People often only remember the winners, the teams and players with the greatest achievements are the ones etched into the record books. Following unfortunate circumstances and perplexing roster changes, these teams rarely emerged as victors. This is a tale of disregarded lineups, dying before their potential was realised, leaving the community to merely speculate on what would have been, should have been, and could have been.
Titan, September — November 2014
Following Ninjas in Pyjamas’ victory at ESL One Cologne, the French scene would witness a shakeup. Titan’s group stage elimination from the major had proved the final straw. NBK, Smithzz, and ScreaM would depart the Titan lineup, their replacements coming in the form of LDLC’s apEX, maniac, and KQLY.
With shox now aboard LDLC a rift had developed, as the community ebbed and flowed over who’d emerged superior from the shuffle. Fortunately, we wouldn’t be left speculating for long with both squads in attendance of DreamHack Stockholm, alongside some the world’s elite in Fnatic, Dignitas, and NiP. Online form cemented Fnatic and LDLC as tournament favourites, with Titan appearing as extremely unlikely winners.
After scraping through a group stage culminating in a nail biting 16–14 victory over the Ninjas, Titan would draw Fnatic in the semifinals. The Swedes online performances were imperious demolishing almost everyone, including their final in Cologne and title at StarSeries, it seemed Titan’s road had come to an end. The first map was an Ex6TenZ masterclass, showcasing an awesome Terrorist half utilising kennyS’ mind boggling AWPing Titan tore holes in the Swedish defence. Reared up by drilled executes, olof and company could offer little in response.
The second would have Fnatic opening up on the Terrorist side of Dust2, in search of an opportunity to even up the series. They were given no such chance, as Fnatic was dealt their most decisive loss ever on LAN. Following a monster display from KQLY’s passive CT AWPing Fnatic stood as feeble resistance. Even an incredible ace from JW was slim consolidation as the Swedes were eliminated 16–1. Ex6TenZ’s uncanny proficiency for calling versus pronax would later be highlighted, a skill allowing Titan to retain a favourable match-up, even with later lineups.
The final could scarcely have panned out any better following the French changes, as Titan would meet their fellow countrymen in LDLC. kennyS’ squad would prevail in the series, taking the first convincingly and the second in overtime. The critics had been silenced as Titan seized upon an impressive title. Thorin named Ex6TenZ the MVP of the tournament, an accolade claimed due to radical Terrorist side approaches and executes he had employed during the event. When reflecting with hindsight, their victory only increases in magnificence. Titan had bested the two teams that together would utterly dominate the scene for over six months.
Stockholm would bare out as the peak level of this lineup, spearheaded by an innovative style which would be better understood and more effectively countered in the subsequent events they’d attend. A quarterfinals elimination at ESWC and a top four placing at SLTV StarSeries X displayed Titan’s true level. They were not an elite team capable of consistently battling for titles, more a dangerous underdog and a potent threat to any unprepared squad.
Titan were a team unlike any other, their style was fairly one dimensional, yet no mean feat to counter. Titan held the strongest double AWP pairing on the planet, and likely the most effective we’ll ever witness in Global Offensive. kennyS as the aggressive playmaker combined with the passive style of KQLY worked perfectly, allowing the team to perform dual AWP setups on the CT side on virtually every map in the pool. This configuration would put tremendous pressure on Titan’s economy, regularly sacrificing precious rounds to acquire the optimal equipment. As a result their CT sides became very volatile, commonly finding themselves saving into irrecoverable deficits. Due to apEX’s inconsistency, Titan’s T side revolved heavily around kenny’s ability to seek out entries, hardly a poor choice considering he outclassed every other AWPer. Titan reliably produced world class Terrorist halves, however a fundamental lack of skill them condoned to weaker Counter-Terrorist showings, an unfortunate truth as the game advanced toward a CT dominated meta.
Fast approaching was the third major of the year; DreamHack Winter 2014. Fnatic were on a formidable streak, already having claimed a trio of titles their eyes were now firmly set on the fourth; a major trophy. LDLC were second to the Swedes, they’d easily dispatched the rest of the pack, yet had been beaten handedly by Fnatic across multiple occasions. Despite lacking the résumé of their French counterparts, a legitimate case could be made justifying Titan as the most likely candidate to deny Fnatic the championship, as mentioned previously Ex6TenZ often had pronax’s number, alongside Titan being the last team to triumph over Fnatic in an offline series. Following iBuyPower’s puzzling decision to make roster changes shortly before the event, the Frenchmen were strongly favoured to proceed onto the playoffs. Titan were an exciting dark horse coming into the tournament.
KQLY’s ban struck shortly before Titan’s boot-camp ahead of the major. The Frenchman were disqualified from the tournament, forced to be solely spectators from the side-lines. This marked the end for this line-up, and the death of a style unreplicated to the same degree. During their following events Titan would field their analyst in ioRek, later signing RpK as KQLY’s ultimate replacement. KQLY’s ban within an instant destroyed the team and had aftershocks felt far beyond the competitive realm.
Titan’s subsequent tournaments saw kennyS ascend to the best on the planet, playing some of the highest calibre CS in Global Offensive history. Placing second at two events in the coming months, the Frenchmen were unable to capitalise on kenny’s incredible form. ioRek and RpK — shortly following his return to competitive Counter-Strike — were both significantly weaker players than KQLY. Had the ban never occurred, I suspect Titan would have snatched another title during this period.
This was a team that could’ve been further title contenders, who through the fault of one were denied the opportunity to do so. Many will dismiss this Titan as a line-up who’d offer little when encountered by the Fnatic’s and LDLC’s of the world, they couldn’t be more wrong.
PENTA Sports, December 2014 — May 2015
13–2 was the score at the halftime, iBuyPower had pulled out a substantial lead on the CT side of Inferno, now on the verge of a playoffs appearance. Yet, in spectacular fashion the Americans wound up completely crumbling, failing to find a single Terrorist round and allowing an unthinkable comeback to occur. Their victors were Penta, in attendance of their inaugural international event. As an largely unknown entity they’d surpassed the group stage of DreamHack Winter 2014, securing legendary status. Unfortunately for the German squad their form of the previous day was unsustainable, meeting their match in Virtus.pro and being brutalised out of the quarterfinals.
Following Titan’s disqualification and iBP’s questionable roster changes, many had attributed the team’s success to their stricken group, looking to prove themselves Penta would soon attend the Acer A-Split invitational. Where bizarrely the Germans would field nex, whom was completing for another team in the same tournament. During the event they’d score a series win over mousesports and grab a map from Virtus.pro, the latter being the eventual winner.
With mouz’s lineup in flux so was their stronghold of Germany’s best team, Penta’s unanticipated surge had set them in prime position to snatch this accolade. Unsurprisingly considering his substitution, nex would soon find himself on Penta, alongside the addition of strux1 who’d been brought in to address concerns over leadership, thus forming the lineup of: denis, spiidi, kRYSTAL, nex, and strux1.
This fresh lineup’s first test would be at ASUS RoG Winter, where Penta would require some stellar performances to exceed the group stage. The German team kicked off versus HellRaisers on Inferno, a map where the CIS squad was considered — at times — a legitimate threat to the elite teams. Although a close victory Penta would upset HellRaisers. Waiting for them in the winner’s match was Virtus.pro and the map would be Mirage, where VP were amongst the strongest in the world. Incredibly, Penta would triumph over the Poles 16–9, a scoreline nobody would have predicted.
Their semifinal opponent was Titan; in attendance of their first first event since the return of RpK. The Germans would mount a great comeback on the opening map, however they’d fall short at the final hurdle, losing 16–14. Unfortunately, following this defeat Penta lost all semblance of composure being destroyed on the second 16–0. The third place game would see the German team re-matching HellRaisers, and in eerily similar fashion to their previous series, they’d be smashed on the second map after a close first. This event certified Penta into the top ten teams and edged them past mouz as Germany’s number one, by virtue of their single map upset potential.
Following this tournament the team made an unexpected change, swapping out strux1 for Troubley. Although an upgrade in the skill department, it came at the expense of the team’s IGL, who’s preparation — you’d have thought — was integral to the Penta’s single map performances. A string of impressive showings saw Troubley in contention with nex for Germany’s best player. Still, this remained a dangerous move considering the team’s recent improvement, and they’d receive a baptism of fire at the upcoming major.
ESL One Katowice 2015; rounding out the German’s group would be the French duo of EnVyUs and Titan alongside rain’s resurrected LGB. Penta’s chances of an playoff appearance looked slim. Their opening map went horrifically, being dealt a devastating loss at the hands of the Norwegians. The elimination match would have the Germans facing Titan, and a group stage exit appeared inevitable. Shockingly, Penta would reverse their fortunes of earlier removing Titan from the event with a crushing display. The German’s would go on to ease past LGB, now having reached consecutive major playoffs.
In the quarterfinal they’d be encountering the world’s best in Fnatic. Akin to their elimination at the previous major, Penta would be beaten extremely convincingly over two maps. Following their elimination Troubley would be released, and it would prove to be the final offline event this core would play together. Despite Penta being the strongest in Germany, mousesports had come knocking, acquiring nex, spiidi, and denis, constructing their team around veteran 1.6 leader; gob b.
This was an unsatisfying farewell to Penta. With Troubley amongst the ranks the team was bolstered in firepower, granting them potential to foray deeper into the top ten. At RoG Winter, Richard Lewis cited a prominent top level player saying, if Penta continued improving as a line-up they’d be capable entering the top five teams in the world. Since the major in Jönköping they’d showed steady development and although I see this as an overly optimistic view, the team certainly showed promise rooted on team-based fundamentals.
The manner in which I perceive this Penta team stylistically, as well as results wise is in a similar vein to the early KaBuM/Keyd Stars lineup (now the SK core). Likewise, the Brazilian’s were a dangerous single map upset team, utilising a sound tactical style alongside great preparation to negate skill deficits. Penta were an interesting team to watch, often pulling out an innovative pop flash or boost, they’d showcase rehearsed executes consistently scoring a respectable number of Terrorist rounds.
Towards the summer of this 2015 nex asserted himself as a world class rifler. The German would praise gob b’s leadership as a driving factor in allowing him to flourish, and although this may have been the case, I’d still argue that he would have improved regardless. This added firepower may have been the catalyst that propelled Penta to a prominent placing, but thanks to Troubley’s departure and the mousesports acquisition, we would never get to find out.
LGB eSports, February — June 2014
DreamHack Winter 2013: Fnatic’s historic title run, clash of the titans with NiP versus VeryGames, Astana’s failed CIS superteam, and comLexity’s top four finish beating out VG in the groups. These are the premier storylines from Global Offensive’s first major. Yet, one narrative slips into obscurity, that being the breakout performance of LGB on Counter-Strike’s biggest stage.
Beating out Na’Vi and apEX’s Clan Mystic, the Swedish team of LGB booked their place in the playoffs. dennis had annihilated the Frenchman in CM, who a few weeks prior had shockingly upset VeryGames to win ESWC. Unfortunately, the bracket would see LGB drawing the strongest of the group toppers; Ninjas in Pyjamas. The quarterfinal began as expected with NiP bursting through the gates opening up a 11–4 lead; it appeared the writing was on the wall for LGB. Off the back of olofmeister’s inspired play the Swedes would mount a impressive comeback stealing away the opening map. Despite comfortable loses on the following two, the scene began to take notice.
A little over a month later LGB would attend a small four team Swedish tournament called Svecup. After breezing through the opener, the final would have them rematching NiP. In a razor tight series with all three maps going down the wire, LGB would just fall short. This was a devastating loss; the Swedes had allowed a 14–4 advantage with one map in the can to slip through their fingers. Although an agonising defeat, it was now abundantly clear that LGB were a team to be taken seriously. The lineup’s potential was obvious and perhaps only experience had stood between them and the title. The community lay in wait for their next appearance.
In the February of 2014, before LGB would attend another event, SKYTTEN and eskem — now Maikelele — would depart the team, citing that a desire for rigid leadership had driven them to pursue other options. Their replacements came in the shape of SK Gaming’s cype and more notably hot prospect twist, following his impressive showing back at Svecup. LGB’s new lineup was born: olofmeister, krimz, dennis, twist, and cype.
After three months of consignment to solely online games, LGB was in attendance of 2014’s first major; EMS One Katowice. The Swedes would top their group besting GuardiaN’s Na’Vi and swag’s compLexity. The quarterfinals had LGB paired against defending major champions; Fnatic. A slew of inactivity from both sides cast doubt over choosing a favourite, though most would favour Fnatic on the basis of their victory in Jönköping. In a thrilling series olofmeister’s fantastic play would spur LGB to close victory over their Swedish counterparts.
Virtus.pro had come into their home event in phenomenal form. They’d already topped a tough group and had smashed their quarterfinal opponents in LDLC. It would be the Poles that stood between LGB and the major final. Throughout the entire event, dennis’ side would be the sole team to wrestle a map from Virtus.pro emerging victorious in overtime on Mirage. In retrospect this was the strongest in the pool for VP, however the other two maps hadn’t gone so well, with the Poles overpowering the Swedes.
LGB employed an extremely loose style, having very few set tactics they set out to impose the aim of their talented players. The team seemingly had a different person AWPing every round, likely decided by which players were feeling on form. Their volatility was a double edged sword, whilst difficult to predict, the team’s success hinged on individual performance. Throughout their strong placings olofmeister and dennis were held in high regard. With heavy criticism lofted towards NiP’s fifflaren these two entered the conversation for the step up to the Ninjas.
Following an underwhelming showing at Copenhagen Games 2014, the lineup would break ties with LGB eSports, it being speculated that the organisation was unable to sufficiently support the them, the team leaving in search of stronger backing. After a short stint under name Team Global, dennis would exit the lineup, although — reportedly — the team was in negotiations of potential support, dennis would take a full time job likely deterred by the instability of the ex-LGB players’ situation.
In the latter days of June, krimz and olof would find themselves joining the ranks of Fnatic, thus marking the end for the ex-LGB team. Since their tenures in LGB all four of olof, krimz, dennis, and twist have borne out to be some of Sweden’s best players, olofmeister in particular is now regarded as one of the greatest players ever to grace the game. dennis’ departure from the scene was analogous the demise of his team, so much potential just gone in an instant. Fortunately for us spectators dennis would reemerge in the latter half of 2015.
This LGB lineup screamed of a team lacking direction. The players were cognisant of this deficiency, yet they’d simply pass around the burden of leadership hoping one of them would miraculously find success in the role. Although they’d concluded a heavily tactical was unsuitable, more structure would become mandatory as the game developed. Should the team have secured stronger organisational backing, the decline of Fnatic would’ve made the ex-LGB lineup an appealing destination for pronax, a potential match made in heaven.
With such an abundance of talent coalescing in this lineup it was surely only a matter of time until the cogs aligned. It’s slim exaggeration to propose this team bolstered world class firepower at the time of their downfall, easily being conceivable they could have snapped up titles on skill alone. The death of this squad is one of games’s great tragedies, a demise in large part brought by the era they were in, unbeknown to the incredible growth Counter-Strike was in for. Allegedly on the brink of signing with an established organisation, its remains a mystery as to exactly why the wheels had just fallen off, even the promise of a major spot could not hold them together. This LGB lineup was a missed opportunity, perhaps only a single roster move from the best team on the planet. Never has a lineup so skilled just ceased to exist, and had they stayed together, the history of Global Offensive could’ve looked like a very different place.
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