Underlooked and underappreciated, Ben “ghil” Nicholson got here into EPIC.LAN 41 with combine squad Anita Max Wynn headlined by Viperio participant Marco “MMS” Salomone. As a mixture, there by no means be set expectations as they’re coming right into a stacked EPIC.LAN with no apply and simply taking part in on vibes… Nonetheless, they certain did flip some heads.
Alongside fellow combine flowstate, they proved to be an actual thorn within the facet of the key groups. Taking K10 to time beyond regulation, beating Raptors EC, Coalesce and Group Invictum, ultimately knocking Shaman Esports out of the Decrease Bracket. Their run was stopped by Royals 2-1, touchdown them high eight.
After their profitable run, UKCSGO sits down with ghil (colloquially referred to as ‘TheGhilBox’) to speak about their sluggish begin, how influential MMS was as an IGL and why folks overlook him within the scene.
Firstly, how was this LAN? Your voice may be very hoarse so I’m guessing it was good?
I’m actually blissful, it’s my second-highest placement. We had been aiming for high eight or high six, in that area. We thought that will be achievable since we now have seen the groups which have signed up, so we moved our expectations to high 12. The CS we had been taking part in was simply so good. That was what we’re pleased with, nothing to do with the location. We’re simply fairly blissful, other than the sport versus kica we had been knackered simply flaming one another, other than that, we had been taking part in good CS.
Typically Marco [MMS] needed to get on us for not listening, however for essentially the most half on the primary day once we beat Raptors and Coalesce, the comms had been good, and we learnt the utility that Marco instructed us to be taught. Throughout our second sport, Marco snapped and began to IGL and inform us what to do. From there on out it was easy and went so nicely, everybody had good rounds as nicely.
You talked about that within the second sport, you nearly went 0-2 in the beginning of teams. You bought battered by Soul’s Land and nearly misplaced to Antenna Man, who you shouldn’t be dropping to. You went from that to high eight, what prompted you to kick into motion?
We misplaced the primary sport however weren’t too aggravated. It was Mirage and the best way they had been taking part in it was actually good. They had been simply outsmarting us. They’d execute A, we’d rotate A, after which they’ve two stroll below and increase into window and flank us. They had been merely simply outplaying us.
Within the sport versus Frostysnowman, we had been simply getting entried in mid. I really feel like folks see these names, and suppose they’re barely degree 10, swing, go to take intention fights however it’s CS2, it’s so equal now. We had been simply getting picked off in center.
The ability went throughout this sport for the primary time. We went exterior for a chat and refresh, and we got here again and began dropping EVEN extra rounds. The ability went down once more three rounds later, I then went exterior with Marco and we spoke about how center was the issue, simply throwing away entries each spherical. So to resolve this, that was the time when Marco began calling. We went again to talk to Zack [Seiren] and Tristian [Stop_It] who had been our mid-players on the time, we instructed them, simply smoke it, play sensible and fall again.
The ability went throughout this sport for the primary time. We went exterior for a chat and refresh, and we got here again and began dropping EVEN extra rounds. The ability went down once more three rounds later, I then went exterior with Marco and we spoke about how center was the issue, simply throwing away entries each spherical. So to resolve this, that was the time when Marco began calling
From then on we now have actually proven on the T facet. From that sport to taking part in K10 we performed possibly our greatest Counter-Strike. Versus K10, our T facet was simply so good.
The ability lower saved us actually. After we got here again from the primary one we weren’t too bothered, however after the second and we had been on the verge of dropping the half it made issues a bit extra actual for us. It wasn’t an enormous dialogue, however we needed to speak about taking part in extra passive in center.
What would you describe MMS’ calling as, and what’s it like so that you can play below?
I don’t need to glaze him, however it’s so good to only have somebody who understands every little thing. It is a matter we had in genetexe [ghil’s previous mix], at all times too many cooks within the kitchen. Every part had their very own concept of the way to win the spherical and the way to play the sport. However Marco has had this expertise and nobody has any points with simply sitting there and listening to him. It’s only a clear voice and it’s somebody who is aware of the sport, is aware of how folks play, what individuals are going to react with, and what util goes to make folks do. And with that, he simply tells us, “do this, do this, do this.” We do it, and it really works out each time. It was easy generally.
He requested us to be taught an inventory of util earlier than LAN, which I attempted my finest, that was why I entried most rounds. He instructed us to be taught util, and he simply known as us sure util, and who to entry and what pathing they need to use. From what he was calling it felt like he knew how sure util would make folks react. It was simply so good, a transparent voice, not complicated, and he additionally simply is aware of the sport higher than any of us. 90% of the time Marco would make good calls.
When among the video games acquired fairly shut, it appeared folks acquired flustered. Once you performed in opposition to the true groups, did cracks begin to present?
Folks would get flustered with themselves. It could be widespread for Tristan or Zack in an early decide versus Coalesce on Overpass they might get aggravated at themselves. For me, when going into the sport versus Raptors we possibly had some strain as a result of we thought we might beat them. In opposition to Coalesce, if we misplaced nobody cares. There was no strain and precisely the identical because the K10 sport. However when it will get actually shut the strain begins to construct. You get the mentality of “I don’t need to throw what we acquired”. As a lot because the K10 sport sucked to have misplaced as a result of I might have been the one to win it for us, it did work out ultimately for playoffs as we acquired a better run.
By way of getting flustered. Folks had been getting annoyed with themselves. Folks will leap on Zack and say he’s poisonous and all that crap. However he was the primary to say every time he made a mistake in any spherical.
Within the shut video games versus the nice groups, the one purpose why we acquired flustered was as a result of we didn’t need to throw away what we already had.
MMS will not be an IGL, do you suppose he ought to change into one?
I don’t know really, I do suppose he can. It’s exhausting to say as a result of he’s taking part in at a distinct talent degree, one which I cannot even declare to grasp. He simply knew even in opposition to K10, he knew how they might play and react. He didn’t go away and do anti-start, we didn’t apply for this in any respect. We simply had an instinct concerning the sport.
If he wished to IGL, he most likely might get away with it. I really feel like anybody that is aware of the sport that a lot can IGL. At that talent degree, folks know what folks will do and react. He simply had some many protocols that he simply fell onto us, that he most likely learnt from his group. That simply made issues simpler for us.
Most likely a lot simpler to IGL us than a correct group additionally.
You and flowstate have are available and have completed numerous harm, and in case you have misplaced, you have got made the video games shut. Why do you suppose this LAN which was tremendous stacked, you guys did so nicely?
flowstate, when you walked previous them, have paperwork. I’m fairly certain they deffo spent extra time on how they wished to play. Even when they didn’t apply, that they had a big dialogue on how they wished to play. I bear in mind speaking to kica after the sport and I used to be like “Benjymin simply sat in spawn till the bomb was planted holding the flanks.” And that was as a result of he was instructed to do this, that they had protocols in place. Even when they didn’t apply, they positively spoke so much about it greater than we did.
By way of us, I feel our combine was missed. Zack is admittedly crisp, if he wasn’t working full time he might nonetheless be taking part in in excessive Foremost groups. Everybody is aware of Tristan is so crisp, however as quickly as you level out he has completed one thing fallacious it goes unhealthy. He tries to fill within the house so much. With out a shadow of a doubt, he’s the crispiest participant I’ve ever performed with. His intention is simply so good.
Tom [trouto], bro. After I mentioned I hadn’t put a lot effort into the utility, neither did Zack or Tristan. Tom went and learnt all of it. He was Marco’s favorite teammate this LAN as a result of he simply had every little thing on lock. He was such a superb teammate. That’s the reason I beloved taking part in with him in genetexe. We’re mates, however everybody was so good of their particular person elements.
I feel our combine was missed. Zack is admittedly crisp, if he wasn’t working full time he might nonetheless be taking part in in excessive principal groups. Everybody is aware of Tristan is sooo crisp, however as quickly as you level out he has completed one thing fallacious it goes unhealthy. He tries to fill within the house so much. With out a shadow of a doubt, he’s the crispiest participant I’ve ever performed with. His intention is simply so good.
Tom might simply do every little thing, at all times there to help the group. Tristan’s intention is so good and he can simply win you a spherical simply off silly fights. Zack is simply so missed due to how folks understand him as an individual. Tie that along with me who’s simply working about doing what I’m instructed, after which Marco who’s telling me what to do, it simply labored out for us.
We had no apply, we didn’t sit in servers. Marco despatched us an inventory of util and that was it, we didn’t do any prep. I simply suppose gamers like trouto and that, even when they’re in UKIC Division 1, they’re missed and deserve extra credit score than what they get, particularly Tristan.
Talking about overlooking. Folks overlook you a large number and don’t understand you as a superb participant. Why do you suppose there’s this stigma?
Right here is the factor, I was sh*t. However after I acquired the prospect to show myself in Ruby League and I used to be attending to play with good gamers, folks began to grasp I wasn’t sh*t. I acquired to again myself, I’m not sh*t anymore, I again it. I feel I’m not the perfect participant in my group, however I’m not that unhealthy I don’t deserve that spot anymore. Everybody has a task, and I match my function. If my function is one tapping and tilting the remainder of the group, then I f*cking take it mate, that’s how we gained versus Coalesce.
I was sh*t. However after I acquired the prospect to show myself in Ruby League and I used to be attending to play with good gamers, folks began to grasp I wasn’t sh*t. I acquired to again myself, I’m not sh*t anymore, I again it. I feel I’m not the perfect participant in my group, however I’m not that unhealthy I don’t deserve that spot anymore.
What do it’s a must to do to make folks respect you extra?
There may be nothing, I might win a LAN and folks would say “Rattling UKCS is over, ghil simply gained a LAN.” I don’t care. If that’s the way it goes, I like that, I like having that aura about me that I’ll tilt folks. If I tilt folks as a result of I kill them, that’s an additional benefit for my group and I’ll take it any day of the week.
Lastly, I haven’t seen you in a group for some time. Would you need to play in group Counter-Strike once more?
Positively. I’ve by no means teamed a LAN. I used to be meant to group a LAN as soon as however we needed to get stand-ins and it was a mixture. I want to group a LAN, I end uni actually quickly and I’ll have a great deal of free time to do it. However wanting on the scene and groups, there isn’t wherever to fit me in. If I used to be to place a LFT publish, I don’t suppose I’d be capable to go to a UK group. Realistically, I’d solely look to play in a UK group. LAN drives me to play CS, it’s the solely purpose I nonetheless play, if there was no LAN, I’d have give up ages in the past.
If somebody messaged me tomorrow and was an honest group, I’d say sure to a trial. I’ve trailled for groups not too long ago, however there should not numerous alternatives within the scene proper now. All the nice groups are getting so much higher, however are very closed and should not trying to make roster adjustments. Then there are simply teamless people who find themselves unsure in the event that they need to construct a group. There should not as many alternatives now as after I began.
There should not as many alternatives now as after I began.
