Have you ever tried to organise anything via WhatsApp?

We have, and it was like trying to herd cats, or matchmaking teammates. Thankfully, when it comes to big decisions in esports, they wouldn’t try and do that.

Anyway, the CSPPA ‘agreed’ on a player break date, with player representatives and TOs all harmoniously agreeing on the early June-early July dates.

Apart from all of the players who said they were never told about any of this in the replies, of course. Apart from them, it was completely harmonious.

According to Dust2.us who quoted ChrisJ as saying ‘literally nobody spoke up about it’, it was communicated via a WhatsApp chat where ‘approximately five players’ said it was kosher.

That’s good then.

The rest of them didn’t respond, and the first they apparently heard of it was on Twitter.

We’re not really sure what to say. We can’t really blame the CSPPA for players not reading the WhatsApp chat, but we can blame them for thinking that was ever going to work.

Mind you, someone was going to complain whatever the outcome was, so it’s a pretty thankless task.

Before you raise your pitchforks, hear us out for a second; it’s not a real wallhack.

Instead SteelSeries have done something incredibly smart: They found a way weaponize every headset, by allowing you to increase the sound of footsteps and decrease gunshots.

No, for real.

With their Sonar audio software, you don’t have to worry about missing the sound of a bomb defuse, or the flash bang blowing out your eardrum for the 47th time today.

Best of all, it’s free and works with any headset from any brand. Not just SteelSeries.

Simply download Sonar, select the CS:GO preset and enjoy your free wins and your opponents’ salty tears*.

Hear what others miss and try SteelSeries Sonar for free.

*Wins and tears not guaranteed

‍

Want your ad here? Reply to this email and let us know. Disclosure: TLDR co-founders, Jacob and Phillip are both employed by SteelSeries and avid Sonar-enjoyers.

Ah, IEM Cologne, where ESL **have the cheek to include TWO group stages. Don't worry though, they're suitably punished by HLTV listing the main events prize pool as an embarrassing $972,000.

And, there’s some good LAN CS between some decent-to-okay teams, too. Ignore the token Aussies.

It's a big event debut for Spirit’s w0nderful, Heroic’s Jabbi, and Outsiders’ fame and n0rb3r7. We even get to see Brazilian starlet dumau get baited by coldzera for the second time this week!

The format is one big GSL bracket, with eight out of sixteen teams advancing to IEM Cologne proper.

Vitality, Heroic, Spirit, BIG, Astralis, Outsiders and MOUZ would be the prime picks if there was a Pick ‘Em, but there are banana peels around every turn — complacency cannot be afforded.

Oh, and Complexity are here too. Set your alarms NA, they're gonna give us two of the worst games of the event, same as usual.

But don't focus on that, sensible reader. Focus on BnTeT, dumau, and biguzera. Focus on Imperial bombing out and making Twitter incredible, or steam coming out of SPUNJ’s ears after Jame saves for the fifth time that half.

It may not be the LANXESS just yet, but that's no excuse for skipping the foreplay. Counter-Strike’s third Major is underway.

Then, we get to group stage #2, featuring all the big boys: NAVI, FaZe, ENCE, and checks notes Liquid?

I mean, they are the last team to win IEM Cologne in front of a crowd way back in 2019 but a fair amount has happened since then.

Stewie has had the Romanov treatment, Twistzz has won a Major with a European team, and nitr0 has had a team blow up in an entirely different esport.

Yet, the Yanks have a trap card in the form of YEKINDAR, something we covered here.

The real story, however, despite the Latvian’s visceral sauciness, is whether NAVI’s dominant win in Lisbon is a true return to form.

electroNic, with the help of a 4000 word dossier from B1ad3 a game, has taken to IGLing like an American takes to drama. And, his calls barely even matter anyway: nobody here can withstand b1t, electroNic, and s1mple in peak form.

FaZe would love to disagree but their post-Major hangover has lasted so long we're starting to think they need to drink more water. Yet, it's still silly (and really funny) to write them off: karrigan is putting real pressure on himself and his team, so we've got a feeling they'll roll out of bed for this one.

Next in line is ENCE. They have Spinx back, but that didn't help them in Portugal. Officially they're #3, but their form and firepower beyond Spinx implies that's a placeholder despite their Olympic-diving level deep map pool.

After those three were very much into dark horse category — Cloud9, G2, NIP, and FURIA (if they keep playing to their opponents level…) are all decent outfits.

sh1ro and Ax1Le have that Dallas win under their belts, and we’re never going to say no to a bit of REZ and brollan or NiKo and m0NESY.

But, these teams only become relevant once one of FaZe, ENCE or NAVI slip up. The Major final, despite NAVI’s Last Dance having more asterisks than the night sky, was a great game, and Cologne could bed in a fantastic rivalry — it would be a real shame if the crowd didn't get to see that matchup.

But, it wouldn't be the end of the world: All the best teams are here, vying to grab one last trophy before the player break.

Cologne is as good as a Major. And it's a hell of a lot better than anything else that happens in a Cathedral. Don't miss it.

💦 Leaky pipes

• Apparently, we’re not far out on a CSGO Source 2 port. Yet another version of CS we can suck at.

⚰️ Get rekt

• Dignitas tried to take on mobile gaming and horribly failed.
• JamYoung is as fast with the spray as we are at giving you the news! Complimenting yourself by complimenting others, nice.

📚 Things to know before you play

• Rule one: always blame the game.
• Rule two: learn Russian.
• Rule three: watch informative videos on pro teams’ utility usage

😶 Maybe don’t do this?

• A fan was removed from the arena of ESL Challenger Valencia for racial abuse. His excuse? He was trying to be homophobic, not racist.
• Quick tip, if you’re a pro player maybe don’t go looking for your wife through an escort service…