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I have missed tier two Counter-Strike.

That phrase might mean different things to a lot of people, so I will clarify what it means to me.

I often reminisce about the lower-tier landscape of 2018 and 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Smaller LAN-cups breaking up the monotonous online competition. Events where the big dogs get shown up, future Major champions get their first feeling of losing on LAN, and small, local teams get a shot at the big leagues thanks to the simple fact they live nearby.

For a long time, I thought it would never return. Today, I am very grateful I was wrong.

I got the chance to join the second edition of the Parken Challenger Championship as one of the casters on the main broadcast.

100 Thieves more or less needed to go through as undefeated champions, as any match loss would tank their VRS to a significant degree. Lo and behold, after dominating the group stage, they get shown up. By Johnny Speeds and AM Gaming.

There’s something truly, truly special about hearing coach friberg shout at the Major champions until they shiver, watching forgotten players like Sapec and HEAP out-aim some of the hottest prospects in the world, and seeing Lekr0, in 2026, completely outplay a gla1ve-led team.

All this action culminated in Betclic Apogee taking a first LAN title, sending them into multiple larger LAN tournaments later in the year. Drinking beers and playing foosball with the largest and loudest man in Copenhagen that Tuesday evening is an experience I will never forget.

Really, there are many people and experiences from these three days I will never forget, because to me, events like these are what Counter-Strike is all about. Events where you will watch the matches together with the managers of the teams in the server. Events where those who are truly passionate will fall in love with teams most people don’t even know exist. Where you can accidentally find out which players don’t wash their hands after using the urinal.

Most of all, events where everyone is welcome.

Weekends like these are those that make me forever thankful this game exists and allows me to do what I do, and if you ever get the chance to visit an event at this level, you should not hesitate to make the trip.

Tier two Counter-Strike is truly back.

Your opinions

In the latest edition, we asked you: What should we do with FaZe’s roster?

Here’s what you had to say:

👹 Throw them into the depths of Tartarus 🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 (12.5%)
😂 Nothing, it’s too entertaining to watch them fail 🟩🟩🟩🟪🟪🟪 (31.3%)
☢️ Have you heard of Hiroshima? 🟩🟩🟪🟪🟪🟪 (18.8%)
⚔️ Five-man Hunger Games🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪 (37.5%)