FNATIC CS:GO team enters a rebuilding process; what caused this, and what are the team’s options?

IEM Cologne 2021, the largest on-going occasion in Counter-Strike marks many key moments for the sport and groups concerned. For FNATIC, nonetheless, the one factor the 2021 version of ESL’s yearly match set in Cologne will probably be marking is that it’s the primary time for the reason that sequence began again in 2014 that FNATIC’s CSGO division missed.

Nevertheless, lacking IEM Cologne 2021 is simply one of many many unfavourable information surrounding FNATIC recently. The group, nonetheless, hopes to vary the tides with roster strikes that are already within the works. Whereas the primary semester of 2021 is perhaps misplaced, there is perhaps nonetheless hope to shut the 12 months on a high-note.

How they are going to be doing that, nonetheless, nonetheless is a thriller. But, it’s honest recreation to take a position and try rumors. In any case, the CSGO scene is eagerly wanting on the group, hoping for it to bounce again.

So, let’s do precisely that. Let’s check out what brought about FNATIC’s downfall, what’s taking place already, and who might combine FNATIC’s roster from August onwards.

What occurred with FNATIC?

Earlier than something, it’s vital to know what led FNATIC to enter a rebuilding part. When taking a look at FNATIC’s data, there’s a transparent decline in performances as soon as the modifications brought on by the pandemic settled within the Counter-Strike scene.

After April 2020, the squad would fail to impress constantly. Under is a desk with FNATIC leads to all non-qualifying occasions that began between April to October 2020 (excluding Avid gamers With out Borders as a result of its format and total goal) that FNATIC took a part of.

FNATIC would shut 2020 with small indicators of enchancment, although. The crew managed to realize a reliable 4^th putting in IEM New York EU in addition to a 3^rd place in Flashpoint 2.

These indicators would stick with it in early 2021, regardless of the crew having misplaced ‘flusha’, who left the crew to start out his personal venture. In FNATIC’s first match of 2021, cs_summit 7, the Swedes reached 2^nd place, and issues had been wanting higher, even when simply then.

The hope of higher days for the orange-themed model wouldn’t final for for much longer, although. FNATIC proceeded to end final within the IEM Katowice 2021 Play-In, and completed second-to-last throughout EPL Season 13. The crew would fail to impress of their following two occasions, too. ‘Snow Candy Snow 3’ and ‘Spring Candy Spring 1’ noticed FNATIC getting eradicated by Mousesports and EPG Household respectively.

The scenario stored going south for FNATIC from Could onwards. The crew completed final in each Flashpoint 3, a key occasion a part of the Main circuit, and IEM Summer season 2021, one of many largest tournaments of the primary semester.

First modifications are right here

Lacking IEM Cologne 2021 allowed FNATIC to start out engaged on potential roster strikes earlier than the participant break. The group has already announced that Maikil “⁠Golden⁠” Selim, the crew’s then in-game chief, has been benched. Extra modifications have additionally been confirmed to be coming.

Alongside the official announcement, it didn’t take a lot time earlier than leaks associated to the crew’s future plans began to floor. There isn’t many rumors proper now, however one caught our consideration.

In line with reliable individuals within the Polish CS scene, FNATIC has been one of many groups taking a look at AGO’s benched participant Miłosz ‘mhL’ Knasiak. The 19-year-old Polish awper has been placing strong performances, reaching a 1.20 HLTV score to this point in 2021. He has proven to have immense potential, and beneath correct steerage, might attain an extremely excessive talent ceiling. Nevertheless, on the similar time, it will create a job battle, since FNATIC already has a devoted awper – extra on that later.

Whether or not this rumor is true or not, we already know that Golden is out, which signifies that FNATIC is looking out for a brand new captain. Nevertheless, Golden shouldn’t be the one one leaving. There’s one other participant, that as legendary as he is perhaps, must go too. Three-times Main winner Jesper ‘JW’ Wecksell had a complete of two occasions in 2021 by which he didn’t end with a unfavourable HLTV score.

Solely Golden leaving is just not sufficient

It’s positively going to be surprising if FNATIC doesn’t bench JW throughout the participant break. The legendary hybrid participant has been underperforming constantly this 12 months. JW’s drop in particular person efficiency led him to an abysmal 0.50 HLTV score throughout Flashpoint 3.

If we take his benching as assured, there’s one other spot open within the crew. At this level, we can assume that the group is keen to seek for gamers outdoors Sweden. Even ignoring the mhL rumors, eradicating Golden and limiting themselves to search for a Swedish participant to switch him can be an enormous hurdle within the rebuilding course of. There aren’t many high-tier IGLs accessible in the mean time even when we contemplate the worldwide participant pool.

With that in thoughts, let’s begin to speculate about who could possibly be the gamers filling the spots left in FNATIC. Firstly, who could possibly be the crew’s subsequent in-game captain?

One of many first names to return to thoughts actually is Danish IGL Mathias “MSL” Lauridsen. Whereas the Dane is extra identified for his expertise with the AWP, he is open to play as a rifler. That’s, so long as his crew have a succesful awper on board – which fortuitously isn’t an issue right here. One other fascinating decide can be UK’s ALEX. Extra not too long ago, he had a reasonably unremarkable stint with Cloud9, however he was additionally the chief of the 2019’s Vitality that received each ECS Finals Season 7 and EPICENTER 2019. ALEX can also be the person behind LDLC’s shortly rise by the world rankings in late 2018.

There are different fascinating choices to fill the IGL position in Europe if MSL isn’t accessible, however not many. For instance, ‘ChrisJ’, at present benched from Mousesports, positively can be an experiment.

Extra firepower is required

Eradicating Golden and JW from the roster open up two spots. Because of this FNATIC can be searching for a brand new captain, as mentioned above. Then, a brand new rifler to strengthen the prevailing formation with Brollan and KRIMZ can be wanted.

The primary choice right here is ‘Peppzor’, who’s at present signed as FNATIC’s sixth participant. The 18-year-old Swede has but to play in an official recreation for the crew, nonetheless. As promising as he could also be, he doesn’t have a document to again him up. Whoever take over the crew would possibly ask for a extra identified participant to suit the clean whereas Peppzor proves himself enjoying beneath the Fnatic Rising banner.

So, who could possibly be this extra identified participant? Endpoint’s ‘mezii’ and ‘Thomas’, Dignitas’ ‘Lekr0’, ex-North / Hyenas gamers comparable to ‘gade’ and ‘Fessor’ are some fascinating decisions. Some gamers in DBL Poney’s roster are fascinating too, however seemingly the squad simply managed to signal contracts with a company. This makes any potential participant acquisition unbelievable in the meanwhile.

A fast have a look at free brokers and the mhL rumor

Significantly, mezii appears to be a reasonably good pickup for FNATIC. Nevertheless, he’s at present signed to a crew, similar for Lekr0 and Thomas. If FNATIC limits themselves to free brokers solely, then the crew must take a riskier gamble. The ex-HYENAS roster, in addition to the likes of ottoNd can be found, so far as we all know. Whereas they’ve potential to fill the position, they nonetheless should show themselves, making this a much less secure roster total. With ‘MICHU’ and ‘flameZ’ being signed to Evil Geniuses and OG, respectively, FNATIC missed two nice alternatives. This doesn’t imply that the crew can’t discover a appropriate fifth, but it surely’s one results of doing modifications later than what they need to’ve completed.

Let’s additionally return to the mhL rumors. There’s an opportunity, in any case, that FNATIC will probably be bringing the Polish participant to the crew. In that case, Jackinho could possibly be both demoted to the planed FNATIC Rising crew, benched, or possibly turn out to be the crew’s secondary awper. Within the first and second situations, FNATIC must contemplate doing three roster modifications directly, inflicting the crew’s standing on Valve’s RMR circuit to be reset. If the group believes that that is wanted, then it shall be completed.

Nevertheless, the crew is perhaps additionally contemplating to have each Jackinho and mhL on the similar time. This can be a harmful transfer, because the participant who turns into the secondary-awper might face difficulties adapting to his new position.

What could be anticipated out of a FNATIC led by MSL?

As unlucky because it’s to say this, it needs to be mentioned. Golden and JW leaving FNATIC already ought to carry optimistic modifications for the crew. With a brand new captain, and somebody who can carry extra firepower to the crew than JW’s, the crew’s most obvious points are solved.

That is assuming that the trio of Brollan, KRIMZ and Jackinho had been being held again, which needs to be the case. As soon as the participant break ends in mid-August, count on to see a reinvigorated, harmful FNATIC that can shortly climb up the world rankings. With LANs changing into the norm as soon as once more, FNATIC received’t have many excuses to fail – and so they shouldn’t fail beneath these circumstances.

Plus, investing on MSL (or one other captain) and a brand new rifler will give the crew some level deductions in Valve’s RMR circuit, however the crew will nonetheless have hopes to qualify in the event that they do effectively within the upcoming two RMR occasions.

As for a way an MSL-led FNATIC would differ than Golden’s, for one, MSL would run the crew on a stricter formation. Refined ways, re-developing the crew’s map pool, and coordinated setups which can be MSL’s signature for the reason that time when his groups used to dominate the long-gone Cobblestone.

Room for error

MSL, Jackinho (or mhL, if the crew is keen to reset their RMR standings), KRIMZ, Brollan and a rifler- ideally mezii. This can be a potential roster that might positively compete among the many greatest within the second semester of 2021. Nevertheless, FNATIC has room for errors whereas rebuilding their CSGO crew.

What if the group brings a captain alongside mhL and asks Jackinho to turn out to be a secondary-awper? That might create one other weak spot within the crew that simply eliminated their earlier one.

Additionally, the mhL rumors alongside with Golden being benched factors to FNATIC going worldwide. What in the event that they need to keep absolutely Swedish, although? Peppzor might turn out to be a dependable participant, however Sweden doesn’t have many captains accessible.

One other situation could possibly be a nightmare-worthy one the place FNATIC brings mhL however doesn’t take away JW. This roster would make for an unimaginable mess that, if something, would generate very fascinating reactions when confirmed.

These are solely three out of the numerous potential wild conditions that FNATIC would possibly finish with. Hopefully, these are all outlandish sufficient to not even be thought-about.

FNATIC’s future needs to be revealed quickly sufficient

From July 19^th till August 16^th, Counter-Strike will take a break on the server. Gamers will be capable to take a much-deserved relaxation. Many gamers can even be taking a while to determine what’s subsequent for them.

FNATIC is only one crew searching for roster modifications, albeit their scenario is direr than most. So be able to see many groups wanting totally different as soon as the motion returns in August.

It’s not simple to maintain with all information which can be coming our manner. So to be able to by no means miss a beat, make certain to comply with us!

The writer

My title is Marcos, I’ve been following the CSGO professional scene since 2015 however actually acquired into in following video games and professional groups in 2016. Used to wager loads, stopped a bit however by no means stopped following the esports scene. I am a pupil proper now so I acquired a variety of time to maintain with it and uncover new issues.

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