The CS:GO Talent Team is currently participating in the Betboom Playlist Freedom 2023 online tournament along with 22 other teams, competing for a prize pool of $150,000. They have already won against 9 Pandas and Websterz in their previous group play matches with a 2-0 victory.
The final group play match against Spirit Academy was scheduled for May 9th at 9:50 CEST.
Since Andreas "Xyp9x" Højsleth agreed to assist the talent roster, the team has performed competently and earned a 3-4th place ranking in the CCT Central Europe Series 6 and the MistGames Heroes of Lofoten 2023 LAN tournament.
Jan Ø. Jørgensen, the Operational Performance Manager, shares his insights on working with the talent lineup and the experience of bringing "Xyp9x" onto the team:
- Working with enthusiastic young individuals who strive for excellence and growth is exhilarating. Their energy and passion make it seem like they would take on the entire world without hesitation if they had the opportunity. I am very excited to be involved in this talent project.
- To achieve top-level performance as a group, everyone must be on the same page and speak the same language. As players, it's essential to acknowledge that each individual is unique and requires specific needs to perform at their best. It's okay to embrace these differences and work towards meeting those individual needs. The world and humans are both complex, and it's important to acknowledge this and find ways to work with it to our benefit.
- When the pressure is on, we become more aware of what strategies are effective, and the players gain a better understanding of their roles. This approach has proven to be highly successful in achieving team goals.
- The team's training culture has evolved into one of hard work, focusing on frequent training sessions and participating in numerous tournaments. The players have been putting much effort into developing their in-game skills and tactics. I've challenged them to explore new approaches, which can sometimes be difficult for them.
What has the experience been like incorporating "Xyp9x" into the talent team?
- I would like to acknowledge this man for his outstanding professionalism. He truly embodies the essence of Astralis, and it's remarkable to witness.
- We were excited to welcome a new member to our team who is highly skilled and experienced in playing in big tournaments. We hope to learn a lot from his expertise. Andreas is very confident about his abilities and has a lot to offer. We can't expect him to integrate seamlessly into the roster without time for the team to adjust to a new beginning.
- Integrating a new member into a team can be tricky, even if they have won four Major Championships. This poses a significant challenge for the team. We may be taking one step back in this progress, but soon enough, we'll take two steps forward. We can confidently expect this to happen.
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