The Recap - EP08

by OnlyJoshinTV

Welcome to The Recap, a new weekly content series covering Counter-Strike in the ANZ region with a touch of global action here and there. We aim to provide a regular series covering our region, from ESEA Open, ECL, and global events, to local LAN and online tournaments hosted here at home.

Well, we got an announcement—but not the one we were expecting!

SaVage, vision and Valiance have announced that they’ve joined SemperFi Esports, an org set up by SaVage’s father BenTheLegend. The squad is currently bootcamping in Latvia. SemperFi are looking to challenge for an Asia RMR Spot within the Oceania region.

With the rumoured Talon roster yet to be announced, a revamped BNK, an ever-present Rooster, juggernauts FlyQuest and now SemperFi, what sort of high intensity action are we going to see in the Oceania qualifiers?

Also, it is nice to see Valiance back in the action. He was a huge asset to Order and Vertex especially when he was on form! It is a great opportunity for vision as well to be introduced to the international CS2 action.

Finally, I’m happy that we haven’t seen the last of SaVage’s career in the European scene. I want some great things to happen for SaVage given the risks that he and his father have taken so far.

Mindfreak brings back Texta and Rickeh

Well, this was completely unexpected from Mindfreak. Mindfreak have decided that they wanted to join in the chaos of Rostermania and have swapped slimeyy and supar for veterans Texta and Rickeh.

This seems like an all in approach from Mindfreak with their recent pick-up for pain who has bought a lot of life to the team with his 1.24 impact and 1.15 rating over the last 3 months.

I can understand bringing Texta back into the fold. He has been performing incredibly well at a top level and almost qualified with a mix team against Mindfreak in the IESF Australian Qualifiers.

I really don’t understand Rickeh’s role in this because Mindfreak has a much better AWPer. Their first series against Arcade was amazing, so it is looking good for this project so far. However, it is their honeymoon period as everybody says—let’s see where they’re at in a few months.

The ECL Oceania madness continues

You thought the first week was crazy with Rooster and BNK dropping maps? Art of War in their season opener took down Rooster (2-0) and claimed a crucial head-to-head tiebreak. This was also done with a sub in Oath who was playing for sunshinez!

The ANZ CS community were expecting big things from this star-studded lineup, but not this! Viridian at the helm, the dreaded t3rry and b4nana duo, the high potential AWPer in sunshinez and the gutsy Neo—the squad’s got potential, but, I don’t think beating Rooster 2-0 was on the bingo card.

If they are able to take down BNK in a similar fashion, it could be likely that Art of War are looking at a top 4 finish!

From the other matches, KZG started their season with a 1-1 against Arcade and repeated their relegation performance against DXA with a crucial 2-0 victory leaving them at a 3-1 record.One notable performance was on Nuke against DXA where Estate recorded a 1.69 rating with 29 kills.

Arcade’s start has been severely hampered with an absolute drubbing from the new look Mindfreak and splitting the maps with KZG (1-1). Mindfreak dominated them on both maps with a 13-6 and 13-1 scoreline. Texta announced his return with a 1.91 rating on Dust 2 and a 1.32 rating on Nuke. However, the true star was tucks with a 1.62 rating on Nuke and 1.87 rating on Dust 2!

Nuke:

Dust2:

Lastly, BNK recovered from a horror start by putting Mantra Flow out to pasture in a quick 2-0 with a 13-8 on Nuke and 13-3 on Anubis. The main attraction was their star rifler, Damyo, who recorded a 1.93 rating and an incredible 130 ADR on Anubis.

ESL Challenger League – Oceania Results Summary

July 22^nd 2023

• KZG v Arcade (5-13 INF, 13-10 ANC)

July 23^rd 2024

• Mindfreak v Arcade (13-6 NUKE, 13-1 D2)
• BNK v Mantra Flow (13-8 NUKE, 13-3 ANB)
• KZG v DXA (13-10 NUKE, 13-6 VTG)
• The Art of War v Rooster (16-14 MRG, 13-10 D2)

Checking in with FlyQuest

FlyQuest have released a new video on X just showing a glimpse of their bootcamp and preparation for the upcoming IEM Cologne.

Alistair showed a very strong pistol squat game. The boys enjoying a boot camp filled with theory, pugs, scrims and finding out which burrito was the odd one out. It didn’t help that the receipt was in Yappanese!

ESL Challenger Atlanta Oceania Qualifiers

ESL Challenger Atlanta Open Qualifiers start on  July 30. The open qualifiers are split into two days where the first day are all Bo1s and playing all the matches until the quarter-finals.

The 2^nd day is essentially the quarter-finals which is a Bo1 and the semi-finals which is a Bo3. The winner of the respective semi-finals will qualify for the ESL Challenger Atlanta Closed Qualifier which will be played on 21^st August 2024.

And that’s a wrap from the recap!