Typically, we’re quite happy to have an event without Virtus.pro, and whilst we aren’t overly disappointed that they’re missing out on ESL Pro League Season 22, we do feel quite bad for them under the circumstances.

According to their Twitter, the boys turned up at the Swedish border with all their necessary documents - ones that they have used to enter Schengen countries before - just for the Swedish border control to say that there was an issue with their medical insurance.

We’re going to imagine that the truth of this story is that the border control agent they dealt with is a CS fan who just didn’t have to suffer watching them play again, but their absence at Pro League could see them also miss out on more tournaments down the line.

See, Virtus.pro exist in a very precarious spot in the holy VRS standings, in that their position is one that means they are just on the cusp of invites to events, and, more importantly, just on the cusp of an invite to the Major.

Their presence at EPL would’ve more than likely confirmed their place in Budapest, but given that they’re now absent, they’re also likely to miss out on qualification to said Major, too.

It was something that had already been hinted at by former Gambit and NAVI coach kane, but everyone’s favourite VRS savant MischiefCS2 also confirmed it, with VP’s Pro League travel debacle leaving them with only a 24.5% chance of making it, as opposed to 86.9% when they were going to be present.

And who said no RMRs wasn’t fun?

Honestly, we’d love to make some more jokes here, because we really don’t like watching VP play, but we actually do just feel really bad for them. In the old system, missing out on a single tournament wouldn’t matter, but now it will likely mean that their entire season will be for nothing.

Brutal.

VP have been replaced by ENCE at the event, but the Finnish team aren’t the only replacement team stepping into the tournament. Lynn Vision have also been unable to attend, but fortunately - for them and for us - their Major status isn’t in doubt.

The Chinese team have been replaced by Gentle Mates, who ended up cooking their own chances at making the Major by accepting the invite. They’re down to 1.3% after previously sitting with an outside shot at 14.5%.

It’s not at all confusing - we’re lying, we’re completely baffled - but we can only assume that it’s part of a long-term strategy to prioritise getting events over an extended period of time from a higher ranked tournament now, rather than gambling to make the Major at a lower ranked tournament (Birch Cup 2025, which they forfeited to head to Pro League) later.

Nothing like the VRS system to make you wish for simpler times.

Interview

Source: BLAST / Stephanie Lindgren

OG’s AWPer on growing up a little nerd, why he’d be cooked without Counter-Strike, and the CS map he’d choose to call home (anywhere but Germany).

Why did you start playing CS?
I've always liked video games. I've always seen myself as a little nerd, just gaming, and then CS popped up. I played a bunch of other games like MOBAs, anything honestly, but CS is one that really stuck with me.

If you weren't a CS pro, what job do you think you'd have?
I'm gonna be honest, I think I'm pretty cooked. I was never good at studying, and I didn't like working outside of CS.

When you tell people what you do for work, what's the strangest reaction you've ever got?
Obviously, it's going to be the one: 'Video games? You play video games for a living?'. Probably that one.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? Does that change whether it's an online game or a LAN game?
Honestly, not really. I just like to chill. I'm not the type of guy who does crazy one-hour DM sessions, and then I have to kill a thousand bots. I just want to get a feel of the game, spend 10-15 minutes on the game, and I'm ready to go.

How much is a can of Monster?
I would say 20 Danish. That's usually what I pay, at least. But I don't drink that. I only drink Red Bull.

Is that a sponsorship thing?
No, no. I love Red Bull.

What is your favourite song to deathmatch to?
I'm a big J. Cole fan. Anything from him gets me going. He's pretty chill, and his music is really good.

Any album in particular?
Born Sinner is a good one. Forest Hills. I like the old ones more, to be honest.

From any team you've ever played on, you have to pick one player to win a 1v1 clutch that will either save the world if they win it or the world will be doomed if they lose it. Who are you going for?
That's actually quite an easy one. I'll probably go with KRIMZ.

From one of your current teammates, - it could be your coach as well - if you were stranded on a deserted island with any of them, which teammate would you pick
Can I pick myself? Is that possible? Because I think the other guys... I don't think they have a lot of survival instinct. Maybe I'll pick my assistant coach, killa. He seems like a guy who'd get things done.

Which one of the teammates would you least want to be on that deserted island with?
Oh, all four of them. I'm not sure, actually. Maybe Chr1zN. He's really good in the Counter-Strike aspect, but in the real life aspect, he needs a couple years on him.

If you could own a house located on any of the maps in Counter-Strike - doesn't have to be Active Duty, just any of them - which one would you choose?
I need to think about where the maps are in the world, you know? Overpass looks pretty chill.

Overpass is in Germany, right?
Germany? Maybe not that then. Mirage? That's some nice weather. It's in Morocco, or something like that.

Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Big dog person. I do like cats as well, but I'm allergic.

Interview by shoko

Meme of the week

One week, that’s all your fellow speed reader, Taken, could hold the meme crown for. How pitiful.

Shout out to Taken 2, otherwise known as MerkY, though, for this wonderful meme that captures a moment in time that is now long ago that it makes us slightly uncomfortable.

May your reign be longer than Taken’s. Seriously, we can’t handle him getting an ego.

As for everyone else - join the discord. Submit a meme. You might end up in the newsletter. It will probably be your greatest achievement in life. Just think about it.