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Sjokz and Maniac talk BLAST Pro Series: São Paulo 2019
Renowned LEC host Sjokz is boosting her portfolio as she hosts her first CS:GO event, this weekend’s BLAST Pro Series in Brazil. We quizzed her, and analyst Maniac, for their thoughts on the event.
It’s an exciting time to be playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The pro scene is rocking: hot off the heels of the incredible IEM Katowice Major where ENCE made the run of a lifetime and faced off against titans Astralis in the grand finals, we’re about to witness six of the finest teams in the scene descend upon São Paulo for the latest event in the BLAST Pro Series.
Six of the globe’s best teams, including FaZe Clan, MIBR, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and Team Liquid, as well as the Katowice Major finalists, will be battling it out for a share of the $250,000 prize pool on offer – plus bragging rights, naturally.
Will MIBR be able to rise to the occasion on home soil? Can ENCE continue their incredible form they displayed in Katowice, and get their revenge on Astralis? Ahead of the weekend’s festivities, we caught up with a face familiar to League of Legends fans, Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere – who’s hosting her very first CS:GO event – and analyst Mathieu ‘Maniac’ Quiquerez, for their thoughts on the competition, what Sjokz hopes to get out of her first time hosting a different game, who they think are favourites, and just what they could see unfolding in São Paulo.
From the Rift to rounds
Sjokz is leaning into CS:GO
© Riot Games/Flickr
“BLAST Pro was one of the first organisers to contact me after I announced I went freelance, and have worked with me for several months before making the deal,” Sjokz explains to us. “I took that as a huge vote of confidence from their part, and am thrilled to be working with them. I have been hosting League for seven years so I'd like to think I will bring my knowledge in the technical department to the table, as well as being very well prepped, and being able to connect with the guests on my desk. Hopefully, I will also be able to show a bit of my cheeky and easygoing side – but I’m honestly not too sure what to expect for my first CS event.”
“One of the big reasons I chose to go freelance is because I want to jump in the deep end, cover different games or topics overall, and work with different casters and production crews,” she continues. “In a way I also feel that is a necessary step in my development. In LEC and League production, everything runs smooth and perfectly, and I don't want to become too comfortable – I want to keep evolving as a broadcaster.”
“Besides League, CS:GO is the only esport that I am as passionate about. I just think the game lends itself so perfectly to esports – it’s always thrilling, high paced and full of action, and every round holds the possibility of a major comeback or clutch,” she says.
“Aside from that, I have looked up to the talent in CS for years. I think they are masters of their craft and I am super excited to work with them. Of course it remains to be seen how I perform in São Paulo, but personally I would love to cover more CS:GO events in 2019 and hope Blast invites me back!”
Topping the titans
Can anyone fell Astralis?
© ESL/Adela Sznajder
Away from the host talent, and onto the competing teams, Danish heavyweights Astralis are at the top of their game, and taking down the current Major champions will be no easy feat for any of the squads taking part. Heading into São Paulo, they’re clearly the team to beat – but we could see some surprises in store this weekend.
“Undeniably Astralis are the favourite coming into this event. Even if I tried, I could not come up with reasons not to suggest them as the potential winner,” Maniac explains to us. “I think MIBR are on their way to greatness and I would consider them my favourite to challenge and annoy Astralis. Surely there is still room for improvement, but I enjoyed what I saw from the Brazilians in Katowice.”
“ENCE and Liquid are teams whose performance I find hard to predict; ENCE will enter this tournament with not only a brand new kind of position but also pressure, and I think Liquid have more to show than what they displayed in Katowice,” he says.
No one likes to see the king on the throne for too long
“Astralis dominating CS:GO is a joy to watch, but of course that means that no matter who they play, people will cheer for their opponents,” Sjokz adds. “No one likes to see the king on the throne for too long – but I do think there's a certain beauty about how clinically Astralis dismantles their opponents.”
“Statistics may point to Mirage and Overpass being possible topics of contention but the truth is, they play the best Counter-Strike there is (and probably that there ever was). They are five very skilled players, mentally very strong, well coordinated,” says Maniac. “Is it possible that a team upset them in a Best of Three? Yes, I believe so. That’s the beauty of Counter-Strike, right?”
ENCE, rising
ENCE fans were electric during the IEM Katowice Major
© ESL/Bart Oerbekke
ENCE pulled off a run of a lifetime during the Major, but after making strides, they now have certain expectations thrust onto their shoulders – as well as the looming threat of facing Astralis yet again. But can they bring back the magic they displayed on stage, and showcase the form they showed in Katowice?
“ENCE have a great task ahead of them. Of course before Katowice, people already knew that they were players to respect and that they were capable of pulling an upset,” Maniac explains. “But I feel like it’s different now. Their astonishing run in Katowice means their opponents will be extra ready for them, but also that their fans (and themselves) might expect a lot coming from them now.
“It’s quite a leap of faith to go from a magical Cinderella story to establishing themselves as a legitimate top team in the world. I am extremely looking forward to seeing how they handle it,” he says.
“I have to say because of the Counter-Strike that they play – which is fundamentally sound – and their ability to remain calm and not dismantle under pressure, I think they could surprise us again. Does that mean they could beat Astralis now? Probably not,” Maniac continues. “I think there are very few weaknesses in the great Astralis machine at the moment.”
“Everyone wants to know if ENCE's grand final run at IEM Katowice was a flash in the pan or if and when they can repeat it,” Sjokz tells us, “So I can't wait to see how the Finnish play in São Paulo.”
Home soil heroes
With top flight CS:GO returning to Brazil, there’s the added element of MIBR performing on home soil – and with the roar of the local fans behind them, there’s a certain electricity in the air that will be hard for their foes to shake; but whether they can channel that energy into their play on-stage remains to be seen.
“As BLAST takes place in Brazil, one would expect the recently back to full BR line-up MIBR to make a splash. For me it’s particularly interesting to see how long it will take before they can recreate that magic that kept them at the top in SK era, or if we are expecting too much and if that perhaps will never happen again,” Sjokz says. “Traditionally MIBR / SK haven't done too well on home soil, so I hope they can turn it around because I want to feel that arena tremble with Brazilian fans.”
MIBR will be looking to impress on home turf
© ESL/Bart Oerbekke
“Hopefully this can be a watershed moment both for the development of the team with the return of Epitácio ‘TACO’ de Melo, and in their home country. Several players were also born in São Paulo so the arena will be electric on Saturday,” she continues. “I had the pleasure of working in São Paulo and Rio for League of Legends, and the fans are some of the most passionate around the globe.”
Still, even with the crowd behind you, turning those feelings into tangible results is still a challenge, and it’s something Maniac knows only too well: “Even with soundproof booths and being a fully focused professional, there is something about playing right by your fans and feeling their energy. I remember playing in France with Titan or LDLC was always something special and I believe this applies to any team,” he says. “It might give them the extra push they need to pull an upset. But they cannot rely on that too much. With awesome fans or not, the decision will still be made in-game.”
Singled out
Even in a squad game like CS:GO, individual talent can shine for some brilliant moments – and it can often be the difference between a win or a loss. When quizzed on who to keep an eye out for over the weekend, Maniac gave us a few names to watch.
“I would say Fernando ‘fer’ Alvarenga from MIBR has looked like he was getting back in shape in Katowice and he always was a big part of their success. Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kovač from FaZe will always be a name that needs to mentioned in these kinds of discussion because of his unbelievable talent,” he says. “Fredrik ‘REZ’ Sterner from NiP also has impressed me at the Major, and if NiP want to have a chance in this very stacked tournament they will need him to hit his peak once again.”
Sjokz had a few different names for us when asked. “Marcelo ‘coldzera’ David, on home soil, back in the all Brazilian line-up, seemed like found his footing immediately at IEM and benefited a lot from the back-to-all-Portuguese-speaking line-up; I think he could really take off in front of the Brazilian crowd,” she says.
“Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken or Jake ‘Stewie2K’ Yip too; Team Liquid had a heartbreaking exit from the Major, but my eyes are still on that line-up in general and Twistzz in particular,” Sjokz continues. “He’s one of the biggest prospects to come out of NA, ever, and if and when the line-up completely clicks with Stewie2K, I think it's going to be a massacre for whoever they play.”
BLAST Pro Series: São Paulo 2019 takes place this weekend on March 22 to March 23.
