SemperFi keen on the new OCE project: “We believe the devil is in the details"

by BreadHead

On July 28 it was announced on Twitter/X that Ben “BenTheLegend” Savage had launched a new Counter-Strike 2 project titled SemperFi, featuring a core of three Australian players and two Latvian players, with the aim to qualify for the Shanghai Major via the APAC RMR.

The team has been grinding here in Australia and is currently competing in ESEA Open as they look to climb the ranks into ECL, the new premier division in Oceanic CS2. It is an exciting experiment not seen before that an Australian team has employed two experienced European players to fly across the world to live and play CS2 full-time Down Under. 

I was able to ask accomplished SemperFi IGL Kristers “keen” Dārznieks some questions about how the project came together.

The genesis of SemperFi began with James “SaVage” Savage, the son of org owner Ben. Keen said, “When Ben had the idea of making SemperFi after seeing the sticker money, I was their first choice” keen said to DFRAG.TV. Keen first connected with SaVage during their time playing together for the Chinese organization JiJieHao in late 2023.

we believe the devil is in the details

The goals for the team are simple: Make a CS2 Major. However, SemperFi hit a road bump during their first attempt, drawing Talon in the quarterfinals of the OCE Open Qualifier. . Talon had also recruited some European help in Polish sniper Miłosz “mhL” Knasiak and Swedish coach Daniel “djL” Narancic, with the Southeast Asia-based squad emerging victorious 2-0. 

Despite the disappointing exit at the Major Open Qualifier, SemperFi has had some good results domestically, most notably qualifying for the $100,000 prize pool tournament ZOWIE eXREMESLAND set to be played on LAN in Shanghai, China next January. On the recent episode of the Just The Tip podcast, The Art of War IGL Eddie “Viridian” Azzi claimed that SemperFi should easily win ESEA Open this season, and it’s hard not to agree with that. SemperFi looks clearly the strongest team in ESEA season 51 with a current record of 8-1, with their only loss a forfeit due to a schedule clash.

I asked Keen if there have been any teams that have really impressed him since coming over to Australia and he gave me some interesting insights. He said that FlyQuest is clearly a step above everyone, which didn’t surprise him; however, he was impressed by how sharp The Art of War was especially in their close victory at the ZOWIE eXTREMESLAND Qualifier, which secured their spot at the LAN in Shanghai, China. 

“Something that really surprised me were some HOUSEBETS rounds in practice where they showed some deep thought behind it all,” keen said. Teams led by Toby “BRACE” Barnes have always been tactically sound as he has had to work with the second-string talent in our region that has usually been picked for the top team FlyQuest. 

Our local AUNZ scene comes with its pros and cons being so separated from the rest of the CS2 world, with only a limited number of international opportunities available for our teams. The same comparisons, in a way, also appear when comparing OCE to keen’s home country Latvia.

Funnily enough, the comparisons end with a dive into scrim and practice schedule. “My biggest shock thus far has been that Friday’s are off days for players in this region, that's not a thing in Europe,” keen said. “There is something to be said about work ethic.” 

It's something I never really thought too deeply about until now and finding scrims on that day is quite challenging unless they are booked well in advance. He also mentioned that Oceania benefits from having its own qualifiers, unlike Europe where teams must contend with tougher and more numerous opponents.

Keen joins the team with valuable experience being a European IGL and even had a short stint on MAD Lions playing with now decorated Major MVP Justinas "jL" Lekavičius. His style revolves around all five players contributing: “I think five minds are better than one, so everyone is encouraged to participate in my calling,” he said. 

"There is something to be said about work ethic" - keen

European teams often prioritize spending significant time on offline servers, conducting dry runs of their strategies. For SemperFi Keen said “Most of that work we do is offline. We focus a lot on getting our micro perfect because we believe the devil is in the details.”

Keen remains dedicated to refining his system, showing no interest in taking shortcuts when building a successful team. “We have core fundamental agreements on macro that we covered in day one of theory and all agreed that they make sense,” keen said. “Most rounds can be explained using these agreements, so we just follow them like road laws and add good micro on top of that.” 

The player quality is the reason you should be excited about the future of SemperFi. Latvian player Mārtiņš “shadiy” Gūtmanis joins the squad as a rifler with much to prove, most notably he was a part of the Gucci Academy project in Europe. Matthew “Valiance” Hartrick, known for his sharp skills, brings experience against top AU competition. James “SaVage” Savage, still only 19, has steadily improved with each roster, even gaining valuable international experience. Ethan 'Vision' Holst was featured in my 'Up-and-Coming AU Pros' article when he was with Vantage. His game really impressed me for such a young player, and with the right IGL, he could become a valuable asset to the squad. Lastly the AWP IGL keen, arguably SemperFi’s best player, looks to drive the team all the way to a Major.

SemperFi is focused on building confidence to dominate the Oceanic scene and secure spots in major international LANs. The team is stable, with several talented players capable of competing internationally.

Although missing out on qualification for the upcoming Shanghai Major was a setback, it has only fueled their determination to qualify for the next one. Team chemistry is strong, and each player is fully accountable for their role. Keen summed up the team's ethos in the interview: "I like to get everyone involved."

SemperFi’s current roster:

• Kristers “keen” Dārznieks
• Matthew “Valiance” Hartrick
• Mārtiņš “shadiy” Gūtmanis
• James “SaVage” Savage
• Ethan “vision” Holst