous time before the last episode.

[BanKs] What have you been up to since our crazy episode where we had to fill everything in?

[BanKs] Oh, yeah, actually, let me just say this.

[BanKs] after we had such a blunder for the previous episode we have now changed software we have brand new software that we're trying for this episode we're also recording on discord audio yeah we're double checking so we never have to do that hellish program thing again

[Devilwalk] Double, yeah.

[Devilwalk] Double recording on voice.

[Devilwalk] Dude, I... That was such hell.

[Devilwalk] I think we started... What was it?

[Devilwalk] We started gathering to record around like 16?

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah.

[Devilwalk] Like it's around 4?

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] I think I went to bed at four in the night because we had to, like, it's such a crazy ordeal to listen to our guests' mics, write down what you said and dub yourself in the middle of the night.

[BanKs] lip reading what i was saying as well as what you were doing you were pretty good at that that was that was impressive on its own but i will say like that that made me so angry like that the software would screw us like that something didn't work when everything was fine on all the other platforms so yeah

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] unlucky old program you have been removed we're trying this new program and hopefully it's better hopefully the quality is better throughout so what have you been up to mate the last week or so it's been a while isn't it when did we do last episode let me check

[Devilwalk] yeah yeah so I mean to make a long story short the local hockey team of my city Umeå it's called Björklöven and it basically mean I think

[BanKs] White dotted trees, that's fine.

[Devilwalk] What's the white dotted trees in English?

[Devilwalk] Either way, it's Björken in Swedish.

[BanKs] I can take that.

[Devilwalk] Or black dotted white tree is probably more accurate.

[Devilwalk] But this local hockey team has been struggling.

[BanKs] Okay.

[Devilwalk] When I was a kid, they used to be in the upper tiers of Swedish hockey.

[Devilwalk] And for the past 25 years, they haven't been in the upper tier.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] So I was a kid that was like 9, 10.

[Devilwalk] The last time I saw them play the top tier of hockey league in Sweden.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] And now they've been in the final of promotion, you know, like a promotion final.

[Devilwalk] They went to playoff, they won 4-0 because it's best of seven in hockey.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] Quarterfinals, best of seven, semifinal, best of seven, final is best of seven.

[BanKs] Jeez.

[BanKs] Versus having the same day.

[BanKs] Okay.

[Devilwalk] No, no, no.

[Devilwalk] One day rest and then game.

[Devilwalk] One day rest, game.

[Devilwalk] One day rest, game.

[BanKs] Wow.

[BanKs] That's hardcore.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] So I've been watching every other day hockey, essentially.

[Devilwalk] My girlfriend's brother plays in our local hockey team and has been a really, really good player for the team throughout the season and in the playoff.

[BanKs] Decent So he's like a local hero Mm-hmm

[Devilwalk] So it's obviously, yeah, so it's been like a huge deal for us as well for like going to games, watching and supporting him.

[Devilwalk] And they finally made it up to the first division, winning the final four series games.

[Devilwalk] They only lost one playoff game.

[BanKs] That's decent.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] So they were miles above the rest of them.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, they were dominating.

[Devilwalk] It was beautiful to watch.

[Devilwalk] My girlfriend's brother scored in the final game.

[Devilwalk] Two goals, one assist.

[BanKs] Nice.

[Devilwalk] So it was pretty hype.

[Devilwalk] So yeah, I've been watching hockey and later today and tomorrow, because when they came home from the final, they were like swarmed at the airport, 4,000 people, they had to get police escort, everything, because it's such a big deal for the city.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] So this weekend I'm going and celebrating with him and yeah so we're actually on a time limit here doing this episode so that I can join celebrations.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] we're on a time before people arrive yep well that's perfectly fine that does sound like a very good reason to celebrate that's awesome for me i'm gonna start by doing this right i'm just gonna go my life has been nothing but this for the past week or so that obviously and baby trees and everything else

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah, I went to LA for Dragon Ball Battle Hour.

[BanKs] This was like a movie, bro.

[BanKs] This was the most excited I've been since working Counter-Strike events.

[BanKs] I can't compare this.

[BanKs] I've done Apex.

[BanKs] I've done Dota.

[BanKs] I've done PUBG.

[BanKs] Nothing else was exciting.

[BanKs] Counter-Strike has been the pinnacle for so long.

[BanKs] This was on the same level because like eight year old me could never imagine that this was going to be a real thing.

[Devilwalk] That's where I wanted to kind of come to.

[Devilwalk] Like, how was it like almost being a fanboy working the event itself?

[BanKs] yeah dude this was like being back when i was still a fan of like you know heating and spawn when i was doing some of those early 1.6 events so when i say events i was just a journalist right but like i then got to work with them at zowie and stuff but i was like a mega fan like these are all the players i looked up to and then suddenly you're working with them yeah

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] i haven't felt that for a long time like i am a fan of manasi i am a fan of zywoo and stuff yeah but i feel like i'm old enough now where i'm not trying to be them i'm not trying to be as good as them at the game you know where it was different in the old days i wanted to be like a spawn or a heat and you know like play as good as them but now it's like i just respect their game and i keep it professional

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] where this was i'm invited so to explain what battle hour is battle hour is basically dragon ball games as a convention in america and also had some of the anime releases i've made a video log for my dragon ball channel i also have a dragon ball youtube

[Devilwalk] Is there like a lot of people cosplaying at these events?

[Devilwalk] Because that's a huge thing in America, right?

[BanKs] a few people that's normally though saved for the one where it's actually like the comic and anime expo because this is more the gaming one it's less of that like the gaming people are more want to play

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] So obviously, you know, I played that game with you, right?

[BanKs] Gekishin Squadra, new Dragon Ball game.

[BanKs] We had the biggest booth there.

[BanKs] I was commentating it all weekend long.

[BanKs] We had the most people, like the biggest queues for the whole thing.

[BanKs] Like there was nothing bigger at this place than Gekishin.

[BanKs] So obviously Bandai are pushing it hard, but also I'm working it.

[BanKs] And just, I'll tell you how crazy this was.

[BanKs] Toshi...

[BanKs] Japanese producer.

[BanKs] He's now the chief producer of the game.

[Devilwalk] like you say our like it's your team now

[BanKs] He's a legend of like Bandai, been there for eight years, worked on all the successful Dragon Ball mobile games.

[BanKs] He's now our chief producer.

[BanKs] So on the Saturday, I didn't know this was happening.

[BanKs] They invite...

[BanKs] it would tell you this here this is wild right i go out on i go out to the event and i'm thinking i'm just going to commentate like whatever the show matches what happens was on the main stage in front of everyone in the arena they're like and please welcome onto the stage chief producer toshi massive roar blah blah blah

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Then they introduced me as lead commentator Banks.

[BanKs] And it's just me and him on stage doing stuff with fans, commentating a game, explaining it to people and stuff like...

[Devilwalk] Okay.

[BanKs] It was such a surreal experience.

[BanKs] Then people were coming up to me afterwards and they were like, thank you so much for like putting your time into this game.

[BanKs] And I'm like, guys, I did not make the game.

[BanKs] That's all Toshi.

[BanKs] Like all I did, like I signed some things and then I said to the people, I'm like,

[BanKs] i'm just commentate right and they're like yeah but like you're you're involved in the dragon ball community so like it was a different i didn't expect anyone to want pictures or autographs like what happens at cs events here at a dragon ball event but the community is like they love the game that much right they love dragon ball as an ip and what it is

[BanKs] So yeah, for me, it was awesome.

[BanKs] It was, it was difficult though, because like you fly to America, you work the next day, you fly back like two days later.

[BanKs] So it's like a quick, it's not like a,

[Devilwalk] yeah it's pretty rough yep he's part of the podcast now

[BanKs] yeah like it's rough on the jet lag then coming back and being back on baby duties and stuff and i don't know if you can hear leo in the background but he is sleeping a lot less he's definitely part of the podcast he's sleeping a little bit less at the moment you know we're still growing for all this stuff so i'm still very tired very tired

[BanKs] So let's go through all the things we got to talk about within today's episode.

[BanKs] So first thing we're going to do is an IEM Rio review and looking at everything that happened there.

[BanKs] Some of it is no surprises at all.

[BanKs] Others are some positive surprises.

[BanKs] I saw a lot up until playoffs.

[BanKs] So I had it on mostly the whole time until we got to playoffs.

[BanKs] And then what happened when we got to playoffs was more, there was Dragon Ball going on at the same time.

[Devilwalk] I mean, I'll be honest.

[Devilwalk] I'll be honest.

[Devilwalk] I did not watch all of the Vitality games.

[Devilwalk] I kind of just assumed that they would win all their games.

[BanKs] That's fine.

[BanKs] If there's any games you want to skip, I'll accept that you can skip their games.

[BanKs] That's no problem at all.

[Devilwalk] So I watched mostly Spirit.

[Devilwalk] I found them to be the most interesting team to kind of delve into because last episode we spoke about this like hypothetical.

[BanKs] Oh, yeah.

[Devilwalk] Now that Halle is gone, will this actually make people play better CS just because they don't,

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] I don't know what it is, if they're afraid of him or respect him too much that they kind of tunnel vision into his ideas and don't play Counter-Strike as an individual themselves.

[BanKs] Some people did.

[BanKs] It's not good though if you're afraid of your coach, right?

[Devilwalk] But it can be, it can be.

[BanKs] But you don't want that, do you?

[Devilwalk] I mean, I don't want that, but I'm not from this CIS or Eastern European region, so I don't know what they want.

[BanKs] You've been a coach?

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah.

[BanKs] Eastern Europe.

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Devilwalk] Maybe that's what they want.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Perform or else.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] i mean it's like dust on i can't kick them yet it's a bad bad situation but yeah more focused spirit

[BanKs] That's not what's happening.

[BanKs] No.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] I wish we got some Hallie interviews like that.

[BanKs] I know you mentioned that.

[BanKs] I need to not take us off track too much anyway.

[BanKs] So I understand what you've been watching.

[BanKs] I understand what you saw with it all.

[BanKs] I'm getting it.

[BanKs] yeah more focus for it okay so oh there's one thing i want to do as well for everyone watching by the way i just want to bring this little graphic up it says um from subscribers there is for people who watch our podcast first of all thank you for everyone who does watch but

[BanKs] Over 62% of people watching aren't subscribed.

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[BanKs] We're not asking for anything.

[BanKs] We just ask that you just hit that subscribe button.

[BanKs] Hit the subscribe button.

[BanKs] Turn notifications on if you want or not.

[BanKs] you're watching the videos anyway but the subs mean a lot this means more people will get the channel it gets recommended there's the algorithm and all this stuff that we're we're trying to understand we've been doing this for over a year now so yeah if you are one of the 62 that are not subscribed please hit that subscribe button and then we'll get into our rio preview

[Devilwalk] Don't be a 62%er.

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] don't be a 62 percenter i like the way you frame that okay so let's go down from bottom to top as we always do right i think some because of the time restraint we don't need to go too much into this like gentlemates was not a team we had that would perform very well you know um they

[Devilwalk] I mean, they have some upset potential.

[Devilwalk] They're very momentum-based, but the quality of teams, it's rough.

[BanKs] They're good at getting a map.

[BanKs] They're good at getting a map.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] They won Inferno against G2.

[BanKs] They won Ancient against Redken.

[BanKs] Honestly, though, I will say...

[BanKs] We'll go on to Red Canids later, but it is bad for gentlemen who are fighting tough European opposition.

[BanKs] And we saw them back at the Star Ladder event last year, Star Series one, right?

[Devilwalk] They were impressive.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Where they started to look like a team that could be capable.

[BanKs] Losing to Red Canids where you should be a level above them.

[BanKs] doesn't show me that you're on the right track like you're improving enough you know yep

[Devilwalk] oh probably not i mean uh it's tough because i don't even know the level of red canids if i'm completely honest they're kind of to me like a little bit of a bunch of rejects joined together um

[Devilwalk] But I mean that in not a super negative way, because like I remember we were called a bunch of rejects when we had no chance.

[BanKs] Okay, good.

[Devilwalk] And to some degree and some extent, it's the truth.

[Devilwalk] They've been in bigger teams.

[BanKs] Oh, yeah.

[Devilwalk] They've been in positions where they've been dropped and changed to improve the main lineup.

[Devilwalk] And now they've joined together to kind of prove people wrong.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] So that's kind of how I view them.

[Devilwalk] gentlemen I don't know I don't expect much in this kind of tournament it's too hard a position the group phase is difficult because there's only three spots and there's like four pretty great teams in every group yeah

[BanKs] It was a stacked event.

[BanKs] It was definitely a stacked event.

[BanKs] If you're one of these bottom teams, your chance is very low.

[BanKs] That can bring us quite nicely onto Liquid.

[BanKs] Now, how harsh do we get on Liquid considering Malbs has been there just over a month now?

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Like, I'm not going to fault them losing to Spirit, but I'm not going to be positive about the fact they pushed Spirit on Dust2 because we've seen Spirit in recent times have some problems on Dust2.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] i remember this is a spirit without hallie but then you lose the 3d max after you lose the overtime map yeah then you lose your pick 13-5 that shows to me that like there was no reset there was no rebound there was no confidence in each other and how you want to play

[Devilwalk] I mean...

[Devilwalk] i feel like because of obviously the whole major situation and everything and and them swapping i've kind of toned down on my defense give liquid time right now uh i felt like we've given them that excuse for quite a long time and it's time to start performing

[BanKs] Okay Yeah Mm-hmm

[Devilwalk] It's not good enough, you know?

[Devilwalk] How long has Shuei and this roster actually been together?

[Devilwalk] He's been there a year now.

[Devilwalk] A year.

[Devilwalk] A literal year.

[Devilwalk] Yes, Elisha six months ago, but there's still plenty of time to make sure like one lineup change to Malbz is not, you know, changing everything about this team.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] It's not good enough to start giving them excuses.

[Devilwalk] I think they need to perform better.

[Devilwalk] They need to be in a situation where they actually start picking up maps and not being close to picking up maps.

[Devilwalk] Obviously, they had a pretty decent Dust 2 against Spirit, against 3D Max, a pretty decent Nuke, an overtime loss, but that's not good enough.

[BanKs] but i don't like that they lose i don't like it when they lose in overtime right and then if i was to put the players pound for pounds yeah considering 3d max also don't have the strongest in-game leader

[BanKs] You would still, if you put the player names up front and the quality of players, you would put Liquid over 3D Max.

[BanKs] But we know by looking at what 3D Max have done in recent times, recent events, they're still a better team.

[BanKs] But I just expected more and I expected you not to get dominated on your map pick afterwards.

[BanKs] Like you were not in the fight, not in the games.

[BanKs] Considering you were fighting for tournament life as well.

[BanKs] That's my problem with Liquid.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I mean, I don't rate them at all.

[Devilwalk] I'm just going to say that.

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[Devilwalk] I do not rate them.

[BanKs] And I don't think you recover for the major either.

[BanKs] You don't have events you're going to be attending.

[Devilwalk] No chance.

[BanKs] I don't know what's next for Liquid, but they're not going to be at Rivals.

[Devilwalk] They changed regions and they almost didn't make the major anyways.

[BanKs] Yeah, it's going to be tough.

[BanKs] It's going to be very tough.

[BanKs] Passing UA.

[BanKs] I don't really want to talk about them because they didn't play with Senzu.

[BanKs] I don't even look into it, but I'm not sure why Senzu didn't come.

[BanKs] Maybe he couldn't get a visa for Rio.

[BanKs] Do Mongolians need visas?

[BanKs] I'm not sure.

[BanKs] Fang played for them.

[BanKs] They lost 2-0 to Furia and Bate, but like...

[BanKs] Fang's been out of the top leagues for a long time.

[BanKs] So yeah, you weren't going to stand a chance anyway, right?

[Devilwalk] Yeah, but he performed pretty well.

[Devilwalk] If you look at the bait game, he was the top rated player.

[Devilwalk] And obviously the worst rated against Furia.

[Devilwalk] But still, that's...

[Devilwalk] it's pretty good to be at least top rated in one one of the series if you're standing like short amount of time you're not up to speed to everything so no but passions is a lineup that i i kind of categorized as after the major

[BanKs] yeah but he's not sensing yeah mm-hmm yep

[Devilwalk] It's a lineup that I will probably start to judge and think more about because right now they just need reps.

[Devilwalk] And that's what they're doing.

[Devilwalk] They're getting reps.

[Devilwalk] They're still playing some close maps and they have some stints of where you see the potential of everything.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] But it's going to take time.

[Devilwalk] There's so many different types of nationalities and things that need to click and kind of blend in together.

[Devilwalk] So it's probably going to take more time than a normal lineup.

[BanKs] Then we're going to come on to Legacy because we were so happy with Legacy when we looked at getting to the playoffs of EPL, art coming into their art, suiting the players in style and what we see from them.

[BanKs] But we were already a bit slightly nervous about what happened at PGL Bucharest, yeah?

[BanKs] because like you only be in a circle and energy then i did i think we both favored him right in our predictions we both said that they would beat mouse because mouths were looking like in a bad spot obviously there's mouse news we'll come into later on but

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] then they took a map from mouse that's fine remember legacy are always good to take a map but then you lose the hotu

[BanKs] potu who we now know is going through changes as well like this this this is what i do start to get nervous that this legacy could fall into the trap of being just a regionally good team that can sometimes be an upset

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] like my hype has died from them already with art and maybe things can get better for the major because they're going to be in a good spot anyway but i mean this was this looked like it could have been a mix where i go oh oh this is going to be fun this is going to be what these players need art style but did we jump the gun

[Devilwalk] Maybe a little bit, but I also think they're kind of in the position where they probably should be.

[Devilwalk] They're an exciting team.

[Devilwalk] They have potential, but Hotter is also a team that's probably...

[BanKs] Mm hmm.

[Devilwalk] in terms of like clash of styles is probably fire against fire in some way where anything can happen they're just going a little bit all out on each other and it's it's a lot of like situational awareness that's gonna win you the game

[Devilwalk] from both teams and they're pro none of them are going to play like very standard Counter-Strike so

[BanKs] Mm hmm.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] I expect Legacy to just have shit tournaments.

[Devilwalk] That's the thing.

[Devilwalk] Their style... They're just going to have that.

[BanKs] It's costly.

[Devilwalk] I don't know what else to say.

[Devilwalk] I'm not surprised they went out last.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] They could have easily won the group.

[Devilwalk] miraculously, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if they did that either.

[BanKs] Hmm.

[Devilwalk] They're just that kind of team.

[BanKs] It's either all or nothing.

[Devilwalk] yes but the one thing is they they obviously did some changes after this i think um but art has only had two months with this lineup um

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Officially.

[Devilwalk] So I think it's fair to give them a little bit more time before we judge them too harshly.

[Devilwalk] It's not a great look.

[BanKs] Yep.

[BanKs] Yeah, I'd say that like, I want to see some flair coming from them at future events.

[BanKs] That's what I need.

[BanKs] I need to see a bit more of that pushback because I at least thought this could be a team that could go 9th to 12th and obviously didn't work out for them.

[BanKs] I just thought they would be able to be hot with all teams, you know, like that's a good matchup for them on paper.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Next, 3D Max, they go 9th, 12th, which I think is just where they're at when you look at how strong, like I don't expect them to be top eight, depending on what player, what team draw they get.

[BanKs] I don't expect them to be going playoffs.

[BanKs] I feel like this is fair.

[BanKs] You can't beat Falcons, yeah?

[BanKs] You do beat Liquid, and you can't beat G2.

[BanKs] G2's on that team that will keep being in a similar situation to them, but winning or pushing them back down.

[BanKs] And what?

[BanKs] It was 13-6, 13-1.

[BanKs] By the way, during all of this, Tac was playing for G2, right?

[BanKs] Standing in for Hunter.

[BanKs] Hunter had a problem with his leg.

[BanKs] And Sompias was, as far as I understand, Sompias was calling.

[BanKs] And Sompias had a great tournament.

[BanKs] So we'll come into G2 bits later.

[BanKs] But I mean, 3D Max, this was like...

[BanKs] They're not going to be happy.

[BanKs] They're competitors.

[BanKs] But this is about where you're at right now.

[BanKs] This for me is like an acceptable level for 3D Max.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, but the one thing 3D Max probably is disappointed with is obviously this is a great chance to actually do some damage against G2 who has a little bit of disorientation with their lineup with Hunter being gone.

[BanKs] You're going back in time.

[Devilwalk] They should be in the same kind of playing field and losing 16 or 13-1.

[Devilwalk] This is like old man CS brain is coming alive.

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[Devilwalk] But losing 13-1 and 13-6 is not a great look.

[Devilwalk] It's also like Dust2 used to be a good map for 3D Max.

[Devilwalk] Obviously picking Inferno and not really doing much.

[Devilwalk] 13-6 is a bit disappointing and

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I think that's where it stings.

[Devilwalk] Because I think Liquid they should beat.

[Devilwalk] You know, Spirit they should lose against.

[Devilwalk] But G2...

[Devilwalk] think that's where they have to be like it has to be a three mapper it has to be competitive for them to kind of progress and and look at this and be happy with the performance i think still they went out in the place they should but yeah

[BanKs] Withstanding.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] I will say, yeah, yeah.

[BanKs] But just they had that opportunity that they weren't capitalizing on with Hunter not being there, you know, without facing the full team.

[BanKs] Yeah, that's a good way of looking at it.

[BanKs] On the opposite side of things, Red Canids, because they beat Gentlemates, right?

[BanKs] They lost to Vitality.

[BanKs] They beat Gentlemates 2-1.

[BanKs] We covered that already.

[BanKs] And then they lose to Spirit 2-1.

[BanKs] Taking a map from Spirit is like fair play.

[BanKs] Well, I'll just say I expected nothing but being in last place for Red Canids.

[BanKs] So this is something.

[BanKs] Did Red Canids bore you, mate?

[BanKs] That's just the way you were yawning when we were talking about Red Canids.

[Devilwalk] I mean, it's a good result for Red Canids.

[Devilwalk] I don't know.

[BanKs] Like, he's just given up on this.

[Devilwalk] It comes randomly.

[Devilwalk] I haven't had my 20 coffees yet.

[BanKs] It's still early in the day.

[BanKs] You're gearing up for later.

[Devilwalk] No, but...

[Devilwalk] It's good.

[Devilwalk] And I mean, this was a well-playing spirit, this tournament.

[Devilwalk] So there's absolutely nothing bad about their performance.

[Devilwalk] I don't think anyone expected them to go to the playoff.

[Devilwalk] I don't think anyone expected them to be in the lower final.

[Devilwalk] so just the fact that they have a chance of getting there against a great playing spirit this tournament fair play

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] yep and in a similar way for hotu obviously they have made changes now the team they've only got three players left on the lineup but um they lose to aurora they lose to navi but they do beat legacy the one we already touched on um

[BanKs] The Na'Vi game, right?

[BanKs] I watched it.

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] People might look at the score and think, oh, there was maybe some sort of a chance for R2, but it was one of those games where Na'Vi was in control.

[BanKs] Like they were not letting off on that.

[Devilwalk] I mean, you can see it just on the scores.

[Devilwalk] 8-4 first half on Dust2.

[Devilwalk] A 9-3 half on Ancient.

[BanKs] yeah yeah exactly and i will just say for horu is i liked what they were building since we saw them back ages ago a couple of epl seasons obviously they're not at the major they're not got many opportunities anyway

[Devilwalk] It was just the eventuality of closing it out, I presume.

[BanKs] But the fact they're using this time to overhaul their roster even afterwards, their goal is to be good in CIS lands and qualifiers and maybe come to some European qualifiers or something like that.

[BanKs] That's the focus for this team.

[BanKs] Doing well at a Rio is way beyond what they're capable of or what can be in their mind right now.

[BanKs] So this is just like, I don't know, I don't even know what prize money they get for this.

[BanKs] So it's like 5K for the players, 15K for the club share.

[BanKs] It's like, you just take that, right?

[BanKs] Not a bad day for them.

[Devilwalk] Why not?

[BanKs] Yeah, not a super interesting team to talk about either just considering they're making those changes.

[BanKs] But Norbert's there.

[BanKs] We do love Norbert.

[BanKs] Norbert will always get some love.

[BanKs] Next one will be Bait.

[BanKs] Now, Bait did make things exciting early on because they got dominated 13-1.

[BanKs] And I literally, I went and said to my wife, oh, Na'Vi are absolutely like in epic A form.

[Devilwalk] It was 13-0.

[BanKs] Yeah, 13-0, 13-0.

[BanKs] And then they lost Inferno basically in the same way.

[BanKs] Not 13-0, but I mean, they didn't stand a chance.

[BanKs] Poor Ima was getting dominated on every corner, every fight he went.

[BanKs] Like NPL had him every time.

[BanKs] He spoke about it on the interview as well.

[BanKs] um and then on dust 2 navi 1 13 5 it was one hella weird series it was just like basically stomp after stomp after stomp um

[BanKs] This keeps happening with Na'Vi, by the way.

[BanKs] Na'Vi games, if we look, we'll come to them later.

[BanKs] But I mean, Na'Vi have been many times in this situation where like they can win their opponent's map pick and then they completely fumble everything else afterwards and then fight their way back into a game.

[BanKs] So it's, you know, it's a little bit...

[BanKs] Not number two team in the world style.

[BanKs] I'll say that.

[Devilwalk] No, uh, I don't think so either, but same time, you know, there are positives with Navi still.

[Devilwalk] They are looking.

[BanKs] We're on bait, not Navido.

[BanKs] I derailed that.

[Devilwalk] okay bait oh yeah all right bait bait let's talk bait i mean for bait bait is good uh sissy started to get more reps in starting to look a little bit more comfortable even against navi but you look at the passions games he was the best rated player um

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] And he's starting to find a little bit of a...

[Devilwalk] how to say it like you know like he's max maxing out his lowest lows if that makes sense like he's not having terrible terrible performances still bringing impact even when he's playing bad

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] and I think that's a good sign for bait and bait are getting stronger they're kind of stopping this free fall in rankings and starting to make something out of this so yeah

[Devilwalk] It's not a great tournament from them, but it's acceptable under the circumstances of what they've produced previously.

[BanKs] and just how stacked the tournament is as well like the thing is i'm glad you touched on sissy because for me obviously he only has after all of this 71 maps on hltv and like all of his beginning games if you look at it he can do well against heroic but he can have an okay map against someone

[BanKs] but when they play top teams he would struggle he would be punished for making the same mistakes he would have complete low points where whatever he wanted to do wasn't working and i truly believe because like he dominates the low tier teams right who don't punish these same mistakes who don't have the great utility who don't have a default that will punish him when he's

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] going in for maybe a couple of aggressive peaks in there but he does have what we spoke about in the raw mechanics and the ability to feel out a game but he still needs to learn when to hold back a bit so

[BanKs] he's he's where he needs to be but it's about how quickly he can learn and to me it's not maybe as fast as probably what bait won but it's still showing enough that he'll stay on the roster for the next season for the next like i can't see them changing him out i think like this is this is something where the potential is there and it's just about helping him more to unlock it

[BanKs] I think that's what's going to be key with him.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I mean, patience is key for this bait lineup.

[Devilwalk] It was even last year.

[Devilwalk] You know, they had really, really bad, like...

[Devilwalk] I mean, even before like Starladder, in Starladder, when we did that, it didn't really look great.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] But when they started to grind some games and get some reps in, they always progressively got better.

[Devilwalk] So I think that's just a groove they need to get into.

[Devilwalk] And Cecil kind of joined along in that.

[BanKs] Definitely, definitely.

[BanKs] Coming on to G2 next.

[BanKs] Now, the thing I want to start with here for G2

[Devilwalk] Is there an airplane?

[BanKs] it's literally just going above right where i live you can hear that clearly um so with g2 they have to come into this event without hunter yeah tax playing from the academy team getting an opportunity which is a huge opportunity i just need to look down his stats let me just see what he actually delivered

[Devilwalk] Okay.

[Devilwalk] I can hear that.

[BanKs] So he was 0.88 rating, which isn't bad considering it's your first time playing against tier one opposition, you know?

[BanKs] And like, look at the games that G2 had.

[BanKs] They played Gentlemates, Vitality, 3D Max, Spirit.

[BanKs] Other than Gentlemates, all those other teams have the experience playing top level.

[BanKs] So...

[BanKs] What really impressed me here was I thought this was going to be a real hard one to pull off because like who would take over IGL?

[BanKs] Well, they bring some pious in to be IGL and he had some of his best games for G2.

[BanKs] like he ended the event with a 1.09 rating and i'll just say saw is now like we we heard this from g2's owner yeah alban that they believe now in that the coach makes the decision the coach attracts the players the coach like they want to go the blade navi route with how they build their g2 yeah

[Devilwalk] Yeah, it's kind of crazy.

[BanKs] it's not about players having choices now there's nothing wrong with hunter but some players was not this unlocked underneath that calling underneath that way of playing whatever was working they now need to see if hunter can replicate that or they find some middle ground here

[BanKs] Otherwise, you could be looking at a change where we have an AWP IGL Sun Pius.

[BanKs] I'm just going to put it out there because Saw has that relationship with Nertz, with Sun Pius.

[BanKs] He knows what he can get out of him, right?

[Devilwalk] But it's... I don't know, man.

[Devilwalk] It's not a great... I'm not even talking about that.

[BanKs] No, I'm not saying kick Hunter, by the way.

[BanKs] I'm just saying, but like, if you need to make tough choices.

[Devilwalk] I'm talking about having an AWPer as IGL is not a long-term great decision.

[Devilwalk] And I'll explain why.

[BanKs] It's not better anymore.

[BanKs] Yeah, it's not old days.

[Devilwalk] It's generally bad because the AWPer will... Like if you're an IGL, you will generally drop in performance, not instantly when you take up the mantle, but over time because you change the way that you think.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] You think more of a group basis and team basis.

[Devilwalk] That you'll stop individually thinking what you need to do all the time.

[Devilwalk] Because you don't have the space to do that.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] So for long term...

[Devilwalk] If we're talking about a Sampaio that's already been struggling with G2, I don't think, personally, it's a great idea to put him in that kind of place long term.

[Devilwalk] I think that will just worsen his performance over time and eventually, you know,

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] It'll put him in a position where he shot himself in the foot because they're going to replace him because he's not performing well enough on the AWP.

[BanKs] But did you see their game against Vitality?

[BanKs] They had Vitality.

[BanKs] They should have won 2-0 against Vitality.

[BanKs] This was a one game.

[BanKs] They were up 12-10

[BanKs] vitality had terrible buys obviously vitality can pull off some craziness as always right we're talking about the very best team of all time in counter-strike but everyone watching that game would tell you g2 won like g2 had it

[BanKs] and they they they messed it up and then even i think it was on the on the firm dust too they also had opportunities to the very end

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] So, like, they were up 11-9 and then Vitality just close it out and win it 13-11, you know?

[BanKs] Like, yes, that's the power of what Vitality can do, but they were doing this without Hunter.

[BanKs] They were doing this with some pious calling and a...

[BanKs] Young standing.

[BanKs] I don't even know how old this guy is.

[BanKs] How old is this young man?

[BanKs] 21.

[Devilwalk] Attack.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] So I'm just saying that was impressive.

[Devilwalk] Of course, there's some potential, but I'm not for it long term.

[BanKs] You're against it.

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] Yours is the voice of reason.

[BanKs] Mine is the voice of craziness for that one.

[BanKs] Aurora, next.

[BanKs] Take down Hotu.

[BanKs] Lose to Maus.

[BanKs] The Maus one, by the way,

[BanKs] It was a bit ridiculous.

[BanKs] I don't care that it was a group stage.

[BanKs] I felt like this matchup, especially the form that Malz was showing, Aurora would have had a better chance to shine.

[BanKs] I'm guessing Brolan probably knew already that he was getting the boot and this changes was coming in because he farmed.

[BanKs] he that whole game like he was a star player man he showed him that like yay you're gonna miss this you're gonna miss this and then aurora beat bay and then they go up against navi they've they've had tough times against navi like navi's had their number again and again and again

[BanKs] Like, this year alone, Na'Vi won at Cluj, and then Na'Vi won at EPL, then Na'Vi won at Rotterdam.

[BanKs] Like, Aurora at the moment, they can't beat head-to-head, pound-to-pound, Na'Vi.

[Devilwalk] It's interesting.

[Devilwalk] You know what's interesting about the Na'Vi-Aurora matchup?

[Devilwalk] It's one of the few teams Aurora will go up against and they will not pick Anubis anymore.

[Devilwalk] If you look at the actual veto, Na'Vi, it was the sixth round on the veto.

[BanKs] And it's crazy.

[Devilwalk] Na'Vi removed Anubis to make Dust2 the decider.

[Devilwalk] So, Aurora picked Inferno, obviously to punish Makasa, as we'll always mention at least once.

[BanKs] Yep.

[BanKs] And McCarthy actually played well on that map this time around.

[BanKs] Just saying.

[Devilwalk] But he's getting a lot better on Inferno.

[BanKs] Obviously, it's a 13-4 win.

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Devilwalk] I've seen it.

[BanKs] Mate, Blade's happy.

[BanKs] Blade's like, look, my little time capsule's working again, boys.

[BanKs] I told you.

[BanKs] Everyone who...

[Devilwalk] But it's interesting that Aurora doesn't have the balls to pick Anubis against Na'Vi.

[BanKs] Yeah, but you know why?

[BanKs] Because against nearly every other team, Aurora can dominate.

[BanKs] They've lost it two times and they won it one time, 13-11, but Na'Vi should have had it on that time.

[BanKs] Which one was it?

[BanKs] Which one was it?

[BanKs] That was the EPL finals, right?

[BanKs] Aurora should have lost 3-0.

[BanKs] They just about got Anubis.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Like it was a must win for them anyway, but they just about got it.

[BanKs] So they're probably confidence playing Na'Vi is like, we can't deal with these guys.

[BanKs] We just, we can't play our game against them.

[Devilwalk] It is interesting because they picked Anubis in the last three best of threes, Aurora.

[BanKs] And just about, just about.

[Devilwalk] They won it once, as you mentioned.

[Devilwalk] But this tournament, they decided to switch it up to Inferno.

[Devilwalk] Probably to kind of, I don't know, surprise Na'Vi and Devito.

[Devilwalk] But I'm not sure they were that surprised.

[BanKs] And Na'Vi also did get dominated by bait.

[BanKs] So I'm guessing in their mind, they thought maybe Na'Vi haven't put too much time into their Inferno.

[BanKs] Maybe it could be a weak spot for them, you know?

[BanKs] Maybe that's what Madra and Fabo were cooking.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] But they didn't cook.

[BanKs] They got cooked instead.

[Devilwalk] They didn't cook.

[BanKs] They got cooked instead.

[BanKs] So then that brings us to our playoffs.

[BanKs] The playoffs was Falcons and Fury going through the semis.

[BanKs] Vitality didn't go through the semis on this, by the way.

[BanKs] So they had to grind up even further with games.

[BanKs] And then we got Spirit, Maus, Vitality, Na'Vi.

[BanKs] So this was a good playoff bracket.

[BanKs] This was a crazy good playoff bracket.

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] So the first team we'll touch on is Maus.

[BanKs] mouse ended up losing in the playoffs to spirit mouse's run was pretty good though like 2-1 legacy 2-0 um aurora

[BanKs] The way they lost to Furia doesn't surprise me considering this was Furia putting a lot of importance.

[BanKs] They also knew Fulham was retiring as well, which we'll come on to later in the news, right?

[BanKs] So...

[BanKs] there was a lot of weight in furia more than any of us could have predicted because obviously we already knew it was rio so it was like it had to be a big one for him right um but

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] this was where i go back and look at the inconsistencies of zersion or torzi like there was no answer for when they were going up against molodoy who farmed like this was when you got molodoy at his best you know and this is probably where molodoy maybe had other than astana had the most pressure on his shoulders

[BanKs] Because, like, the Brazilians love him.

[BanKs] You know?

[BanKs] He's like the little saviour for this whole Furia team.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, but it's also like Falcons group stage buff, dead team buff.

[BanKs] So...

[Devilwalk] There's a lot of things going on to this.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] All in the other direction.

[BanKs] Yeah, all in the other direction.

[BanKs] And then against Spirit, they didn't just get donked.

[BanKs] They got absolutely wrecked by everyone on Spirit.

[BanKs] This is where I felt like... Yeah, no, Spirit is super exciting when we get to him.

[Devilwalk] Spirit is the interesting one to talk about.

[BanKs] But I'll just say that...

[BanKs] This last hurrah as this mouths as we know it, yeah, wasn't a good showing.

[BanKs] Like, this wasn't positive at all.

[Devilwalk] No, but I kind of, you know, it feels like obviously they, I don't know when the news actually dropped.

[Devilwalk] Was it mid-tournament?

[BanKs] No, it was just after they eliminated.

[BanKs] I think they waited, no?

[BanKs] All right, let me see.

[BanKs] I've got a news up.

[Devilwalk] Uh-uh.

[BanKs] Let me grab it.

[BanKs] Let me see if it's mid-20.

[BanKs] I think it was after they got eliminated.

[BanKs] On the 18th when they played.

[Devilwalk] Because it was mid-tournament.

[BanKs] Yeah, the day after they got eliminated.

[BanKs] Day after they got eliminated.

[Devilwalk] Okay, yeah.

[Devilwalk] But they probably already knew to some extent the players.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] But yeah.

[BanKs] So, I think for Maus, 56 isn't what they want, right?

[BanKs] They should be still aiming at trophies.

[BanKs] Yes, semis is kind of the minimum, right, for them.

[BanKs] um they didn't get there but obviously a lot's happened since then and you know the just the only difference was they face spirit not a vitality to make it happen but they have had some tough games if you look at the head-to-head against spirit overall and this is now a spirit that we will talk about later as trending upwards for sure

[BanKs] finally after taking a long time so then we can go on to navi navi 56 good run beating bait losing to furia by the way i did think they would win that furia matchup but um

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] The nuke at the end.

[BanKs] Na'Vi had it again.

[BanKs] Na'Vi had a 9-3 lead, man.

[BanKs] And once he got to overtime, Na'Vi disappeared.

[BanKs] Like, they were making terrible plays on the A site.

[BanKs] They were just getting caught out all the time.

[BanKs] It was not positive.

[BanKs] That should have been them going comfortably through, in my opinion.

[BanKs] And they wouldn't have needed to play Hotter and Aurora.

[Devilwalk] I mean, yes.

[Devilwalk] I mean, they had a 9-2 lead on Nuke, which they threw.

[Devilwalk] And that's them on the T side of Nuke, by the way.

[BanKs] Mikazi missed knife, by the way.

[BanKs] Letting Molodoy save the AWP.

[Devilwalk] And they switched to CT side and get 9 freed by Furious T side.

[Devilwalk] That's a throw.

[Devilwalk] 100%.

[BanKs] It's a throw.

[BanKs] It's a throw and then you just show nothing in overtime.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Obviously, they made playoffs.

[BanKs] They're going to be happy with that for sure.

[BanKs] But then because of these kind of the way it all went, right, you end up playing Vitality in the quarters.

[BanKs] And, you know, look at the matchup history.

[BanKs] There's normally such good games between these two teams, yeah?

[BanKs] It's not Na'Vi getting blown out.

[BanKs] Since Austin...

[BanKs] Even going back to cologne, which obviously is a very clone 2024.

[Devilwalk] A lot of 11s.

[BanKs] This is very different It's so close right so close to austin so close to budapest close at rotterdam 13 10 13 10, you know and then here Yeah

[Devilwalk] It's crazy.

[Devilwalk] You look at this.

[Devilwalk] They have one win and two overtime losses and 16 wins for Vitality.

[Devilwalk] And there's three 13-11s.

[Devilwalk] There's 13-10s, two of them.

[Devilwalk] There's two 13-9s.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] No, it's a three 13s.

[Devilwalk] 16-14, 22-20.

[Devilwalk] And they won one game.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] And then they've come so close.

[BanKs] So I'm expecting at least a banger of a game.

[BanKs] They get destroyed on Mirage.

[BanKs] They get destroyed on Dust2.

[BanKs] I don't know what the hell happened.

[BanKs] Mikazi was gone.

[BanKs] Ima was gone.

[BanKs] don't know maybe maybe they just met a vitality who really had the gold bars in their sights and they hit the the best form of vitality um this wasn't a game i saw

[Devilwalk] I think

[Devilwalk] I think Vitality is really dangerous, especially after they've lost a game.

[Devilwalk] And they got that kind of loss in the group stage against Falcons and then straight after they're going into Na'Vi.

[Devilwalk] So I feel like it was like to prove a point kind of game for Vitality where they woke up and

[BanKs] Na'Vi were just the unlucky ones in the way.

[BanKs] It was like, ah, you want to meet the strongest version of Vitality?

[Devilwalk] Yeah pretty much.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] You won't have a close game this time, guys.

[BanKs] Like, you won't have a single chance in it.

[BanKs] And obviously, ZywOo was honorable coming to later, but he was on a super level, like crazy level.

[BanKs] um so furia next furia find themselves in such a weird position because they definitely all knew about this retirement announcement coming out right again we will talk about that later within the news section of the podcast but

[BanKs] you got the plane going above my head there are so many planes going above my head um two zero passion two one navi two zero mouse then you lose two zero to vitality and sadly when you could have at least done that arena proud and got a third place you lose two zero to our falcons who were also going through changes like imminent changes like happening right

[BanKs] instantly you know so yeah yeah everyone knew about as well kicks and definitely knew i've got some great news on that by the way i got some direct information that i can give everyone as far as i wear no one else has said this just yet so like no other podcast had this information i got something i got something but i will say for furia

[Devilwalk] that everyone knew about.

[BanKs] The weight of all this emotional thing, especially for anyone who watched the Fallen video and also just a bit of uncertainty for the future, even though they know they've still got at least like, what, eight months to play.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] It is a tough one to swallow, but I would have expected them to at least beat Falcons.

[BanKs] I'm fine with them losing to Vitality.

[BanKs] I would have liked to have seen a closer game, like as in three maps, you know, because still 13-10, 13-10 is fine.

[BanKs] But I mean, the Falcons loss is like, come on, guys.

[BanKs] For the third place, give it for them.

[BanKs] Just give them that little something more.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I mean, obviously before playoffs the full announcement came, you obviously saw a lot of players being emotional, a lot of people being emotional.

[Devilwalk] I mean, it was a great speech and a great kind of way to announce it.

[Devilwalk] But I think if we actually look at Furia, I think a fourth place is actually kind of overperformance compared to what we've seen them lately do.

[Devilwalk] They've been shaky.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] They've not really...

[Devilwalk] looked as stable, but there was a fighting spirit in them, even in the Vitality game and in the Falcons game.

[Devilwalk] These are two teams that I expect to beat Furia almost every single time in the form that I've seen Furia.

[Devilwalk] The only thing...

[BanKs] Okay.

[Devilwalk] That really bumped up to compete was that it was in Rio and it's a Brazilian crowd and everything.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] That's kind of where the bump up for me has been, but that's not going to take you all the way over the line against a team like Falcons or Vitality.

[BanKs] Mm hmm.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] But I thought with the Falcons caveat, you know, of knowing that Kik Sam was going, even though Kik Sam played a good tournament throughout the group stage, I thought maybe there was some like wondrous ability that that would have been able to happen.

[BanKs] considering recent form and stuff we'd seen but this now means makes me think that like okay fury you know what you've got now make the most of this last run for for fallen and go as hard as you can throughout the rest of it that would what would be expected in it um

[Devilwalk] Yeah, yeah.

[Devilwalk] I think an interesting thing for Furious, they put themselves in a position where they have eight months now to find the replacement.

[Devilwalk] And it's also a place where I think that IGLs want to go to play with these players if the

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] that if you're on a potential prospect list and maybe they're even looking for that right now, they might put themselves in a great position to actually make that replacement.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] yukinda igl considering how much he helps fall him he did it in liquid and he did fall off a lot but he's out of the slump

[Devilwalk] Could be, could be.

[Devilwalk] You probably need an emotional leader then to add

[BanKs] yeah yeah i don't have to see what the market's like from when it gets to it but all in all fourth place is still a bit of a bit of a resurgence for furia but a lot was in this event for them then we come on to falcons who also needed this they remember krakow was top eight

[BanKs] PGL Occlusion of Poker was top eight.

[BanKs] Blast Rotterdam was top six, just about making playoffs.

[BanKs] They're losing to Paravision.

[BanKs] And now Rio third place.

[BanKs] Looking at this, this is not a bad set of runs, but obviously you expect so much more given the players they have.

[BanKs] Now...

[BanKs] What was so positive was I'm looking at how well Kiksan played in the group stage.

[BanKs] Kiksan was playing really strong individual performance in this group stage.

[BanKs] They took down Spirit.

[BanKs] They took down 3D Max, Vitality.

[Devilwalk] Vitality.

[BanKs] Vitality 1 is huge, right?

[BanKs] But then when they get to playoffs...

[BanKs] They lose to Spirit in the rematch.

[Devilwalk] Same old story again.

[BanKs] And when you look at this, right?

[BanKs] Nico, Manassi, Tessas even, Kiksan.

[BanKs] You don't have excuses to be bad in playoffs anymore.

[Devilwalk] He never had it.

[BanKs] Like you have had way more than enough time as a unit, as a set of players together.

[BanKs] And the fact you did beat Vitality, you should have been riding a high.

[BanKs] Like it should have been feeling so good for them.

[BanKs] So that was rough.

[BanKs] And then, okay, you beat Furia to take the third place.

[BanKs] I'll say, fine, right, it's a third place.

[BanKs] Munnessy's interview was kind of candid on stage afterwards as well.

[BanKs] And obviously now we know about all the changes coming in.

[BanKs] We will talk about that a bit more in the news part anyway.

[BanKs] But as a last hurrah for Kikzan, it's fine, right?

[BanKs] It's not a final.

[BanKs] It's not a trophy, but it's acceptable.

[Devilwalk] It's just a rinse and repeat event for Falcons.

[Devilwalk] I feel like semis drop out, not meeting like full expectations, especially the way they went out in the semis.

[BanKs] Shit.

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[Devilwalk] I feel like it's slightly embarrassing.

[Devilwalk] But yeah, it is what it is.

[BanKs] now spirit spirit spirit spirit finally something positive after so long without a final they beat liquid they lose to falcons they beat red canids g2 mouse falcons on the revenge on a stage

[BanKs] Now, I will say this.

[BanKs] Losing 3-0 to Vitality is not a bad thing, yeah?

[BanKs] I would have hoped they would have taken one map.

[BanKs] Matix even said in his own interview, if we get one map, like it's a positive.

[BanKs] They know how far ahead Vitality are from them, yeah?

[BanKs] But you had them on Mirage.

[BanKs] There was an opportunity there.

[BanKs] Donk did his best of what he can do.

[BanKs] Tanir had moments in there as well, right?

[BanKs] But Vitality is too strong for anyone.

[BanKs] So I don't know.

[BanKs] What were your expectations when you looked at this final?

[BanKs] Because even though Spirit had a good performance, I wasn't hyped thinking like, yeah, Spirit have actually got a chance to win this.

[BanKs] There was no moment in my mind I thought Spirit can win this final.

[BanKs] I thought you are at best hoping for a map.

[Devilwalk] No I think I mean to a certain degree if you look at this tournament overall I think

[Devilwalk] Getting the second place is like a win for most of these teams.

[Devilwalk] It's just signs of progress.

[Devilwalk] Who is the closest to catching up?

[Devilwalk] It's not really like if you realistically look at it,

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] about winning to some extent I think everyone will say that that's the PR answer but at the end of the day you know you look at it and you know we are close to cementing to be the second best team

[Devilwalk] That's the first step.

[Devilwalk] And then you'll go, you know, once you reach that, you can look a little bit higher.

[Devilwalk] But no, I didn't expect them to win a map.

[Devilwalk] I mean, maybe hope for a map, but at the end of the day, I always knew that Vitality is going to win this final, win this event.

[Devilwalk] So, for Spirit, the one thing that I will say though is, you know, Halle was obviously gone.

[Devilwalk] He's, from what I heard, helped them from, you know...

[Devilwalk] afar with SoftTech stepping in and you know he's unlocked something I don't know if it's SoftTech or if it's with Hallie as well

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] But Tenir and other players in the lineup, it hasn't been just a Donk show.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] It hasn't been just waiting for Donk to get 3Ks and then lose a 2v5 afterwards.

[Devilwalk] It's been...

[Devilwalk] to near stepping up getting lurks taking initiatives there's been a lot more fluidity there's a lot more presence and danger to this uh spirit that played in rio compared to any other tournament i've seen

[Devilwalk] This is kind of what I hoped for when Magix got reintroduced into the lineup, where we see some of these players getting more unlocked.

[Devilwalk] I talked to him at the HLTV Awards show at the beginning of the year.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] And he essentially there said that it's not going to be as structurally robust as it was before.

[Devilwalk] It's going to be a little bit more fluidity in my own ideas.

[Devilwalk] And we haven't really seen that from Spirit.

[Devilwalk] It's been kind of rinse and repeat of the same stuff.

[Devilwalk] Maybe a little bit more chaos instead of fluidity in some sense.

[Devilwalk] They haven't really gotten to click in some rounds.

[Devilwalk] But this tournament, to me, having Tenir actually show up, I talked about it last episode where it was like, this could be the worst possible event for Halle to be gone and them performing.

[BanKs] Yep.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Because this just further asks you the question, is it Tali's system and him being too...

[Devilwalk] kind of tunnel visioned and rigid with, this is what needs to happen, that it leaves no space for players like Tenir to actually express themselves on the server.

[BanKs] Too rigid.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] That's my worry, and that's my question I get from watching them now, but it's, to me,

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Hmm.

[Devilwalk] a very clear path they need to continue along.

[BanKs] Yeah, but isn't this good information for Halle to maybe actually be taking a step back and seeing it if he can?

[Devilwalk] But this shouldn't have been new information.

[BanKs] Yeah, well, you saw it.

[BanKs] Many people saw it.

[Devilwalk] It shouldn't have been.

[Devilwalk] At the end of the day, you want people as a coach, or at least I want people to express themselves.

[Devilwalk] I don't want them to only follow my rules.

[Devilwalk] Only follow my protocols.

[BanKs] Robots.

[Devilwalk] Only follow... Then you don't have a CS player.

[Devilwalk] Then you might as well, you know, write bot add bot in the corner of long, you know, and it will work the same.

[BanKs] AI.

[Devilwalk] I think they just need to continue this let people express themselves on the server they have such good players we've been rinse and repeat talking about it on the podcast and it's time for them to actually with Ali behind them find ways for other players to shine and I loved what I saw from spirit um yeah

[BanKs] and I want to go on discord right now right I sent you a link we're going to watch this at the same time

[BanKs] i'm at seven hours 32 minutes 32 seconds we'll play this for the viewers at home i don't have to do some magic all right i'm not playing it with like any crazy sound you ready three two one go so

[Devilwalk] yep ready I saw this

[BanKs] we look at this spirit getting their second place medals yeah we've spoken about this before yeah like you can all like have this problem that you're not winning but you in your mind already magic said be happy if they win a map they knew they were not going to win this final yeah

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] But this was a positive step forward.

[BanKs] Now, Donk showed the most maturity out of all of them by keeping his medal on.

[BanKs] Yeah?

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] By the way, he is the player that can be pissed.

[BanKs] He is the player that can be like, no, this is unacceptable.

[BanKs] Everyone else took off the medal unhappy, like for Tanir, for Zontix, for Magix, for Shiro.

[BanKs] All of them can be just happy to be in a position where you got to a second place again.

[BanKs] Take that moment and enjoy it.

[BanKs] Maybe you...

[BanKs] afterwards give like zontix gave his medal away right one um one katowice was it kind of it's a last year for example he gave it give it away to someone i don't care what you do with it afterwards but at least for that moment

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] Just hold the medal and think like you're not... It's not the spirit of 2023, 2024, right?

[Devilwalk] No, but have you ever seen Dong Smile losing a tournament?

[BanKs] Where you can just dominate and run over things.

[Devilwalk] I think, you know, he understands that this was progress.

[BanKs] No.

[BanKs] He understands.

[BanKs] He's not... Yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] This was the right path.

[Devilwalk] This was we were close.

[Devilwalk] We are moving in the right direction.

[BanKs] Exactly.

[BanKs] Yes.

[Devilwalk] We can't expect, you know, two weeks and all of a sudden we catch up to Vitality.

[Devilwalk] We have to grind.

[Devilwalk] And if we continue on this path, eventually we will get there.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] It might not be for this major, but it might be for the next.

[BanKs] yeah and even look at this right donk's rating was 1.22 it's below his usual levels but he's finally got something he needs to improve upon you know he's finally got like his event ratings was

[BanKs] Rotterdam, when they went out top eight, 1.61, 1.4, 0.82 for the Pro League Finals.

[BanKs] He is in a position right now where he's not getting away with absolute murder or just dominating everyone, even when his team are losing a game.

[BanKs] He's even having to step up himself.

[BanKs] There's some extra motivation and power play into it now of like, I need to get back up there.

[Devilwalk] But the beautiful thing about what Spirit have been doing now in this tournament, it's actually going to unlock Donk more because there's more threats on the map.

[Devilwalk] There's more players that can take initiative and actually win rounds.

[Devilwalk] There are more things that you need to look at as a coach, as an analyst, as a team to stop

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] And that eventually will lead to Donk getting more opportunities, not going to get five nades on him lower every single round.

[Devilwalk] He's actually going to be able to move around the map and do things.

[Devilwalk] And it's not only going to be countering him.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] So I think that this eventually will unlock, you know, at least post the questions to teams.

[Devilwalk] What are you willing to sacrifice to remove the impact of Dong?

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] and you know i think it will make spirit better i think it'll be a trickier team to face because one player i think you can always counter you know i've always referenced you know kenny s back in the days when he was the fucking monster beast when the movement speed and op was like ridiculous um

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] our tactic was sacrifice me to get a 1v1 trade that was legit our anti strat I die we kill him yes it was that was our anti strat but we loved being in the position of being 4v4 in that spot we knew we would win the round if KennyS was dead

[BanKs] Devil go die.

[BanKs] Must trade.

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah, because you're just hindering them completely.

[BanKs] And yeah, that's the situation Spirit's been in for quite some time.

[Devilwalk] Yes.

[BanKs] So yeah, for me, Spirit, this is a positive event for Spirit, even if the players had their little meltdown about it.

[BanKs] realistically any of them who thought about this logically wouldn't have known this was going to be a final they would have a struggling be tough type fight for them you know that's just the way it is um you shouldn't be as upset as you showed on it like this wasn't budapest for example this wasn't something like that where you had an opportunity on mirage back then this is way beyond it

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Exactly.

[BanKs] So now we go back to doing what this whole podcast is about, right?

[BanKs] Is, as I said last time, sucking off vitality.

[BanKs] Because, dude, it's actually getting ridiculous now.

[Devilwalk] Let's do a small sucking off vitality bit so we have more time because we are on a time constraint.

[BanKs] got the rest of it yeah yeah but so let's look at this right well you have till six right yeah cool cool cool cool so let's hope they're late um

[Devilwalk] six they arrive yes they are not yeah

[BanKs] No, they're going to be on time.

[BanKs] That's very Swedish.

[BanKs] That would be normal.

[BanKs] So let's just look at this.

[BanKs] Vitality are the first team in history to win the Grand Slam twice.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Back to back.

[BanKs] And by the way, I will just say this now.

[BanKs] I will say this as of this day.

[BanKs] They are going to win a third one before another team can catch up to them.

[BanKs] It is definitely possible.

[BanKs] They're going to get another one on their belt in Atlanta.

[BanKs] Then they've got a Chinese Chengdu again for it.

[BanKs] So that's probably one they'll get as well.

[BanKs] They're not slowing down.

[Devilwalk] Aren't we a little bit surprised ESL didn't just like cancel, cancel, cancel.

[Devilwalk] It's like canceling subscription, you know, like remove it now when you have a chance.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Also, they don't have the sponsorship.

[BanKs] Remember, it used to be the Intel Grand Slam.

[BanKs] Now it's just the ESL Grand Slam.

[BanKs] If there was a time to do it, it would be like, put this, turn this off.

[Devilwalk] I guess they got plenty of gold bars down there in Saudi.

[BanKs] So, yeah, true, true.

[BanKs] The crazy thing here was, right?

[BanKs] Everyone knew Vitality was going to win.

[BanKs] But then there was that brief moment where they messed up against Falcons.

[BanKs] You would have a look at this and think, okay, maybe they'll falter.

[BanKs] But once they got the playoffs, 2-0, 2-0, 3-0.

[Devilwalk] Did anyone really think, are they going to falter?

[BanKs] Like you said, they hit another level.

[Devilwalk] I think everyone was reverse.

[BanKs] It slipped into my mind that they dropped a group stage game, which I wasn't expecting.

[Devilwalk] But then your voice said, no, no.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] And then I saw them play from the quarters and went, okay, we're back on track.

[BanKs] It was a small bit inside me where I thought it could go wrong.

[Devilwalk] Okay.

[Devilwalk] Maybe just a hope in some... Yep.

[BanKs] But I'll just say this.

[BanKs] We've already agreed this, right?

[BanKs] They are the greatest Counter-Strike team of all time, any version, doesn't matter what.

[BanKs] People now need to stop arguing this.

[BanKs] Why am I still seeing people tweet and talk on podcasts and talk on other places that this is a debate?

[BanKs] This is not a debate.

[BanKs] This has not been a debate since...

[BanKs] Budapest, now they've won four more tournaments.

[BanKs] This team is unstoppable.

[BanKs] And people, by the way, I saw some comments.

[BanKs] They were like, oh, well, Messi didn't play so well again.

[BanKs] They're going to remove him and pick up someone from foot, for example.

[BanKs] It's like they're not changing this winning formula until it starts to go really bad.

[BanKs] But this is now one, two, three, four tournaments in a row.

[BanKs] Next one's rivals.

[BanKs] Maybe unless they're super jet lagged or someone gets ill, they could lose it.

[BanKs] But I mean, probably not going to happen.

[Devilwalk] Vitality still need the bounty to be the greatest Counter-Strike team of all time.

[BanKs] Oh, mate, watch them just skip the next bounty or something.

[BanKs] I don't know.

[BanKs] Like, maybe they do.

[BanKs] But this is crazy.

[BanKs] Like, they're unstoppable.

[BanKs] ZywOo gets another MVP.

[BanKs] ZywOo, when you go on his HLTV profile, like, that bar's just going for 31 MVPs, two gold bars.

[BanKs] Trophy trophy trophy trophy trophy.

[Devilwalk] You're gonna need a faster slider soon.

[BanKs] Bro, it's actually insane.

[BanKs] We have never seen anything like this.

[BanKs] This is just continuous record-breaking and dominance.

[BanKs] We can't glaze them any more than what we are.

[BanKs] Even when someone can have a bad time, like Flames didn't have the best playoff sets, for example, but still so good.

[Devilwalk] But the impressive part is it's 13 years of trophies.

[BanKs] That's impressive.

[Devilwalk] Because he has 2013, 14, 15.

[BanKs] That's impressive.

[Devilwalk] He has 16, 17.

[BanKs] Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[Devilwalk] Is this ECS?

[BanKs] No, it's not 13.

[BanKs] Who are you talking about?

[Devilwalk] Yeah, Apex.

[BanKs] Apex.

[BanKs] Okay, thank God.

[BanKs] I was thinking it can't be.

[BanKs] So I was talking about ZywOo, but yeah, Apex.

[Devilwalk] Ah, okay, okay, okay.

[Devilwalk] Yes, Apex.

[BanKs] Apex doesn't miss.

[BanKs] Apex doesn't miss.

[BanKs] And done it through multiple roles.

[Devilwalk] Is it only one year he didn't win a tournament?

[BanKs] Did you tell me you're the one looking?

[Devilwalk] I'm trying to see.

[Devilwalk] Either way, you can continue talking while I...

[BanKs] I don't know.

[BanKs] There's nothing else I can say, right?

[BanKs] His contract is with Vitality till December 2026 for Apex.

[BanKs] They're all in a great spot right now.

[BanKs] They continue to win.

[BanKs] They're so well gelled together.

[BanKs] They've scheduled maxed their way through all of this.

[BanKs] They understand how to play CS and how to even like the G2 game where they were faltering.

[BanKs] Even when they lost to Falcons, they just come back.

[BanKs] They hit harder.

[BanKs] They believe in each other.

[BanKs] They know what can be done.

[BanKs] We are just witnessing history and greatness in front of our eyes that has not ended.

[BanKs] Even for the slight blip they had after the first break of 2025, they still went on to win the major.

[BanKs] So...

[BanKs] zero problems zero bad things to say yeah win win win and

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I agree.

[Devilwalk] Should we go to news section?

[BanKs] Yes, it is time for all of the recent news and some of the news that's maybe not so recent now because the days have been rolling on by.

[BanKs] I'm going to change things up here, DW.

[BanKs] I'm going to start with the introduction of AnimGraph 2.

[BanKs] I hope I'm saying that correctly.

[BanKs] I want to say Animagraph.

[BanKs] That'd be funnier.

[BanKs] But Animagraph was obviously in beta.

[BanKs] You could have played it.

[BanKs] You could have tested it out there.

[BanKs] Me and DevWalt played a game together to look at some of it yesterday as well.

[BanKs] And I messaged some pro players across different teams to get their thoughts on it all as well.

[BanKs] You also had a conversation with the Alliance coach.

[BanKs] You were just messaging yesterday, right?

[BanKs] So...

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] Put it out there for me because when I got into game, I haven't played CS for a little while.

[BanKs] I just was like, okay, feels like I'm playing CS.

[BanKs] Maybe it's a placebo.

[BanKs] It's more responsive.

[BanKs] Maybe that's just in my mind.

[BanKs] But everyone seems to be saying it's a positive change.

[BanKs] So what was your initial thoughts?

[Devilwalk] initial thoughts when I was playing it it was I think spraying for me felt a lot better I think the movement and everything can feel a bit janky at first but I think it's just a

[BanKs] Mhm.

[Devilwalk] We have to get used to it kind of deal before we kind of judge that too much right now.

[Devilwalk] In terms of the aim punching, I felt it was a little bit weird at times.

[BanKs] Mhm.

[Devilwalk] There's kind of a new effect to it in a way that kind of threw me off a little bit.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] So I think that's going to take some time, but the spraying definitely felt better.

[Devilwalk] It looked a lot more responsive in terms of what you're shooting at and what the players are at.

[Devilwalk] It didn't feel like...

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] bullets were just disappearing through his body um like it has been in cs2 for a long time so i'm expecting this to be you know a buff for players that spray i know like flattro is probably very very happy about this uh

[BanKs] losing a random bullet or two yep yeah

[Devilwalk] like changed because he used to be a sprayer and it hasn't really been a thing in cs2 too much obviously it's a thing but it's not as powerful as it was in cs go um so i'm expecting some players to get buffed some players to get a little bit nerfed

[Devilwalk] in terms of grenades I know a lot of people have been missing smokes and stuff and there's new lineups so make sure

[BanKs] What?

[BanKs] So how does it change the lineups of spokes?

[BanKs] Isn't that something we shouldn't have had change?

[Devilwalk] I don't exactly know what it is.

[Devilwalk] It's something with the camera view of your model is changed.

[BanKs] Mm hmm.

[Devilwalk] I think it is slightly above where it used to be.

[Devilwalk] So now when you're looking at things that you would have a lineup on, you need to lame a little bit lower than you did before to hit it.

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] It's like a lot of these like CT Mirage smoke or Insta smokes, even top mid smokes on Mirage and stuff and Insta window.

[Devilwalk] You need to change it.

[Devilwalk] little bit for it to hit but that that's I mean that's like one day's YouTube video and and you'll be Gucci

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] I saw when obviously the update, the first update before it came out, obviously Valve have continued to update a few more things afterwards.

[BanKs] It says minor adjustments to view model animations, adjusted general weapon deploy animation logic, fixed issues within transitioning between knife attacks.

[BanKs] So I messaged a few people.

[BanKs] We'll start with JL on this one.

[Devilwalk] Didn't they also remove the ladder thing where you tapped up the ladders to silence?

[BanKs] oh i didn't try it i didn't show him okay so first person i was talking to was jail yeah obviously now joining into mouse he said i played a dozen games i don't know feels good now you know jail very open with this like he's pretty chill of it all

[Devilwalk] I think they changed that as well.

[Devilwalk] They removed it.

[BanKs] but he says doesn't feel bad so must be a win update so he's just looking at the fact that it was it wasn't like naturally feeling bad he's still playing to a good level he was playing a lot of faces yesterday on stream um

[BanKs] when I was talking to him.

[BanKs] I hit up Munnessy as well, because obviously they've got Carrigan coming in.

[BanKs] He's been on full chill mode, so he hasn't even played face it or practice.

[BanKs] That's going to start today.

[BanKs] He'll update me later, so I'll update that when we come back into it.

[BanKs] imma said at the beginning it felt a bit off at the start um he didn't know why but now like he's got used to it and he says it feels better but he can't know it's like a huge difference for him personally you know that's like a difference in comparison to say what jael said

[BanKs] Mezzy said I played a DM session yesterday and it definitely was feeling different mostly the way the legs move when strafing and changing direction but I honestly don't have a huge opinion on it as of yet as I need to play more so that's obviously what a lot of people are going to do this is like chill time break time

[BanKs] And then I had to ask someone who's like a young grinder, right?

[BanKs] So Symmetry from Foot obviously won the MVP when it came to PGL Bucharest.

[BanKs] He said, I think it's sick.

[BanKs] The models movement across the screen is easier to understand and spraying feels significantly better.

[BanKs] The only thing I wish they'd consider is the Kevlar aim punch.

[BanKs] Overall, great update, in my opinion.

[BanKs] So we're seeing.

[Devilwalk] He said reconsider, yeah.

[BanKs] yeah yeah reconsider sorry um so yeah that like aim punching was what you said right something definitely doesn't feel natural or right with it but obviously he mentioned in there um with the movement for the models across the screen which is he was the first one to mention that

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] So for me, people would normally clown or hate these updates, but this is a positive step forward.

[BanKs] And obviously it's something that Valve is focusing on.

[BanKs] So we are getting what we wanted.

[BanKs] For all the people complaining or unhappy and saying like, oh, these updates aren't good enough, blah, blah, blah.

[BanKs] Well, we're starting to move in the direction of getting, yes, it should have been like this ages ago.

[BanKs] You can argue and all this other stuff, but I mean, we're getting there.

[BanKs] And then also Counter-Strike Upgrade updated their header to put the floor of cash in as well.

[BanKs] You're not a fan of that because you didn't want to see cash back, but it might mean we're getting a

[Devilwalk] I'm not against cash.

[Devilwalk] I'm against this version of cash.

[BanKs] oh yeah but that's really bad fps as well is it is it still the really green one as well yeah yeah yeah yeah

[Devilwalk] I don't like this version of cash.

[Devilwalk] I don't understand why the fuck there's a window in mid.

[Devilwalk] Like, I just don't like this one.

[Devilwalk] I think it is honestly I'm not sure but it probably is but I just feel like I've read even the maker of the map who obviously sold cash to Valve even said like this map is unfinished it's not like you know I wasn't even finished with the map when they bought it I guess so

[BanKs] It's kind of crazy.

[BanKs] You'd let someone finish the job before you buy it.

[BanKs] This wasn't a try before you buy it.

[Devilwalk] So he even thinks it's an unfinished version of the map.

[BanKs] It was like, I just want this.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] So...

[Devilwalk] That to me is the annoying part, because that means the Valve will come in, make a bunch of changes to the map, make it even more wonky and crazy.

[Devilwalk] And it'll take, you know, six months of a professional season before we get the actual version or even longer.

[BanKs] No.

[Devilwalk] So that part annoys me.

[BanKs] Yep.

[BanKs] Okay, next bit of news.

[BanKs] We kind of touched on it already.

[BanKs] I already confirmed that this was 100% happening from who I'd spoken to.

[BanKs] Kerrigan leaving FaZe, going to Falcons.

[BanKs] Now, obviously now we've got a lot more information.

[BanKs] We understand what has been happening here.

[BanKs] I will just say this.

[BanKs] For Kerrigan, yeah,

[BanKs] he is how old is carrie let me just let me just double check how old he is okay carrigan is 36 years old

[Devilwalk] For the six.

[BanKs] This is the ultimate last chance.

[BanKs] Now, personally, I thought maybe he would just stay on FaZe until the end of it all, yeah?

[BanKs] But did you watch that FaZe documentary where he said people were not believing, they weren't on the same page, right?

[BanKs] Things like that.

[BanKs] That was very telling.

[BanKs] They didn't have that same phase magic, phase DNA in them, yeah?

[BanKs] That phase magic and that phase DNA, yes, Brokey and Twist were part of it, but I mean, it comes from Kerrigan.

[BanKs] Now, for Kerrigan, at 36 years old, this is probably the last part you will ever have in your career.

[BanKs] Getting an opportunity on Falcons is huge because these are all the type of players he wants to deal with.

[BanKs] Yeah?

[BanKs] You're worried about the ego.

[BanKs] You're worried about the not being able to trade off each other and how badly we've seen Falcons play some of these situations.

[BanKs] Kerrigan is a solution to that, in my opinion.

[BanKs] This is all the tools and pieces he needs to be successful.

[BanKs] And for anyone that thought that, like...

[BanKs] Maybe he just goes to be a coach or something.

[BanKs] If you're smart, right, which I would say the Falcons management has been because they're aggressively hunting for making the best team in the world, yeah?

[BanKs] This is probably a one, maybe two-year contract.

[BanKs] And within that, if they did remove him or they don't want to play with him, he replaces Zonic.

[BanKs] who's obviously been under scrutiny for not bringing the titles, and then Kerrigan would go to coach.

[BanKs] That's just what I would put in there as a could be, maybe thing, right?

[BanKs] Because ultimately, how many more years of playing has Kerrigan got in there?

[BanKs] Now, Falcons already have enough firepower, yeah?

[BanKs] More than enough firepower.

[BanKs] literally they don't need more five hours so having this low down performance from carrigan isn't going to hurt them and also he can be very sacrificial and also in playoffs that's where he does his best work and so i was getting some insight from a few people on here right and

[BanKs] Obviously, I can't say exactly who told me some of these things, but it makes sense from the fact that I'm just going through the messages I had here.

[BanKs] It makes sense to them bringing in Kerrigan.

[BanKs] From what I understood, this is a management decision because obviously Falcons are pushing for having the best team in the right position possible.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] And what he has and what he's able to deliver for them is going to be positive for them in the long run.

[BanKs] you know i see only i see only positives for this because it fixes a lot of problems that i see on the surface level for falcons

[Devilwalk] So I agree long term, it might be a solution.

[Devilwalk] My kind of, I guess, to play devil's advocate a little bit is Kerrigan comes from a very turbulent time in phase.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] it's been a long time it's very fatiguing to be in that position for a longer period of time and it usually means you need an extended break to kind of get up to par to bring good ideas again not be locked into kind of your brain thought and thinking of fixing a team

[Devilwalk] now it's about you know steady improvements and then going into a new team I feel like this fatigue if they don't start you know go up and running instantly and things just start to click very very quickly I think there's a risk to this where Kerrigan

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] He's in a fatigued state.

[Devilwalk] And I'll tell you, IGLs don't get as much rest as the rest of the team does normally in a team in break time.

[BanKs] True.

[Devilwalk] It's a very short amount of break.

[Devilwalk] I would personally have rather...

[Devilwalk] have stayed with Kiksan for the rest of the season, signed Kerrigan, but it doesn't come into effect until after summer break.

[Devilwalk] give Kerrigan time to refresh, rest, bring ideas, think about how he wants to do things in the team instead of bringing him straight into the

[Devilwalk] hot space or whatever you want to call it hot seat from being in a very stressed pressured situation

[BanKs] Hot seat.

[Devilwalk] into another kind of stress-pressed situation because there's no one that has the amount of pressure that Falcons have on them and getting hated for semi-final finishes, third places, fourth places, whatever you want to call it.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] I worried that it might be like a mental health fatigue rather than, you know, yes.

[BanKs] Oh, for Kerrigan.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Rather than... That's my worry.

[Devilwalk] That's why I'm not 100% on the change and what they've done.

[Devilwalk] I understand.

[Devilwalk] And it's also an opportunity Kerrigan cannot say no to under any circumstances.

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[Devilwalk] But I'm worried that if it doesn't kick off...

[Devilwalk] It's going to be too draining.

[BanKs] See, what I look here, right, is that Kerrigan will be a bit more energy in the team, right?

[BanKs] A bit more respected, a bit more vocal.

[BanKs] And from what I heard, it doesn't seem like anyone thought Kik Sam was the bad caller or the problem, but he just wasn't right for this team.

[BanKs] Now, obviously, Kerrigan and Nico have their history, but just imagine if you're Kioski and Manassi, you are going to do everything that's needed there.

[BanKs] And the thing is, most people expected a Kiksan or a Tessas to be the ones that get removed way earlier than this, right?

[BanKs] Like with how this team's being built and...

[Devilwalk] Well, just by a pattern recognition of how Falcons work, yes.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah, exactly.

[BanKs] So Kiksan now has got some, he's not bad, but I mean, he's going to have to really be on his A game with it.

[BanKs] and there's going to be some movement on positions right because like carrigan will not carrigan's going to his positions that's it he plays that and that's it i don't i can't imagine there's any change in there but everyone will follow on so oh like i can see what you're saying

[BanKs] Because for sure, the Kerrigan's had such a negative time, had such a negative downtime.

[Devilwalk] It's just a worry.

[Devilwalk] Okay.

[BanKs] But he did take a bit of holiday time now, right?

[BanKs] He posted pictures with his wife on holiday, chilling.

[BanKs] It's a very small amount of time.

[BanKs] I know, no, no, I know.

[BanKs] It's not enough to reset.

[BanKs] But I mean, this is the last hurrah.

[BanKs] This is his last dance, right?

[Devilwalk] I'll tell you what an IGL does going into a new project like this.

[BanKs] And maybe...

[BanKs] In his mind.

[Devilwalk] You think he's sitting on that vacation, not thinking what he wants to do with his team, writing down things that he thinks is important.

[Devilwalk] The first step, how do I create the foundation?

[Devilwalk] Like he's fucking...

[BanKs] Watching the demos.

[Devilwalk] He might be on a vacation, but he's working, man.

[BanKs] yeah okay okay but what do you think about what i said though if it doesn't work out and you've signed him for a long time and he just replaces sonic that's a that's like that's a win-win for falcons because then he's not going to be like phases coach you know

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I think it's not a bad idea.

[Devilwalk] At least you have the options.

[BanKs] Yeah, there is definitely some options in there.

[BanKs] And that puts some pressure on Zonic.

[BanKs] And also for all the people that said like, think of all the coaches that Kerrigan's had.

[BanKs] He doesn't need a strategy coach.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] He'll just have Zonic as the pushing, happy, you know, motivating team talk guy.

[BanKs] And Kerrigan will do what he does.

[Devilwalk] The thing is, like, okay, look at every single team Kerrigan has done.

[BanKs] Always succeed at the start.

[Devilwalk] What has he done in the beginning of his teams?

[Devilwalk] No.

[Devilwalk] He hasn't always...

[BanKs] Faze hit the ground running.

[BanKs] Mouse hit the ground running.

[Devilwalk] Every single team that he started with the first couple of months, they've all switched positions.

[BanKs] Faze, when he came back, hit...

[BanKs] Ah, move things around.

[Devilwalk] Constantly.

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] But I said that they'll move anyway.

[Devilwalk] But they do that.

[Devilwalk] I'm just saying... It's going to create a little bit of chaos in the beginning.

[Devilwalk] Because that's how we want it.

[BanKs] Okay.

[Devilwalk] It wants people to understand...

[Devilwalk] the even if you're a star player how the ram player plays he wants the the ram player to understand how yard plays and he wants to switch things around to make sure that he has the pieces in the right spot and if people do well they might be able to play there you know he does this

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Did it in mouse, did it in face, multiple times until it clicks and it works.

[Devilwalk] And he's satisfied with it.

[Devilwalk] I'm just worried, does he even have the time to do his normal procedures?

[Devilwalk] Does he have the time to play around with this?

[Devilwalk] I'm just worried about that part.

[BanKs] yeah maybe maybe i was glazing too much because like at the beginning of phase let me go back to the very beginning of phase at the start no

[Devilwalk] I don't think they were successful at the start in many of the lineups.

[Devilwalk] I think it's always taken like two, three months.

[Devilwalk] They're testing positions, even in officials.

[BanKs] I'll say successful.

[BanKs] First phase one, right?

[BanKs] First event was like third, third, fourth.

[BanKs] A lot of third, fourths.

[BanKs] And the first trophy didn't come until after a while after.

[Devilwalk] They had the fucking best, absolute best players at that time.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah, that was crazy.

[Devilwalk] Every position.

[BanKs] And then let's go to Mal's times.

[BanKs] So Mal's, let me find Mal's.

[Devilwalk] Mouses grind.

[BanKs] Malz was third, fourth.

[BanKs] Yeah, okay.

[BanKs] So it's a bit of a slow start before hitting the wins.

[Devilwalk] All right.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] See, I glazed them too much.

[BanKs] Oh, that'd be interesting.

[BanKs] I'm going to put you as a challenge then.

[BanKs] After the first games, how much changes in Falcons?

[BanKs] How much does things move around?

[BanKs] Because we already said they moved a lot anyway, right?

[BanKs] They already did this.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, and I'm expecting things to get moved around because I just... It's just... For me, it's the process Kerrigan has.

[BanKs] Is there a world?

[BanKs] But you don't think you'll be happy?

[BanKs] But would he not be happy with where they're playing right now?

[Devilwalk] I don't think Kerrigan is an in-game leader that just takes the fucking playbook of someone else and just plays it.

[BanKs] Hmm.

[Devilwalk] I think that he will use this period, start now to major,

[Devilwalk] to implement his foundation and put the goal for next major.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] But what I'm worried about is that pressure going to mount and with the stress situation that he's been in,

[Devilwalk] It's a little bit of a plus-plus situation for me.

[Devilwalk] I think if he was refreshed and he had, you know, everything, you know, he was relieved and everything.

[BanKs] okay let me let me ask you this then right they're not going to the American events like Blast Rivals but they're going to Astana and they're going to CAC

[Devilwalk] Yeah, it's just my fantasy trying to match it.

[BanKs] Astana's a bit more stacked.

[BanKs] There's Spirit there, there's Furia there, Aurora, CAC.

[BanKs] It's just Falcons, Aurora, and Power Vision, Mongols, Maus.

[BanKs] Could Falcons win either of those two events?

[BanKs] I feel like there's a chance they could win CAC.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, but my question is not if.

[BanKs] No, no.

[Devilwalk] If they don't,

[BanKs] What happens?

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] All right.

[BanKs] All right.

[BanKs] All right.

[BanKs] So that's the Falcons.

[BanKs] Carragher news.

[BanKs] A bit on kickstand.

[BanKs] As I said, what was told to me is no one thinks he's a bad leader.

[BanKs] This is just a opportunity circumstance, not the right leader for this team.

[BanKs] So where does he go now?

[BanKs] Because he's very good.

[BanKs] A lot of teams could benefit from him.

[BanKs] I would have actually said if Mouse Hunter really announced their changes, maybe he could be the kind of player to go to them.

[BanKs] but also he's going to need to be bought out at the same time.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] Any thoughts on where he might go?

[BanKs] If we look down at the top teams?

[Devilwalk] Who has a lot of money?

[BanKs] I don't know, because he's already had nearly two years on the team, right?

[BanKs] So he can't have, it's not going to be huge as contract.

[Devilwalk] Personally, my favorite location for him would be Liquid.

[BanKs] Oh, big shout.

[BanKs] That's a bit of a step down for him, but that's a team he could work with.

[BanKs] Oh, I like what you cooked there.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, that's me.

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah.

[BanKs] I'll take that.

[BanKs] surprisingly he didn't just go to face surprisingly there wasn't some like bargaining swap you know that could have been something that went in there oh they definitely got paid for carrigan

[Devilwalk] I feel like, you know, yes, there's been like shouts, his face is running out of money, blah, blah, blah.

[Devilwalk] You know, they invested a lot into this.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, but it's just I'm not sure they're willing to splash the cash right now.

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] But if it was part of the trade deal, you know?

[Devilwalk] Well, it's obviously not.

[BanKs] Yeah, I mean, that could have been an option.

[Devilwalk] I mean, maybe it was a thing where they offered a trade deal, but Kiksan said no, because he's like, I don't want to join that fucking sinking ship.

[BanKs] Could have been an option.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Oh, man.

[BanKs] Yeah, and also, by the way, Twist is now going to be IGL for the next event with Nature coming in.

[Devilwalk] Great.

[BanKs] Official Nature to stand in for FaZe for Blast Rivals Fort Worth.

[BanKs] And their first game is against...

[BanKs] navi so twist igl jacob brokey frozen nature and nkj as a coach i don't know what state they're going to be in imagine if they just come out swinging somehow though

[Devilwalk] It's like Kerrigan is the problem kind of deal.

[BanKs] They've got a point to prove.

[BanKs] By the way, did you see all the bullshit about like, oh, no one publicly wished him good luck or stuff like this?

[BanKs] And obviously then there was twist discord messages and stuff as well.

[BanKs] Like personally, I feel like him, Frozen, Brokey, I think everyone on that team would have such a good relationship with Kerrigan.

[BanKs] I'm not worried about them.

[BanKs] saying things to each other, like discussing these things.

[Devilwalk] it's obviously a really really shitty period for these players in FaZe this is we're all like sometimes that happens and sometimes people need time to digest it and just like I was mad the first week now I'm good

[BanKs] This is business and it's the end of his career.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Mm hmm.

[BanKs] but I don't know I feel like most of them would be smart enough to think that like this is the end of his career this is business he's also got to do what's best for him because he's done a lot of sacrifice in letting all these other things happen you know also the other thing

[Devilwalk] Blah blah blah.

[Devilwalk] It's just normal.

[Devilwalk] But it does put FaZe, like, the lineup itself into this, like, okay, we're this shit, you know?

[BanKs] Complete, yeah.

[Devilwalk] Like, just fucking bailed on us.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] But also, part of this, yeah, remember there was a time where Carrigan was the be-all and end-all of all changes decision-making.

[BanKs] Yeah?

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] And then it changed where he wasn't and changes were happening, like Neo being kicked, Ropz being let go, like all these things happening.

[BanKs] And he kind of got, he lost his range, you know, he lost his control of it.

[BanKs] I'm guessing Falcons was probably in agreement there that he gets some of that control.

[BanKs] I mean, that could be a factor.

[Devilwalk] I don't know.

[Devilwalk] I think we can spin on this forever.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Well, let's move to Maus then because the Maus one is wild.

[BanKs] So Maus set for major overhaul as Zelix is promoted and Jail joins on loan.

[BanKs] This is crazy.

[BanKs] This one is the one I just, I don't know how we got here.

[BanKs] I don't know how it happened.

[BanKs] But like, you're playing with effectively.

[BanKs] So look at this, right?

[BanKs] Mouses lineup for PGL Astana and CAC.

[BanKs] Zershon, Torzy, Spinks, Zelex, JL.

[BanKs] So Zelex obviously coming from the Academy team, quite a hype top player right now.

[BanKs] And then their temporary roster for the season ending at IM Cologne Major will be Zershan, Torzy, Spinks, Zelex, Brolan.

[BanKs] Now I spoke to JL and he's keen on joining the team.

[BanKs] Like his goal would be to join the team.

[BanKs] Obviously he's...

[BanKs] a bench player on navi right so he wants to come back so he's going to try and prove himself in astana and cac 100 but then they roland knows he's being benched you bring him back for the major why you have your core free no

[Devilwalk] they have to but no you can only swap out one for the major

[BanKs] Zershin towards these Spinks.

[BanKs] Ah, yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah, because of the sub rule.

[BanKs] Damn.

[Devilwalk] But yeah.

[BanKs] And by the way, YymFat, all these rumors about YymFat going and not going.

[BanKs] What's going to happen now?

[BanKs] Someone's going to surely pick him up.

[BanKs] But like, is he the straight in for Falcons again over Tess's?

[Devilwalk] No, I don't know.

[BanKs] But it was all these rumors.

[BanKs] All these rumors confirmed by multiple people.

[BanKs] Information put out there.

[BanKs] And he stayed with Malz.

[BanKs] And now...

[Devilwalk] Either way, if we talk about just the mouse, I think the change, they're changing too.

[Devilwalk] I think that's positive.

[Devilwalk] There's obviously a lot of fatigue with this lineup.

[Devilwalk] They can't work out the solutions.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] They don't know how to progress.

[Devilwalk] That means usually you have to change too.

[Devilwalk] Now,

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] I was a little bit disappointed in, you know, I thought, well, there's only two decisions to make here.

[Devilwalk] There's either putting Sertian on IGL or kicking Sertian and keeping Brolan, but moving him in a different position and bringing in IGL.

[BanKs] Mal's not known to spend big money

[Devilwalk] Um,

[Devilwalk] and i wonder if mouse lineup is temporary maybe even a kick sun could join this lineup could be a great addition as an igl and because no true but it could be just alone

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] deal either way I think

[Devilwalk] They were in this point where the team had run its course and they needed bigger changes and this is what we're seeing right now.

[Devilwalk] We've all talked about it for ages.

[Devilwalk] I think it's kind of funny though, the statement of the addition of JL will help our team with an outgoing personality.

[Devilwalk] like it's like it to me it just goes into this aura debate again like that's why we signed them we just loan him for some aura uh i just found that like incredibly funny uh either way

[BanKs] Yep.

[BanKs] No, we're not allowed to say that anymore, remember?

[BanKs] But I'll say on that bit, right, about the outgoing personality, I will agree that in bigger moments, like we see so much reliance on Torsi to be that vocal one, JL does that without that being forced.

[BanKs] You know, for me, that's I know JL so well personally that like that's his personality.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] That is that doesn't need to be asked of him.

[BanKs] That just happens.

[BanKs] He will pop off in these moments.

[BanKs] He will win you some crazy unwinnable rounds.

[BanKs] He will do something that then like he propels the team forward.

[BanKs] We saw it so many times on that dominant Navi of 2024.

[BanKs] you know so like that is something that's going to be a boost and help for them for sure i will say this on cyclone right so cyclone put a tweet out and said on my decision regarding our roster i'll read the whole thing because i'll give them the respect on this

[BanKs] he says today we made the difficult decision to move forward with changes to our lineup and bench two players these moments are never easy because roster decisions are never only about performance on a scoreboard they involve people who have invested their time energy identity and heart into this team

[BanKs] so with that right i think that's a bit of like he he may even admit here this is me just reading into it so it's not what he said he's never messaged me about it but is there a moment where he thought maybe i gave this too much time maybe i should have made a change after austin major or something like that you know

[BanKs] So he said, first, I want to especially thank Ludwig, obviously Brolan.

[BanKs] What he has given to this group deserves real recognition.

[BanKs] The way he sacrificed himself for the team.

[BanKs] Remember, his performance was so good.

[BanKs] And then obviously, you know, he goes into IGL mode.

[BanKs] The passion he has shown and the consistency with which he tried to lead in every phase, especially through difficult moments, has been exceptional.

[BanKs] He stepped into responsibility, embraced pressure and grew tremendously as a leader.

[BanKs] The truth is this decision is not fair to him on a personal level, but leadership sometimes means accepting that fairness and necessity are not always the same thing.

[BanKs] Right now we believe that this is what the team needs in order to move forward.

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] I would also like to thank Jimmy for stepping into his very first tier one atmosphere and delivering as he has.

[BanKs] He played a crucial role for us to have so many deep tournament runs and to have that many playoff appearances at such an early age.

[BanKs] Nobody can deny the career he will have in front of him.

[BanKs] He poses mechanically.

[BanKs] A mechanical ability and a likeness to him that few have.

[BanKs] Always approachable and willingness to listen.

[BanKs] He brought joy, heart and character to the group and that deserves recognition.

[BanKs] It is also important to say that our recent results were never about one person or two people.

[BanKs] Success and failure in a team environment are always multifactorial.

[BanKs] We all share responsibility.

[BanKs] Staff, players, structure, momentum, confidence, outside pressure, all of it plays a role.

[BanKs] No single player should carry the weight of that story alone.

[BanKs] I also want to say something beyond the game.

[BanKs] These players are young talents, but first and foremost, they are human beings.

[BanKs] This is their life.

[BanKs] They give everything they have to compete, improve and represent this organization.

[BanKs] I would wish for a little more humanity from the outside when judging them, especially in difficult periods.

[BanKs] to the players effective you have my respect gratitude what you give this team matters and it will continue to matter once again thank you ludwig and jimmy so very nice message in there obviously he's like like anyone who's probably in the males camp they would they would hate how much they've been

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] spoken about in certain ways even on this podcast or other podcasts or by commentators whoever right but it's like that's part of it that's what they have to deal with because they're they were expected to do better they had the potential to do better now i'm just glad they finally pulled the trigger you know

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I think it was a great message from Cyclone.

[Devilwalk] A lot of respect for that.

[Devilwalk] I think it's great.

[Devilwalk] He's kind of trying to take off some pressure for these players.

[Devilwalk] They've obviously been under immense pressure from talent to community to, you know, they've been a team that a lot of people have memed on for years.

[Devilwalk] personally kind of weird reasons but I've kind of joined in sometimes as well so I'm not gonna you know say everyone's wrong but it's been a little bit tough for them and sometimes unfairly

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] definitely and we're in one of our last pieces of news we need to look at fallen's retirement in here because obviously a legend of the game he's offered so much not just for fingers a lot of this was obviously because the way he did it was about the brazil scene and obviously how much he's loved and adored there right he's like one of the biggest

[BanKs] brazilian celebrities in the world but he's also done a lot for counter-strike and we can't deny that in any way right the fact he almost ended his career multiple times you know he had the last dance and then he had what was going to be potentially a time he would step away

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] It's going to be a last last dance.

[BanKs] now we got a last dance with official days and everything i'll say this right you know when his wife went on the stage she's obviously heard this from him multiple times that like

[BanKs] I am going to retire.

[BanKs] And then he hasn't.

[BanKs] I feel like she finally knows that this is it.

[BanKs] Like this is, we're actually there.

[BanKs] And just to be honest, right?

[BanKs] As a dad myself, Fallon is now 34 years old.

[BanKs] He's been married a long time.

[BanKs] He's been with this woman a hell of a long time since he was so young.

[BanKs] she's sat there thinking um baby time hello like this is just my opinion yeah but i mean there's definitely a thing in his head of like you said you're gonna retire we should probably start a family i would like to start a family as most women do right not all of them can't just say everyone does but like this is all a thing that comes into it so for her it's probably like

[BanKs] oh, finally, we're there.

[BanKs] We're going to get the actual time to do it all.

[BanKs] But then he even said, right, I want to help people change their lives through Counter-Strike and other games.

[BanKs] So he's obviously got bigger ideas and projects.

[BanKs] Already he has Fallen Gear where he makes mice, keyboards, mousepads, mainly available in Brazil.

[BanKs] But like,

[BanKs] He's set for life anyway.

[BanKs] He can end his career on a high, probably much higher than he expected considering where he was at before Furia and even before Molotov and Jakinda joined, right?

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] So to me, this was the right timing to do it.

[BanKs] It was sad he couldn't clinch one major.

[BanKs] Like if they won Budapest, I think he retires then.

[BanKs] You know, like an instant retire.

[BanKs] He would love that.

[BanKs] But there is still a chance for him maybe to get one trophy, two trophies more if the team can really go absolutely...

[BanKs] next level for him when doing it yeah um but like this is this is one of those people where the term legend is not like small this is a this is a big thing and bro also

[Devilwalk] no no of course he's gonna speak just be happy if I can switch to English man yeah

[BanKs] if you're one of these idiots that was complaining that he did half the thing in Portuguese like this was in his arena his people of course he's going to do it all in Portuguese

[BanKs] Yeah, we got a little bit from it.

[BanKs] And guess what?

[BanKs] The translation came out afterwards.

[BanKs] I felt, I don't know about you, I almost cried watching it because I was emotional for him.

[Devilwalk] I got emotional watching it.

[BanKs] Bro, I was like, wow.

[Devilwalk] It was beautiful.

[BanKs] And obviously for him who's tried to retire so many times and then it hit, like it must have been so hard for him to go through.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] Because now it's the realization it's actually happening.

[BanKs] Like there's a date, there's a number behind it, you know.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] It's a, it's, I mean, there's so much to digest here.

[BanKs] What are your thoughts on it?

[Devilwalk] Fallen is absolute legend of the game.

[Devilwalk] It's not only, you know, his in-game leader has been, you know, one of the most dangerous awpers, had this unique style, very quick, kind of like...

[Devilwalk] you know very snappy huge big game player there's there's so many ingredients to Fallen his leadership he's an emotional leader he's uh he's a real captain and leader in that sense you know people believe in him people get better under him there's a lot of you know

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] He's a great person as well.

[Devilwalk] There's so much things to like about Fallen and what he's done for the game.

[Devilwalk] And I'm not even sure, even though we hype him up now as how big he is,

[Devilwalk] I'm not really sure we really understand how huge of an impact he's actually had on this game.

[Devilwalk] Now, just trying to summarize this in a short few words, I think

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] he's been immense for not only european counter-strike but world counter-strike brazilian counter-strike north american counter-strike he has so much influence in different kind of spheres of this world

[Devilwalk] that is beyond us to speak about in some sense.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] It's really hard to find words for what this person has brought to the game.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] And we can only salute him, wish him well, and...

[Devilwalk] you know, remember the good times, I guess.

[BanKs] Remember the good times.

[BanKs] You must have had times playing against him, right?

[Devilwalk] Yes, I've played against him.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] And like, I remember the first interview.

[Devilwalk] I've also got him coached by FalleN, if you remember that story.

[BanKs] i remember yes i remember you saying that and bro i there was um the gfinity um sivo event in 2016 first time i got to interview him first time i got to meet him and see him back all that just 10 years ago i've known him and been doing interviews

[BanKs] and stuff with him right always fantastic at doing it always started interviews in his own way right like hi everyone you know like it started in a different way to what other people were doing interviews yep

[Devilwalk] But it's crazy.

[Devilwalk] He's been pro in 1.6, CS Source, CSGO, CS2, and I think another game called like... It's some other strike game.

[Devilwalk] I think it's like an Asian...

[BanKs] Or like Counter Strike Online?

[Devilwalk] no it's like it's it's it's a variation game that has also been proven proven yeah

[BanKs] That was like very Chinese.

[BanKs] I didn't know that.

[BanKs] I didn't even know that.

[BanKs] That's crazy.

[BanKs] That's actually crazy.

[BanKs] But yeah, the thing is, he'll still stay around, right?

[BanKs] The thing is, him to go to coaching doesn't make any sense, right?

[BanKs] Obviously, from what he said in all these interviews and this stuff,

[Devilwalk] Probably he's probably pretty done with it right now.

[BanKs] travel yeah but i don't think for the traveling stuff he doesn't need to um supposedly he's going to join fury as like a bit more of a content creator into streaming he is the first person who could rival gaulus

[BanKs] More people, in my opinion, were tuning into FalleN than Gaulez.

[BanKs] Gaulez has gone into more traditional sports.

[BanKs] You've seen he's doing F1 and other things anyway.

[BanKs] Imagine FalleN just fills the gap to just do CS and maybe only the very biggest events.

[BanKs] and then moves on like and has his family time and set up his other projects he's a smart businessman as well and his family are there like his his brother i talk to quite a bit he's the one who always runs like the fallen store and all that side so they're set up they know what they're doing we'll still see him around but like

[BanKs] He's done it.

[BanKs] And by the way, am I crazy?

[BanKs] Am I correct?

[BanKs] He must be the highest ever placing IGL in the top 20.

[BanKs] He hit number two in the world in 2016.

[Devilwalk] i think so uh gla1ve was what fourth or maybe no i don't know eighth

[BanKs] There can't have been an IGL higher than that.

[BanKs] Cold was first and then he was two, right?

[BanKs] there's no way like glaive wasn't glaive gonna win that yeah so that's like bro he's he's on a whole other level whole other level it's crazy yeah

[Devilwalk] A, if he was.

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] He's basically the grandfather of sniping IGLs in CSGO, at least.

[BanKs] Yeah, definitely.

[BanKs] Well, wish him the best of luck.

[BanKs] It's going to be interesting to see how Fury will deal with all of this, but we'll touch on that more across future episodes as we go through it all.

[BanKs] There's also one other thing we're going to say is for our...

[BanKs] I'm not going to call it an ad read.

[BanKs] This is for one of the guys who works in the back end of our podcast.

[BanKs] Ivan, a good friend of ours.

[BanKs] He says, go to CS.

[BanKs] You put the fucking text devil.

[BanKs] Move your fucking cursor.

[BanKs] I can't read when your name is across the document.

[BanKs] Yeah, I can't do that.

[BanKs] It says, go to CSPins.shop to check out the pins from CSGO Majors that our producer is selling right now.

[BanKs] The reason we're saying that is because obviously he does a lot for the channel and helps us out, but also these are some incredibly rare pins.

[BanKs] Some of us, if you're around at the early days, we're able to collect these.

[BanKs] But like Anders was selling his not too long ago and people instantly bought them.

[Devilwalk] I have some at home at least.

[BanKs] Yeah, I've still got mine as well.

[BanKs] So if you're interested in that kind of thing, if you're into the skins, the pins and all that kind of thing, check them out.

[BanKs] This guy's got them up for grabs for you.

[BanKs] And that brings us before we go.

[BanKs] So we've got Q&A and we've got the Blast Rivals in here.

[BanKs] Blast Rivals is going to be a bit of a weird one.

[BanKs] By the way, this was one of the events where I could actually work it in terms of dates.

[BanKs] I'm working again, but I wasn't able to go because I needed a visa for America and I couldn't get the visa.

[BanKs] for people i saw people commenting on the hrtv post like oh when's banks back um yeah i'm not i still have to wait because this is a visa one so only people working that event is ones who have american visas which is why i think shocks is there ian's got his from rainbow six i guess um but don't worry i am coming back this will go back to normality afterwards so

[Devilwalk] Oh.

[BanKs] Let's look at this, right?

[BanKs] Vitality, Na'Vi, Furia, Astralis, Foot, G2, FaZe, and Gamer Legion.

[BanKs] Pretty stacked, but it's only eight-team event.

[BanKs] It's also a playoffs where we're only getting six teams in playoffs again, right?

[BanKs] Teams that go straight through to the semis as well.

[BanKs] So that old predicament, that's just the way Blast run it.

[BanKs] Thank you.

[BanKs] I will say this is a vitality event to win.

[BanKs] None of these teams are even close.

[BanKs] It's not going to be an option.

[BanKs] Game Legion getting a chance to go through because obviously so many teams declined the invite to this, to be clear, right?

[BanKs] A lot of teams weren't going to go to the American trip or they couldn't do it because of visas.

[BanKs] Same problem I had because it's just not possible, right?

[BanKs] So we don't get to see the first Kerrigan Falcons one in here.

[BanKs] We do see a very easy to win potentially event for Vitality.

[BanKs] We get to see Foot, who I think could make a deep run, definitely make playoffs.

[BanKs] um phase obviously good luck to them what they can do with twisters igl and nature coming in g2 with hunter back obviously that's something to keep an eye on game legion

[BanKs] We haven't seen them for such a long time.

[BanKs] I don't even know what they've been up to.

[BanKs] We haven't even spoke to them in so long.

[BanKs] They came third place at the Star Series ranked event.

[BanKs] Fifth to eighth at that ROG Journey event, which Alliance did pretty well at, we spoke about.

[BanKs] First place for Park and Challenger Championship, but...

[BanKs] for them it's just all about right making the major that was all their focus so they got a new logo what are you making that new logo it's kind of wilder

[Devilwalk] I don't know.

[Devilwalk] I mean, it looks cool, but it just feels wrong.

[BanKs] to me it reminds me of like some heavy metal band or something like that

[Devilwalk] It's like a Diablo logo with Gamer Legion in it.

[BanKs] Oh, yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah, yeah.

[BanKs] Yeah, good point.

[BanKs] Good point.

[BanKs] So overall for this event, it's still a million dollar prize pool.

[BanKs] It's 125k for first place.

[BanKs] Same as 125k for club share.

[BanKs] But the fact is eight teams were going to get

[BanKs] Interesting groups because Vitality, Foot, Astralis, G2 in one group, Na'Vi, FaZe, FURIA, Game Legion for the other group.

[BanKs] So let's go through our matchups in here.

[BanKs] Vitality versus Foot.

[Devilwalk] i put vitality i'm just i think foot can damage them can probably take a map but uh i think it's yeah

[BanKs] They've never played each other.

[BanKs] They've never played each other

[BanKs] I'm going to give you this.

[BanKs] I will take Foot winning this opening best of three because it doesn't change much in the grand scheme of things.

[BanKs] I think Foot off the back of obviously Vitality calming down, coming to America, yeah?

[BanKs] Foot, some of their players got their American visas and just come through and got happy.

[BanKs] This is a great opportunity for them.

[BanKs] They might come through and just win this best of three.

[BanKs] That doesn't mean I don't think they'll win the whole event, but in the group stage opening game, I'm going to choose Foot over Vitality.

[BanKs] I've got that little bit of belief in our boys.

[Devilwalk] All right, I went vitality.

[BanKs] You're going Vitality though.

[BanKs] Astralis G2.

[Devilwalk] I'm going Astralis.

[Devilwalk] I think the why I say Astralis is I think they are kind of a prep heavy team.

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] They open up really, really well.

[Devilwalk] You know, even when they played foot in the first game in ESL Pro League, they've played Spirit in ESL Pro League.

[BanKs] Mhm.

[Devilwalk] like finals they beat them first game in PGL Bucharest they won like a lot of first games they've been really really good at so

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] I kind of consider them a mini-navi in that sense, that they will prep heavy, they will understand their opponents.

[Devilwalk] When the matchups are out, the more time you give them, probably the better they become.

[Devilwalk] So that's why I went Astralis.

[BanKs] Okay.

[BanKs] I feel like it'll be a G2 win just because Hunter will have a point to prove coming into this.

[BanKs] I don't know if there's any head-to-head between these guys.

[BanKs] They've not faced off against each other, so we're going to get a few interesting matches, especially considering how the VRS has changed.

[BanKs] obviously what where are we at right now for australis they are sick from the rankings right now so i think this this is going to be a fun exciting game to have but i feel like hunter back some players if we can keep up some of that form will be good um and obviously i'm a big fan of nerds coming into this g2 line i'm just undersaw so i think that will give them the edge

[Devilwalk] Leo.

[BanKs] they need to be careful of though a sharp jabby and um jabby and ryu definitely all right navi versus phase navi like what else what else can you say

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] yeah I don't know I mean maybe that will fuck up Navi's prep and FaZe might have like some weird ass honeymoon reason but I don't really see that happening I'm picking Navi all the way

[BanKs] here we go no um furia game lesion furia again just because we haven't seen game lesion for so long they are going to struggle against this kind of opposition yeah

[Devilwalk] It's a good test for them.

[Devilwalk] I think they should be motivated to be back at this kind of position.

[Devilwalk] It's a good chance for them, good opportunity.

[Devilwalk] Hopefully, you know, for them, super important to pick up one, two wins in a tournament like this to just boost them a little bit in VRS.

[BanKs] Yeah, definitely.

[BanKs] all right so even though it's an eight team event six teams are making it through to playoffs so only two go out in last place so let's let's go through who's making out a group a i feel like it'll be foot and g2

[Devilwalk] I think J2 will go last place.

[BanKs] Oh, okay.

[BanKs] So I'm going to say foot in G2, go through, yeah?

[BanKs] And then Vitality in the lower final, go through.

[Devilwalk] I go Vitality Astralis in upper final with Vitality winning and then Foot winning against G2.

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[BanKs] Cool.

[BanKs] I'm going to say foot to semis, G2 and Vitality through to quarters.

[Devilwalk] Group B.

[Devilwalk] Navi win.

[BanKs] yeah uh group b navi win furia win navi get revenge because it's not in rio and then they go through to semis furia to quarters and then bro phase or gave a lesion

[Devilwalk] I'm saying gamer legion.

[Devilwalk] I'm saying gamer legion.

[BanKs] Oh, mate.

[BanKs] No.

[BanKs] FaZe still do it.

[BanKs] FaZe.

[Devilwalk] I'm saying gamer legion.

[BanKs] I almost failed to follow you, but there's just enough.

[Devilwalk] But it's unknown of face.

[Devilwalk] It's like, okay, they're shittier, but unknown.

[BanKs] I'm a safe face going through.

[BanKs] You say game leaves, I'll say face.

[Devilwalk] All right.

[BanKs] We'll wait and see what happens.

[BanKs] But we got our Q&A to do.

[BanKs] We're gonna have to rapid fire this Q&A.

[Devilwalk] Yes, I'll do a score there.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] After the heroic to Australia situation, do you think NIP consulted Shush before signing Staven?

[Devilwalk] Also, NIP is officially a Danish core.

[BanKs] Oh yeah, we didn't touch on that.

[Devilwalk] So, I think...

[Devilwalk] Well, first of all, Exist was the coach of Heroic when Staven was in there.

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[Devilwalk] I think that relationship is probably, you know, a big part of it.

[Devilwalk] Obviously, the Danish relationship also kind of interconnects that.

[Devilwalk] So a majority of the team has a sense of who Staven is, what he can bring, what his potential is.

[Devilwalk] uh so i think it all kind of made sense from a historical perspective for them and that's probably why they signed him that's the i mean it's always been a hobby opera but that it's a it's it's a risk definitely

[BanKs] But as an AWPer... Bro, it's a coming out of a lot of time off, yeah?

[BanKs] Like, have a quick look.

[Devilwalk] I see someone in this Q&A.

[BanKs] When did Stan last play?

[BanKs] When did Stown last... I just saw it as I was like, no.

[BanKs] When did Stown last play a game?

[Devilwalk] Three years ago?

[BanKs] Let's have a look at this.

[BanKs] Before, so Astralis, it was Esports World Cup, August 2025.

[BanKs] So it's not been a year, but it's almost been a year.

[BanKs] And he's having to play through this again.

[Devilwalk] Felt like it was longer for some reason.

[BanKs] And now he's not going to be rifling, he's going to be orping.

[BanKs] Yeah, it did feel like it's longer.

[BanKs] He's going to be on HLTV confirmed as a guest, so I'm interested to see what he's going to say there and how open and honest he'll be on everything.

[BanKs] But, I mean, working with Ignis, working with Snappy, working with Shush again, being on the same team, great.

[BanKs] There's still a lot.

[BanKs] There's a big point to prove.

[BanKs] At least he'll be able to grind his way up in the low tiers.

[BanKs] I can see that as a positive.

[BanKs] I can see that as a positive.

[Devilwalk] I have to take this next question from Shengite.

[BanKs] Okay.

[Devilwalk] Which team do you see Qixan as a good fit for now?

[Devilwalk] Well, I said Team Liquid and I said Maus.

[Devilwalk] Those are my two picks.

[BanKs] Do you know what?

[Devilwalk] What do you think about Shengite's

[BanKs] Change it.

[BanKs] Change it.

[BanKs] Change it.

[BanKs] I'm so sorry that Devwalk is a complete and utter tool.

[BanKs] He just ruins your name every time and can't say it right.

[BanKs] And I'm so sorry that you had to deal with our laughing fit last time.

[BanKs] That was a good one.

[BanKs] This time we seem to be more composed.

[BanKs] We've understood it.

[BanKs] Which team do you see Kingston as a good fit for?

[BanKs] We spoke about it a bit earlier, but Liquid would be great.

[BanKs] I actually like what Devwalk said there.

[BanKs] But I also think if this Malz situation with IGL doesn't work out, definitely Malz.

[BanKs] Definitely Malz.

[BanKs] And that's not too much of a step below for him.

[BanKs] So that could be good.

[BanKs] All right, the next question is from Oscar.

[BanKs] He says, will Kerrigan be able to balance the Falcons as a captain and reduce the amount of ego in a team, Kioski?

[BanKs] Definitely, because trust me, he'll have those tough conversations with someone like Kioski.

[BanKs] And also, Kiyosaki will respect what Carrigan says to him.

[BanKs] He's grown up watching him, seeing him lift trophies.

[BanKs] This is going to be a win-win scenario.

[BanKs] For me, I just envision it in my head that this will be an understanding.

[BanKs] This will be a, like, ego has to be left at the door thing.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, I mean...

[BanKs] I think Manasi, Niko, Kioski, everyone's going to respect Carragher and they're going to want him there.

[BanKs] And it's not like they didn't want Kiksan, but it's, you know, if you think you're significantly better or more experienced or whatever than this person, it's maybe harder for him to get a call in the game.

[BanKs] This is just our opinion, by the way.

[BanKs] No one's come out there and said that that's what happened with Kiksan.

[BanKs] But I mean, Kerrigan's voice, say this, you're just in a stack of games and you get Kiksan as your IGL and then you get Kerrigan as your IGL.

[BanKs] There's a voice that's going to hold a bit more weight to it as well.

[BanKs] It's like how every time we play Faceit with Devwalk, everyone's just telling him to call.

[BanKs] He just becomes the call.

[Devilwalk] yeah it's annoying either way

[BanKs] He can't just enjoy a game of CS.

[BanKs] It's like, oh, Devlog, you're cool.

[Devilwalk] Either way, I think it's definitely going to be something Kerrigan are able to do.

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[Devilwalk] What the effect of it... I mean, I think everyone will respect it.

[Devilwalk] That's going to work fine.

[Devilwalk] So, yeah, I don't see any problems with that.

[Devilwalk] Gfly...

[BanKs] All right.

[BanKs] Yee fly.

[BanKs] Yee.

[BanKs] Yee.

[Devilwalk] g fly what what's uh the situation with mouse right now which teams do you think it's the best fit for brolin or jimmy um that one is a tougher question

[BanKs] Y-E-E.

[Devilwalk] I think right now Jimmy probably has the more kind of stock in the market being, you know, kind of an anchor playing those rough positions.

[BanKs] Mhm.

[Devilwalk] Brolan, I think his stocks are kind of a little bit down.

[Devilwalk] But

[Devilwalk] I don't think it's like a stressful situation for them.

[Devilwalk] I think they'll probably wait until after the major and opportunities are just going to rise for them.

[Devilwalk] A lot of things could change at that point.

[Devilwalk] And a lot of it is depending on how people perform at the major.

[Devilwalk] So it's kind of rough to see where the opportunities are going to lead right now for Brolan and Jimmy.

[BanKs] yeah i feel like for me when i look at jimmy the falcons move could be on the cards for tess says by maybe he skips this next season right

[Devilwalk] There's a lot of different avenues that could happen.

[BanKs] Maybe Testers is saved with a Kerrigan move for this year, but then coming into 2027.

[BanKs] But Yim Fat is an upgrade for a good amount of teams who want a solid anchor.

[BanKs] It's about how he fits in personality-wise as well.

[BanKs] But we know he's had offers.

[BanKs] We know he's had opportunity and didn't go.

[BanKs] So now he's on the bench.

[BanKs] I don't think it's long that he'll stay on there.

[BanKs] I would love to see him go to Falcons personally.

[BanKs] I think that would be a match made in heaven.

[BanKs] And also, he'd be able to handle all of the stuff Falcons are doing, right?

[BanKs] Because Jimmy don't have an ego.

[BanKs] Jimmy's light test is in that way, but younger and mechanically better.

[BanKs] You know?

[Devilwalk] Yeah.

[BanKs] So that works out well.

[BanKs] For Brolam...

[BanKs] I think a team where he doesn't have to be IGL.

[BanKs] I don't know what team that would be, but he's still so good as a non-IGL.

[BanKs] Like, how old is Brolin?

[Devilwalk] The weirdest part was my first thought was heroic.

[BanKs] I can always forget.

[BanKs] He's so young.

[BanKs] He's only 23.

[BanKs] Ooh.

[BanKs] Like, that's a really... I think he can do better.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] I think he can do better, but I'm just thinking maybe he wants to be in the Swedish team, kind of-ish.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] True.

[Devilwalk] Either way.

[BanKs] Alright, the next one.

[BanKs] Canareca.

[BanKs] Do you think Kerrigan in Falcons is realistically a Hail Mary project to challenge Vitality's dominance, especially after a nice try in IEM Rio?

[BanKs] Um...

[BanKs] It's not a Hail Mary because I feel like what we spoke about earlier in the podcast is that this is a building for the future of having what you want and need.

[BanKs] If he doesn't work out as the IGL, then they get him as the coach for the future and change.

[Devilwalk] Yeah, they are outside the door.

[BanKs] This is more like securing Kerrigan.

[BanKs] securing carrigan and getting the job done like that devil really has to go soon you can see he's turning around people entering his house we're on the last couple of questions but you didn't say anything about the hail mary thing you didn't jump in on that

[Devilwalk] uh so let's just speed run masaru what do you guys think about the situation share again leaving face the hail mary yes it's a hail mary blah blah blah uh uh okay

[BanKs] You can't... Don't rush it like that.

[BanKs] Don't disrespect our questions.

[Devilwalk] I think it's a Hail Mary, but not in the way of like, I don't think it will be a Hail Mary situation short term.

[Devilwalk] I think it's a Hail Mary in the long term.

[Devilwalk] to challenge vitality i think they've identified that they struggle in playoff they need an emotional leader they need someone that can step in take the reins and that i still think that's going to take time and it's not something that's going to happen within a two months period i think this is for later in the year

[BanKs] Mm-hmm.

[BanKs] All right.

[Devilwalk] Okay, Massario, what do you guys think of the situation where Kerrigan is just leaving face without telling anyone?

[Devilwalk] I think it's weird.

[Devilwalk] I think, I don't know, it sounds really, yeah, cursed in some way, I don't know.

[BanKs] the thing i saw right is like look at this twist said this is in the discord it says did you know for a while or was it sudden and twist said it was sudden and then he goes i wonder if karen asked to leave or he was just told he's gonna be gone weird situation he wasn't kicked

[BanKs] um obviously it may have been sudden but i think that like the situation of him just leaving without telling anyone i don't think it may like we need to find out by speaking to him rather than assuming

[Devilwalk] I think it's okay.

[Devilwalk] I'm, I am thinking it's a situation where he struggled with, okay, and we're going to tell them and now we're just going to shoot ourselves in the foot without, you know, making the major kind of deal.

[BanKs] Yep.

[Devilwalk] Uh, cause this is probably been in cards for longer than just a day.

[Devilwalk] Um,

[Devilwalk] So I thought that he is thinking I'm going to give it my all now and basically I don't want to ruin people's hopes of this not working out in the long term.

[BanKs] Mhm.

[Devilwalk] So that we at least have the chance to do well in the upcoming tournaments instead of dropping this bomb and then everyone giving up and kind of putting the team into shit's position.

[Devilwalk] So I think it's like a very weird moral kind of balance point he was in.

[Devilwalk] And that's probably why this happened the way it happened, because of the position FaZe have been in competitively.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] yeah but i think without telling him i think he just told them maybe later than what was expected or wanted which is obviously not ideal but it will we'll know the truth later on when some more interviews or content comes out with these people maybe faze will even touch on it a bit and they do the interviews um for the opening part of uh rivals

[Devilwalk] Yep.

[BanKs] All right, last question from Freezer1337.

[BanKs] Mr. Leet, how hard will it be for JL to get back into Tier 1 after almost a year off?

[BanKs] He's grinding FACEIT right now.

[BanKs] He did a stream yesterday.

[BanKs] He already had that stint with Team Liquid where he looked pretty okay.

[BanKs] I feel like he is more than a capable individual player in terms of being good.

[BanKs] i feel like he wants this and i'll just go back to quote quickly the messages i had from him when because what i said to jael i said um it's loading devil's gonna hate this because my internet is loading very slowly yeah

[Devilwalk] mean the the the good part about it if i can answer when you find the the quote he's had few stints where he's been a stand-in his stand-in situations uh where he's kind of gotten up to speed a little bit every every single time playing a tournament here playing a tournament there

[Devilwalk] so he's kind of been in the situation but not like day to day in that sense it's an advantage and it's not as long as we look at Stav and hasn't been an official game for almost a year

[BanKs] Yeah.

[Devilwalk] JL has played and has had these stand-in situations to kind of keep him up to date and get the feeling.

[Devilwalk] So I don't think he will be as rusty as someone like Staven jumping straight into it.

[BanKs] Yeah.

[BanKs] And I like the fact, like I said, he was streaming, but also he, from when I was messaging him on Instagram, he understands that this is a, if he performs well, he will get to join and be back to tier one.

[BanKs] And that'd be a good team for him to work with and vibe with and the voice he can have in the team as well.

[BanKs] So very positive stuff overall, if he does get to join him.

[BanKs] But that is it.

[BanKs] DevWalk has to run.

[BanKs] It's episode 58 of the All About Counter-Strike podcast.

[BanKs] Thank you very much for watching.

[BanKs] We covered Rio.

[BanKs] We covered the news.

[BanKs] We missed a few little things off in there, like the Stalmon, for example.

[BanKs] But make sure you like, subscribe, and comment.

[BanKs] And...

[BanKs] next episode will be when we get done with rivals by looks let me just look down the event list so we have rivals finishing on the 3rd of may and astana starting on the 9th so we'll do one

[BanKs] on the 4th of may and cover both astana and rivals and any of the news that's happened throughout maybe we get some more updates on all the carrigan phase situation alongside what's going on with falcons either way thank you very much for watching hopefully this new recording on the new software looks even better than before and uh see you soon

[Devilwalk] Bye-bye.