Tech Girl Talks

Mind Games (the title is a work in progress) is a series of interviews I've done to better understand the mental and physical preparation and struggles which go into playing Counter-Strike at the top level. It's self indulgent but something I really wanted to learn more about. In Episode 1 I talk to Fabian Broich from Achieve Minds. Fabian is a Sports Psychologist but also a player agent. You'll likely know him because he represents Br0 from Astralis (?! Benched off the bench Br0). We speak about juggling the role of player agent and sports psychologist while also touching on the unique struggles faced by top level Counter-Strike players. Recorded 14 October 2024 Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Mental Resilience in Counter-Strike Esports 02:48 - Who is Fabian Broich? Agent, Sports Psychologist, and Mentor 05:56 - Why Mental Health Matters: Insights for Pro Players 08:52 - From Fields to Screens: Transitioning from Traditional Sports to Esports 11:58 - Trust Matters: Building Relationships with Pro Players 15:12 - Double Duty: Balancing Agent Work and Performance Coaching 17:53 - Inside Counter-Strike: Unique Challenges Players Face 20:45 - Stress and Burnout: Managing Mental Load in Esports 23:55 - Fans vs. Players: Navigating Pressure from Expectations 26:56 - Support Systems: How Organizations Can Help Pro Players 29:50 - Room to Grow: The Future of Counter-Strike Esports 32:55 - Pro Player Advice: Tips for Aspiring Counter-Strike Stars Find Fabian online: Fabian on X - www.x.com/SportsPsycFaBro His agency - www.achieveminds.com Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

In Episode 26 of Feed The Trolls,  @PimpCS2  joins  @Thooorin  and I as we break down FaZe Clan’s recent struggles in Counter-Strike 2. Once a top contender, FaZe's performance has declined, leaving fans and analysts wondering—what went wrong? We dive into the expectations versus the reality of their 2024 journey, examine Karrigan’s leadership, and explore potential roster moves. Plus, we share predictions for FaZe’s EU RMR and Shanghai Major prospects and discuss if there’s any hope for a Major win. Recorded 11 November 2024 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:09 FaZe's performance vs expectations in 2024 05:42 Karrigan's leadership under scrutiny? 15:55 FaZe’s goodwill - no standout “weak” player 23:49 Too much emphasis on player roles in CS2? 29:00 Potential roster changes in FaZe 32:23 Where does Karrigan go from here? 39:10 FaZe Clan's budget and spending habits 41:42 The end of MOUZ? 44:59 FaZe Shanghai Major run predictions 49:30 FaZe fan love 52:55 Can FaZe win the major? Follow Thorin on X: www.x.com/Thorin Follow Pimp on X: www.xcom/PimpCS2 Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

In Episode 25 of Feed The Trolls, I team up with  @Thooorin  and special guest Lurppis for a deep dive into Counter-Strike's evolving relationship with data analytics. We analyze an insightful article by Ner0 on HLTV (Why We're Still Waiting for Counter-Strike's Data Revolution) and discuss how data is transforming the game from player scouting to team dynamics. Join us as we break down: The role of data in forming competitive Counter-Strike teams. The challenges and potential of using data to analyze player performance. How data science impacts team communication, academy systems, and player recruitment. The investment landscape for data analytics in esports and its future. Recorded on 5 November 2024. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Ep. 25 of Feed The Trolls 02:13 How Data Shapes Team Formation 05:53 Challenges of Analyzing Player Performance 10:28 Team Dynamics & Communication 13:27 The Impact of Contextual Data in CS 17:19 The Call for Data Analytics Investment 21:27 The Future of Data in Esports 27:47 The Investment Dilemma in Esports 30:09 Data Science & Team Building 32:14 Academy Systems and Player Development 35:04 Using Data for Scouting & Recruitment 36:37 Balancing Stats with Player Intangibles 41:42 What’s Next for Esports Analytics 49:52 Power Dynamics in Esports Organizations Follow Thorin on X: www.x.com/Thorin Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

🎙️ Sell Me This Pro | Fluxo’s Journey in Tier 2 CS 🎙️ In this episode of Sell Me This Pro, co-hosted with  @BDogCS  we dive deep into Brazil’s rising team, Fluxo. We break down their recent performances on LAN, explore their unexpected fall short of the Americas RMRs, and analyze standout players who could redefine their future in Tier 2 CS 👀 Highlights: A deep dive into Fluxo’s lineup dynamics – from Art’s influence to Kye’s potential redemption arc. Spotlight on piriajr, an emerging talent who BDog rates as one to watch. Speculations on Fluxo’s future prospects and how long they might need to break into Tier 1. 🔴 Recorded on October 21, 2024 Timestamps: 00:00 Intro | Exploring a team outside the Major cycle 01:04 What’s next for Tier 2 in 2025 02:41 Fluxo’s showing at RES LAN 05:01 Art’s role in shaping team dynamics 07:38 Why Fluxo missed the Americas RMRs 10:26 Kye’s redemption arc - what will Mauisnake think? 17:44 Rising star alert: piriajr 23:20 Can Fluxo evolve into a Tier 1 contender? 26:18 Sell Me This Pro... or the entire Fluxo team 27:34 Teaser for our RMRs Special Follow BDog on X: www.x.com/BDogCS Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

ESL Challenger Katowice Recap & 2025 Predictions: Falcons, Eternal Fire, MIBR, SAW & B8 | Challenged Podcast Finale In the final episode of Challenged for 2024, hosts Sam and  @Darfmike  dive deep into the ESL Challenger event held in Katowice. Join us as we reflect on the emotional highs and lows of notable teams and players, analyze the dynamics within teams like Falcons, Eternal Fire, and MIBR, and discuss the impressive victories of SAW and B8’s promising rise. With the Shanghai Major RMRs on the horizon, we look ahead at what’s next for Counter-Strike’s competitive landscape and speculate on the shifts we may see in 2025. In this recap, we explore: The unique challenges facing Team Falcons and how even s1mple's efforts couldn’t bring them to victory. The internal drama inside Eternal Fire and its impact on team performance. MIBR’s struggles, SAW's evolving roster, and B8’s impressive potential heading into the RMRs. The current state and future of Tier 2 CS events and our favorite moments from ESL Challenger 2024. Recorded on: October 30, 2024 00:00 Introduction and ESL Challenger Katowice reflections 02:36 WTF happened to Team Falcons 05:48 Even s1mple can't get Team Falcons to fly 09:40 Drama inside Eternal Fire? 14:31 MIBR's underperformance 16:13 SAW’s roster and coach changes - are they a good thing? 21:16 Why are CS analysts so grumpy? 22:55 B8 - a team to watch at the RMRs and for the future? 30:52 ESL Challenger events in 2024 - favorite moments 32:11 The future of Tier 2 CS in 2025 Follow Mike on X: www.x.com/darfmike Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

ESL Challenger Katowice 2024 Preview: S1mple Returns, Team Changes, and Tournament Predictions The final ESL Challenger event of the year, ESL Challenger Katowice 2024, is here, bringing some of the best Counter-Strike teams to compete on LAN. In this video, we break down the event with in-depth previews of the teams, group seedings, and key storylines. Join me and  @Darfmike  as we analyze the highly-anticipated return of S1mple to LAN competition, as he joins Team Falcons. We also explore the recent coaching and lineup changes within the Portuguese team SAW, and discuss the potential of South American powerhouses MIBR and paiN to make deep runs in the tournament. Additionally, we highlight Eternal Fire's prospects and provide our predictions for which teams could make it to the finals. Recorded 16 October 2024 Follow Mike on X: www.x.com/DarfMike Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to ESL Challenger Katowice 00:54 - Group A Overview: The Competition Heats Up 04:03 - S1mple's Return to LAN: What It Means for CS 08:07 - Team Falcons: Expectations & Potential Pitfalls 11:58 - SAW's Coaching Changes & Team Dynamics 14:11 - Eternal Fire's Performance Outlook 18:12 - Group B: South American Teams to Watch 21:17 - Final Predictions & Closing Thoughts Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

In this episode of Feed The Trolls, we’re diving into the latest drama surrounding Tier 2 Counter-Strike.  @Thooorin  and I are joined by teddcs to discuss a range of hot topics, including the 2025 open circuit changes for competitive CS and their impact on smaller, financially struggling teams. We also delve into the BLEED/Unpaid scandal, Kassad’s unexpected financial involvement, the rise (and potential fall) of SAW, and the never-ending issues with shady organizations in esports. Expect some fiery takes and plenty of back-and-forth as we navigate the chaos!Apologies for the budget hotel setup—I’m working on improving it! Recorded on October 24, 2024.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction03:09 – Future of Tier 2 CS & Valve rankings explained06:11 – 2025 open circuit: impact on smaller teams10:41 – The BLEED scandal: unpaid players and drama breakdown14:46 – Esports and shady organizations: a recurring issue19:45 – Kassad's financial backing for BLEED28:40 – BLEED to Unpaid: What’s next?33:12 – New opportunities for Tier 2 players in 202534:53 – The rise and potential downfall of SAW43:56 – Drama alert: Is there something fishy?46:39 – The unpredictable nature of Tier 2 esports49:53 – Innovations in tournament structuresFollow Thorin on x: www.x.com/ThorinFollow tedd on x: www.x.com/teddcs_ Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

In this episode of Sell Me This Pro,  @BDogCS  and I dive deep into the evolving UK Counter-Strike scene, spotlighting the journey of rising star Gizmy. We break down the challenges faced by UK players, the significant strides made by the Monte Gen team, and what it takes to succeed in tier 2 and 3 esports. With insights into Gizmy's role as an in-game leader (IGL), we discuss how his leadership is transforming the team and pushing the boundaries of UK esports. Key Highlights: 📍 The challenges and opportunities in UK Counter-Strike. 🔍 Why context matters when evaluating a player's performance. 💪 Gizmy’s evolution and potential as an IGL in Monte Gen. 🚀 Monte Gen’s recent rise and what it means for the team. 🌍 How the UK esports scene is becoming a hotbed for emerging talent. 🏆 The impact of limited LAN events on UK CS growth. 🔥 What’s next for Gizmy and the future of UK esports? Join us as we unpack the factors shaping the UK's Counter-Strike landscape and discuss the future of UK esports as a place to scout new talent. Follow BDogg on X: www.x.com/BDogCS Recorded on: October 2, 2024 Timestamps: 00:00: Introduction and Hotel Set Up 03:05: Highlighting UK CS Players 09:09: Gizmy's Journey in the UK Scene 15:06: Challenges in UK CS 18:20: The Rise of Monte Gen 20:54: Gizmy’s Move to IGL 23:04: Future Prospects for Gizmy 25:08: SELL ME THIS PRO: Investing in Gizmy Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

ESL Challenger Atlanta Recap: FlyQuest’s Stunning Victory, M80's Stumble & SAW Drama Recorded 10 October (before Berry announced he was leaving SAW) In this episode of CHALLENGED,  @Darfmike  and I dive deep into the biggest highlights and surprises from ESL Challenger Atlanta! We break down FlyQuest’s unexpected triumph, M80’s disappointing performance on home soil, and the shocking developments at SAW, where coach Berry and arrozdoce left the team right after the tournament. Don't miss our insights into the player dynamics and roster shakeups! Stay tuned as we also cover top performances from BIG, aliStair's journey, and a look ahead at the ESL Challenger Katowice. 🔔 Subscribe for more esports updates and tournament breakdowns! Follow DarfMike on X: www.x.com/DarfMike Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 FlyQuest's unexpected triumph 02:45 aliStair's journey and improvement 07:43 BIG's Performance at Challenger 09:28 WTF is happening at SAW? 17:17 Player Agency drama and SAW 18:15 M80 the hometown heroes fumble 20:44 Wildcard upset and Amouranth in the audience 26:40 Best moments from Challenger Atlanta 28:50 Is Rooster just an Australian meme? 33:49 Looking ahead to ESL Challenger Katowice Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

Apologies for my mic quality - I was recording on the road! In this episode of Feed The Trolls, I sit down with Anders and  @Thooorin  for a real, no-holds-barred chat about life as an esports commentator. We dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly—like dealing with online criticism, the mental strain of being in the public eye, and how to handle friendships and competition in such a high-pressure environment. We also break down the evolution of esports broadcasting and why balancing entertainment with professionalism is so tricky. 💬 Expect plenty of laughs, some tough truths, and a lot of insight into what it’s really like behind the mic. Whether you're aspiring to be a commentator or just love the esports scene, this one's for you! Thorin on X: www.x.com/Thorin Anders on X: www.x.com/OnFireAnders 👇 Jump to the highlights: 00:00 - Intro: Commentating and online criticism 03:06 - Coping with online hate and feedback 06:01 - The role of celebrities in esports 09:01 - Becoming a commentator: the journey 11:55 - Navigating the competitive esports landscape 15:07 - The mental toll of public scrutiny 17:57 - Praise vs. criticism: why negative feedback sticks 20:56 - Post-major event vibes and reflections 23:58 - Balancing personal life and professional identity 26:59 - Understanding online comments: is it all personal? 29:53 - Engaging with the audience: does it work? 38:04 - The real impact of online criticism 42:02 - Managing professional relationships in esports 47:58 - The evolution of esports broadcasting: polished or fake? 55:01 - Entertainment vs. professionalism: finding the balance 01:01:55 - Community expectations vs. reality in esports 01:10:02 - Personal branding: making your mark in esports 🔥 Let us know in the comments—how do you think esports commentators should handle criticism? And don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes like this! #Esports #Commentary #FeedTheTrolls #Gaming #Thorin #Anders #OnlineCriticism #MentalHealth #EsportsBroadcasting #Podcast Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

The Falcons’ Entry into CS2: Roster Moves, S1mple, and Competitive Impact | Counter-Strike Podcast Recorded 25 September 2024 Join  @Thooorin   @KingT_CS2  and me as we dive deep into the Falcons’ entry into Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). We break down their ambitious roster plans, player salaries, and how key decisions could shape the future of their team. We discuss how the Falcons’ influence compares to teams like ENCE and Heroic, and the role of agents in the evolving CS scene. The conversation also explores the broader effects on competitive CS, especially with a rumored S1mple loan deal, and whether the Falcons’ unlimited budget is hurting the ecosystem. Don’t miss our analysis of BOROS, Snappi, and Nertz, and what the future holds for Team Falcons. Find Thorin on X: www.x.com/Thorin Find KingT on X: www.x.com/KingTCSGO Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & KingT’s expertise in Tier 2 CS 01:19 – Falcons' entry into CS2 02:53 – Initial roster and player aspirations 08:55 – BOROS: A marketing decision or regional representation? 12:16 – Snappi’s leadership: What does he bring to the table? 17:25 – ENCE & Heroic: Rise, fall, and their future 20:57 – Gla1ve to ENCE? Could ENCE’s core move to Heroic? 28:59 – Nertz analysis and rating 32:29 – Team Falcons' unlimited budget: How it’s impacting the CS2 scene 36:05 – Is Falcons responsible for damaging competitive CS? 48:15 – Falcons' management: Are they their own worst enemy? 51:20 – SunPayUs in CS2 54:02 – S1mple to Falcons? Predictions and insights Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

🎮 CHALLENDED: ESL Challenger Atlanta with  @Darfmike  🎙️ In this episode, Mike & I dive into the upcoming  @ESLCS  Challenger Atlanta, breaking down the chances of top teams and discussing the resurgence of North American Counter-Strike. We take a close look at M80, their potential, and Wildcard's struggles, plus the grassroots growth of NA talent.The conversation heats up as we tackle the controversy between IEM Rio and ESL Challenger Atlanta and analyze the performances of teams like SAW, FlyQuest, BIG, and BetBoom. With tournament predictions and plenty of hot takes, this is your go-to guide for the event! Recorded 17 September 2024 Find Mike on X: www.x.com/DarfMike 📌 Key Moments: 00:00 - Introduction to ESL Challenger Atlanta 02:14 - M80 & NA Representation 05:18 - The resurgence of NA Counter-Strike 08:29 - Wildcard's challenges 11:22 - IEM Rio vs ESL Challenger Atlanta: What's the controversy? 15:50 - Who are ODDIK? 18:49 - SAW's rise and IEM Cologne performance 23:03 - FlyQuest's struggles and potential 26:02 - BIG's new lineup and future prospects 29:59 - BetBoom's inconsistencies 32:36 - Final predictions for ESL Challenger Atlanta 🔥 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more CS insights and tournament breakdowns! #ESLChallengerAtlanta #NAEsports #CSGO #M80 #Wildcard #SAWCSGO #BIGCSGO #FlyQuestCSGO #BetBoom #CounterStrike #EsportsPredictions #IEMRio #GamingPodcast Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

🎮 Sinners' Journey in Tier 2 CS | Roster Changes, Success & Challenges 🎙️ In this episode,  @BDogCS  & I dive into the Sinners' rise in Tier 2 Counter-Strike, exploring their recent wins, roster shake-ups, and what it means to be a regionally focused team. We break down the impact of new players Mikey and MoriisKo, and discuss the ongoing battle to improve while staying competitive. From winning CCT Season 2 Series II to gearing up for the EU RMRs, we talk about the unique struggles of Tier 2 CS , balancing play time, and how the open circuit could change everything next year. If you're a fan of Sinners, Czech CS, or just love insights into the pro scene, watch this! 📌 Timestamps for key moments: 00:00 - Does Sam have br0vid? 01:09 - Introducing Sinners 03:36 - Sinners' roster changes 05:51 - Winning CCT Season 2 Series II 07:50 - Improving in Tier 2 CS 08:51 - Are Tier 2 teams playing too much? 12:28 - How an open circuit will change Tier 2 next year 14:35 - All-Czech lineup: good or bad? 18:05 - Sinners' Academy team 22:00 - Sinners' playstyle breakdown 24:33 - Expectations for the EU RMRs 28:04 - Who are majky & MoriisKo? 🔥 Follow BDog on X: www.x.com/BDogCS #Sinners #CSGO #Tier2CSGO #RMR #CCTSeries #SinnersEsports #CounterStrike #ESportsNews #GamingPodcast #EUCSGO #CSGORosterChanges #Mikey #MoriisKo #CzechCS Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

This episode dives deep into the biggest roster shuffle of 2024—cadiaN’s shocking move to Astralis! 🎮💥 Bubzkji joins  @Thooorin  & I to break it all down, from the behind-the-scenes drama to the future of Danish Counter-Strike. We discuss the fallout from Heroic’s collapse, Stavn & Jabbi’s betrayal, the breakfast beef between cadiaN and Gla1ve, and how dev1ce will impact Astralis’ new lineup. Can this team win a Major with these changes? 00:00 Introducing Bubzkji and Thorin as well as their initial reactions to this announcement 05:56 The Heroic breakup and it's aftermath 07:08 What about HooXi? 09:14 The things no one talks about regarding roster changes 13:38 Was this a last minute move? Did someone else fall through? 14:56 Removing br0 and expectations of the new lineup 21:05 cadiaN positives 22:54 Addressing the Stabbi drama 26:48 Impact of device on this team 32:30 AWPer to rifler change and the impact on the server 34:37 Effect of role changes on staehr 36:49 Astralis vs CadiaN history: EPL breakfast drama, trash talk, Hunden & more 43:24 The beginning of the end of Danish Counter-Strike? 50:04 A new cadiaN attitude 55:26 Can this lineup make the Major? 01:00:44 Shout out to cadiaN for bringing Bubzkji and Thorin together on the podcast Find Bubzkji on x: www.x.com/Bubzkji Find Thorin on x: www.x.com/Thorin Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

In this episode of SELL ME THIS PRO,  @BDogCS  & I dive deep into the career of Sirah, who recently transitioned from MOUZ NXT to TSM. We discuss Sirah's growth during his time with MOUZ NXT, along with the challenges and rumours surrounding both his former team and TSM’s much-anticipated return to Counter-Strike. We also explore the bigger conversation around Academy Teams and their impact on the esports scene. Whether you’re a dedicated fan or curious about the latest CS updates, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss! Find BDog on X www.x.com/BDogCS 00:00 Introduction and recap 03:29 TSM & Sirah 04:22 TSM's struggles since their return 07:36 The strengths of MOUZ NXT's Academy programme 11:32 Do we need a dedicated Academy Teams League like WePlay to come back? 15:31 MOUZ NXT hiatus rumours 17:44 External factors which feed into team moves 22:20 Sirah's consistency 24:19 How new team dynamics might impact Sirah 26:48 Investment potential of Sirah 29:37 Future value and performance of Sirah 30:41 SELL ME THIS PRO look back, when? Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

@austincsgo  &  @Thooorin  join me to take a deep dive into NAVI's journey since their Major victory. We analyze the team's standout performances, tactical evolution, and the key players driving their success. We explore how B1ad3's coaching style and Aleksib's exceptional leadership have shaped the team’s strategy, while highlighting the crucial roles of team chemistry and sports psychology in their resilience. We'll also discuss the rise of JL and how his influence has boosted the team’s morale. Plus, we address the rumors surrounding S1mple’s potential return to tCS, speculating on what it could mean for NAVI's future in the competitive Counter-Strike scene. 00:00 Austincsgo joining us to talk about NAVI (again) 01:02 Why did fans not believe in NAVI after the Copenhagen Major win 04:25 NAVI's improvement in the server 05:36 The current level of competitive CS2 08:42 B1ad3's system 13:15 NAVI's use of tactical timeouts and strat books 15:44 Aleksib as an IGL 19:47 The w0nderful s1mple debate 25:10 NAVI lineup changes - should they even happen? 26:47 EliGE to NAVI? 28:27 The iM debate 32:03 NAVI support and backroom staff 34:43 B1t's inconsistency a given 37:39 Why everyone loves jL (even Thorin) 43:44 Favourite things about the current NAVI lineup 48:46 NAVI Red Flags 51:57 Should s1mple return to NAVI? 54:47 Does NAVI win the Shanghai Major? 58:08 Where does s1mple go next? Austin on x www.x.com/austincsgo_ Thorin on x www.x.com/Thorin Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1

Join  @BDogCS  and me in this special edition of SELL ME THIS PRO as we spotlight standout players from Tier 2 teams competing in ESL Pro League S20. Discover the rising stars from North America, South America, and Europe who have the potential to become Tier 1 superstars. 🌍✨ We dive deep into their international experience, raw mechanics, and fragging skills, highlighting what makes these players exceptional. Plus, we discuss the crucial role of events like Pro League in shaping the future of Tier 2 organizations. Don’t miss out on: Top Tier 2 players to watch In-depth analysis of their skills and potential The importance of Pro League for Tier 2 teams Find Bdog on X: http://www.x.com/BDogCS 00:00 SELL ME THIS PRO ESL Pro League S20 edition 01:35 M80 and Lake 03:53 Where is the North American Counter-Strike talent 06:08 JBa and Wildcard 08:34 ESL Pro League - a training ground for Tier 2 teams? 11:57 South American CS talent: Venomzera and Red Canids 16:29 9z and HUASOPEEK 18:54 9z’s IEM Cologne performance 21:54 South American CS’s evolution of play style 24:12 r1nke and NIP - great AWPER wrong team? 26:04 m0NESY predicts r1nkle’s play style 29:18 Let’s not talk about Heroic 30:13 Fnatic can’t make it work. Why? 34:11 MATYS and Fnatic 36:44 BlameF’s performance on Fnatic 38:08 Bdog’s top up and coming player for ESL Pro League S20 Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

A wild HenryG appears! 🦸‍♂️ Join myself  @Thooorin  and HenryG as we dive into the incredible rookie year of donk and Team Spirit in CS2. We analyze the team’s inconsistent performances throughout 2024 and debate whether the lineup of chopper, sh1ro, magixx, zont1x, and donk has what it takes to become the greatest of all time. Spoiler: We think donk might already be there! 🏆We also go off on a tangent to discuss potential roster shuffles for Virtus Pro. Find Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/Thorin Find Henry G on X: http://www.x.com/HenryGcsgo 00:00 HenryG too cool to greet Sam 02:21 Team Spirit's inconsistent results 06:35 HenryG weighs in on Spirit's IEM Cologne performance 09:05 Do we expect too much from Team Spirit 14:15 Young players and Tier 1 experience 21:08 Sh1ro's playing style 22:48 How Spirit plans their tournament calendar 26:06 Off on a tangent: Virtus Pro roster shuffles 28:23 Jame on his way out from VP? 30:14 Does Team Spirit need to make a roster change? 35:07 What do CS coaches actually do? 42:06 Build your CS team around donk 43:38 Can donk continue to perform at this level? 51:07 donk's insane mechanical skill at such a young age 54:32 Does Team Spirit rely too heavily on donk? Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

2 Pros on this episode as  @BDogCS  & I dive into Tier 2 Counter-Strike. We focus in on Passion UA, a Ukrainian CS team founded by Arsenal footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko which recently qualified for the Shanghai Major EU RMRs. Jambo is their stand out AWPer and we focus in on his rise as well as how Passion UA works as a cohesive unit, with a focus on teamwork and systems-based play. We then move on to Permitta Esports and dive into Polish Counter-Strike as well as a look at bnox as a potential player to keep your eye on. 00:00 2 Pros, 1 show and Africa! 02:35 Passion UA and footballer Zinchenko 06:02 The rise of "traditional athletes" investing in esports 09:12 Young Ukrainian players in PassionUA 12:58 Standout AWPer Jambo 17:29 Teamwork versus Standalone Stars 27:37 Sell Me This Pro: Jambo 30:13 Permitta's inconsistency 36:53 Polish Counter-Strike 40:07 Significance of making (or not making) the RMRs 42:56 Sell Me This Pro: bnox 45:17 Trying to scout for Counter-Strike talent Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

North American CS fans have had their hearts broken a lot. Complexity's current performance adds to that heartache. In this episode  @launders  joins  @Thooorin  & I to chat about Complexity's current struggles. We look at the decline of the North American scene because of factors like iBUYPOWER match-fixing scandal, the impact of COVID-19 and the migration of players to Valorant. We analyze Complexity;s lack of form and inability to capitalize on their potential. Expect a conversation around the team's performance, a lack of roster changes and the need for better scouting. We hype up EliGe a lot too! 00:00 Introducing launders - again 00:57 What the hell happened to North American Counter-Strike 08:04 Do you have to move to Europe to be competitive in tier 1 CS? 12:00 Launders rants about Complexity 14:16 Sam rants about Complexity 15:28 Why can't Complexity find their form? 20:34 EliGe tilting in Team Liquid AND Complexity 29:09 Which teams don't do pre-game huddles. Virtus Pro memes begin. 30:45 Complacency from Complexity with their results 31:58 No more refrag for you! 33:38 Roster changes: lack of talent in North America is a BS excuse 40:07 Rebuilding North American Counter-Strike 41:04 Next steps for CoL 43:01 Can this CoL roster make playoff runs? 45:15 Pro CS players who could go to Complexity 48:35 Scouting new Counter-Strike talent 53:23 What does EliGe's future look like with this lineup? Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

Here's a whole new SELL ME THIS PRO and EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT.  @BDogCS  and I are doing a special episode to focus in on the results (and drama) surrounding the European RMR Closed Qualifiers for the Perfect World Shanghai Major. We touch on the PARIVISION cheating scandal, the weird on again off again transfer of r3salt between Aurora and 9 Pandas and focus in on the teams who didn't make the RMR: ENCE, Monte and Bleed (which aged well didn't it). We also look at some of the Tier 2 teams who qualified and how we think they'll do in the tournament. The plan here was to generate some excitement for the upcoming RMRs and the competitive scene in CS2 leading into the Major at the end of the year. Let's hope we delivered! 00:00 The PARIVISION cheating scandal explained 02:32 Introduction and the Aurora 9 Pandas r3salt shuffle 14:01 Struggles of ENCE & Monte in the EU RMR Closed Qualifiers 17:28 Sam blames Falcons for ENCE & Heroic's downfall 23:24 OG fails to qualify for the RMRs 27:53 GamerLegion is building a young strong team. ztr IGLing on POINT! 35:33 Heartbreak for BLEED. Joy for Kassad haters. 38:53 Notable CS2 teams who qualified for the European RMRs 42:04 B8 is Bdog's team to watch 44:04 SELL ME THIS PRO: alex666 47:49 Normal show next week and a focus on Passion UA! Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

It's the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne recap and we've got A LOT to cover. What a vibe having  @RLewisReports  join  @Thooorin  and I to recap the entire tournament. We talk about the Vitality and NAVI final, the impact of MR12 in CS2 and the overall performance of the likes of Liquid, Spirit, FaZe, G2 and SAW. There is a LOT crammed in. But certified banger, guaranteed. 00:00 Introduction... Richard Lewis is here! 00:34 By The Numbers joke flies over Sam's head 01:01 IEM Cologne Final: NAVI versus Vitality 02:07 MR12 versus MR15 09:17 Pimp's comments about NAVI 17:14 What the hell happened to Spirit? 28:39 IEM Cologne funny moments - this one's for Swisher 34:05 CadiaN and that balls line (off topic) 38:31 The Thorin jL beef origins explained 42:32 SAW's Cinderella run 50:13 Counter-Strike coaches - Is zonic a fraud?! 53:08 Reviewing other teams: G2, Liquid, Astralis 59:02 MOUZ and their big stage nerves 01:04:17 Vitality's victory. Lineup changes or a Major win? 01:11:08 apEX victory and IGL style Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

The slow burner Pro!  @BDogCS  & I discuss rifler AW from DMS. Part of the conversation includes taking a look at the current state of competitive Counter-Strike in the CIS region and the rise of young talent. We analyse how AW performed with his team at their first LAN: The skyesports event recently held. You can find BDog in X: http://www.x.com/BDogCS 00:00 Introduction 01:41 DMS 03:16 The ride of young talent in the CIS region 05:02 The challenge of finding information on Tier 2 players 06:33 The online Tier 2 Counter-Strike grind: the good, the bad & the ugly 10:06 DMS results - a mixed bag for AW 13:20 Consistent riflers versus stand out performers 16:28 AW positions, roles and playstyle 19:09 skyesports and AW's performance on LAN 24:20 DMS challenges: lack of experience & support staff 26:34 AW's good decision-making and multi-kill potential 32:15 LAN experience and nerves (a little personal anecdote from Sam too) 37:04 SELL ME THIS PRO: AW Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

CS2 team Sangal has dominated the Tier 2 online space, winning back-to-back tournaments. Their IGL is non-other than LNZ, who you may remember from NIP awhile back. Sangal recently qualified for ESL Pro League Season 20 so it seemed like a good time to focus in on LNZ and why he may be a pro that has shown resilience, growth and the potential to re-enter the Tier 1 Counter-Strike space.  @BDogCS  pleads his case on this episode of SELL ME THIS PRO and highlights the capabilities and strengths of the current Sangal lineup. Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

Ugly Haters come here!  @DonaCSGO  joins  @Thooorin  and I to talk about THAT X argument with Launders and criticising pro players online. The conversation starts with an explanation about what happened and expands into the role content creators and broadcast talent play in the competitive Counter-Strike community. We talk about A LOT of things in this one and share a ton of personal anecdotes. This one is hard to summarise. Just know you should listen. It's a really interesting conversation! 00:00 Introduction to Dona and that Launders argument 07:03 The Problem with Criticizing Players 11:17 Creating Engaging Content and Building Narratives 15:28 The Toxic Trend of Hating and its Impact 19:16 The Responsibility of Content Creators and Broadcasters 21:12 The Impact of Social Media 23:03 Unfair Criticism Towards Players 23:39 Why G2 gets so much hate (Snax example) 25:07 The Role of IGLs and Support Players 27:57 Calling Thorin out for jL hate 33:33 Ropz criticism and underlying issues at FaZe 42:25 The Power of Support 46:47 Learning from Different Perspectives 48:59 Influencing the Community with Context 52:51 Adding Spice to the Conversation 56:50 Challenging Assumptions and Double Standards 59:57 Embracing Banter and Drama Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

All new episode of Feed The Trolls is here.  @Thooorin  & I are joined by Allan Hender to take a look at the drop in performance from two of Counter-Strike's biggest teams: Vitality & FaZe. We explore the expectations placed on both these lineups, the constant roster change discussions which plague the scene and the possible fixes to the drop in form from both teams. Find Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/Thorin Find Allan on X: http://www.x.com/allan_hender Skip to your favourite parts: 00:00 Introduction & Tech Girl's budget set up 00:30 Introducing Allan Hender & some banter 02:00 Vitality's performance in the first half of 2024 04:28 Vitality's potential roster changes 06:25 Thoughts on XTQZZZ 09:43 The role of a coach 14:31 Defining a good coach 17:59 Demanding consistent excellence from teams 19:36 ZywOo's performance 22:42 Vitality expectations 25:02 FaZe's recent drop in form 30:30 Sam's headset dies, Thorin gives us the TLDR 33:36 Concerns about karrigan's future 39:49 The role NEO fills as coach 42:55 The risk with roster moves 48:59 2025's open circuit and the effect on teams 53:07 How does FaZe improve? 58:16 Building a dream roster from the Vitality and FaZe lineups Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

SELL ME THIS PRO is a show where  @BDogCS  & I discuss up and coming pro players in the competitive CS2 scene. In this episode we're chatting about the young Brazilian Counter-Strike player snow. We chat about the criteria BDog uses to look for a player, with a focus on consistency, longevity and the ability to perform under pressure. We also examine the South American competitive scene and its evolution and then take a look at snow's journey from streaming to joining professional teams. 0:00 Introduction 0:13 The criteria to feature on SELL ME THIS PRO 03:02 Factors which could determine potential in a player 04:57 Evolving playstyle in South America 07:01 How we're separating Tier 1, 2 & 3 09:05 snow's journey and early career 11:20 Picking up streamers from pug performances 13:10 South American esports culture 14:45 snow's move to paiN gaming 17:16 roles snow plays on teams 18:02 rumours of snow going to wildcard 20:14 paiN gaming's potential & snow's role 22:34 performance on Case Esports 24:49 What makes a good rifler? 26:22 paiN gaming adjustments & role clashes in the team 32:31 snow's career trajectory 34:10 SELL ME THIS PRO : snow Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

@Thooorin  & I are joined by  @fl0m  to discuss the recent changes in Team Liquid's CS2 roster. We go through all the variables which make it difficult to pinpoint the cause of any potential failure. The addition of an unknown player, ultimate, raises questions about the org's decision-making process. We weigh in on Twistzz desire to IGL and what impact this could have on his career. There's a lot of other points: Cadian, mithR as coach, YEKINDAR's form drop.... SO. MUCH. STUFF. Find Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/thorin Find fl0m on X: http://www.x.com/fl0mtv 0:00 Introduction and welcoming fl0m 01:27 Team Liquid's changes & variables 03:31 Why ultimate? 08:17 Are Team Liquid being unfair to ultimate? 15:53 Stop gap lineup 23:42 Clash of leadership styles: Cadian & Twistzz 38:28 Role of leadership and communications in CS2 41:18 MindBodyEsports has his work cut out for him 41:56 The return of jks 48:44 with YEKINDAR find his form 53:00 Uncertainty surrounds YEKINDAR and ultimate 53:25 new coach mithR 56:48 The impact of ego and confidence Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

Welcome to the first episode of SELL ME THIS PRO. It's a show where  @BDogCS  and I discuss up-and-coming players in the competitive Counter-Strike scene and evaluate their potential. In the first episode we focus on two players: Ultimate, recently picked up by Team Liquid, and ICY, who gained attention at the PGL Copehagen Major before signing to Cloud9. We chat about the strengths and weaknesses of Ultimate, highlighting his aggressive playstyle and lack of experience against top-tier teams. We analyse the impact of ICY on Cloud9 as a systems-based AWPer and his ability to set up his teammates for success. Know of a player in the Tier 2 or 3 scene we should try sell you? Let us know in the comments. Find BDog over on X: http://www.twitter.com/BDogCS Skip to the best parts: 0:00 An Introduction to Sell Me This Pro 01:20 The Wolf of Wall Street reference 02:45 SELL ME THIS PRO: ultimate 08:17 Is ultimate ready for Tier 1? 10:20 Playing against m0nesy and Zywoo 12:15 Predictions for ultimate's performance 15:05 The better Tier 2 AWPer list 18:16 Does Liquid know something we don't? 21:39 ICY 25:47 How he plays with top tier players 28:20 Why Cloud9 signed ICY 32:04 The ICY AMKHAL C9 drama 36:30 SELL ME THIS PRO: ICY Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

In this episode of Feed the Trolls, Sam and  @Thooorin  are joined by vENdetta to discuss the new Cloud09 roster. vENdetta does not rate the lineup. We discuss the potential trajectory of the team and what the addition of HeavyGod and ICY could bring. We then jump into the history of C9 and the troubles the CS team has faced since winning the Boston Major in 2018. The recent departure of key players like ElectroNic and Perfecto aise questions about player buy-in and team dynamics but maybe now finally having a dedicated AWPer could be the difference. Here's a break down on the conversation: 00:00 Introduction and welcoming vENdettaCSGO 00:34 Initial thoughts on the new C9 roster 03:21 Can this lineup win a Major? 07:57 Groove's decision to mix young talent with more tenured players 19:15 The history (& fumbles) of Cloud9 23:03 Why are so many C9 players benching themselves? 32:13 What is not working at Cloud9? 37:32 Cloud9 and refusing to get a damn AWPer 41:34 ICY 44:56 HeavyGod with better players around him 48:20 Communications in Russian explained 53:15 Can Cloud9 play in the RMRs 53:50 Does this roster move make sense with no Major for the team 56:15 vENdetta kills the hopes and dreams of C9 fans Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear (shop it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/techgirlza/list/3FH7APBG6UDTE) - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B My wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3IYV9R777HMQK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1

hooXi is out and.. Snax is in? WTF. G2 announced Snax as IGL for their CS team, joining new signing malbsMd. In this episode of Feed The Trolls  @vooCSGO  joins  @Thooorin  and I to try figure out what the hell the G2 management were thinking. We chat about Snax and his impressive past playing career, the potential of malbs and how it might all fall to pieces in this new roster. We touch on the role overlaps, fantasize about how this might work and turn the spotlight on Tax. Here's links to some of the source material we discuss in episode: That HLTV interview https://www.hltv.org/news/39351/hooxi-interview-benching-dealing-with-criticism-and-post-g2-future malbs interview with  @Darfmike  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgKDIeV3cy4 Pimp's tweet https://x.com/PimpCS2/status/1808843734135554116 Find voo on X http://www.x.com/vooCSGO Find Thorin on X http://www.x.com/Thorin 00:00 Introduction with voo joining the chaos 00:04 Thorin the fortune teller 01:14 Reacting to the G2 Snax signing 02:31 Why Snax? 03:47 Snax's competitive history 08:44 MalbsMd signing and potential role clashes 12:07 Is huNter the problem? 16:42 Can G2 win with this roster 18:24 Changing up play styles 21:15 HooXi come back please 27:23 Why is G2's PR so bad? 28:33 Snax performance in Gamer Legion 34:11 Were we too hard on hooXi? 36:04 coach and IGL clashes 40:35 G2 communication issues in the server 42:50 Too many issues in G2 47:03 malbsMd at risk 50:55 how important are player roles in CS2? 53:36 pour one out for m0NESY Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

We're not talking about Snax, G2 or HooXi for this one. Instead we're taking about MOUZ!  @KingDempz  joins  @Thooorin  and I to discuss the performance of MOUZ in 2024 so far. Despite their success and consistent performance MOUZ are often overlooked in conversations about the best teams in Counter-Strike. The team is young and talented but seem to struggle on the big stage and have a reputation for choking in arena match ups. We explore MOUZ's approach to developing young talent through their academy league and the challenges they might face with this roster (and keeping it together). Find Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/thorin Find Dempz on X: http://www.x.com/KingDempz 0:00 Introducing Dempz and the reason for the MOUZ conversation 0:50 What we think about MOUZ 2024 performance so far 04:36 MOUZ ability to find new talent 08:05 Is sourcing new talent profitable for organisations 10:56 Building Academy teams 14:26 Why do organisations not invest in potential new talent 16:18 MOUZ consistency and why they're not in the top teams conversation often 19:10 Are MOUZ choking on the stage? 21:33 The PGL Copenhagen Major 23:23 Torzi on HLTV confirmed - we were told someone was stabbed 27:35 How long before the current MOUZ results are no longer good enough 29:10 Can MOUZ win in an arena? 31:53 Young Talent - Donk proves players can deliver 33:09 Does this lineup stay together? 36:05 Thoughts on Brollan replacing frozen 41:35 Who gets credit for the MOUZ success? Siuhy, Sycrone or both? 44:16 Xyp9x as MOUZ assistant coach 52:49 MOUZ must deliver at IEM Cologne 57:44 Jimpphat fans COME Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

At the start of 2024 Team Liquid's lineup of YEKINDAR, NAF, skullz, Twistzz and cadiaN seemed to be a winner. A few months in rumblings began that IGL cadiaN was on his way out and fans were surprised... and a little bit shocked. Fast forward to the player break: cadiaN is gone, skullz is heading to FURIA and coach zews has been let go as well. YNk joins  @Thooorin  and I to talk about what went wrong at Liquid and how (more like if) they can fix this before the next Major... or if fans need to wait another year to see their team rise up again. 0:00 Introduction with YNk and the Team Liquid conversation 01:50 Why we loved the Liquid line up 06:25 cadiaN's villain to hero to villain arcs 12:04 Where does cadiaN go from here? 18:14 Liquid's team building pre-season 19:29 Is Liquid's management to blame? 27:21 Was skullz the wrong pick up? 33:09 How to coach super star Counter-Strike players 40:55 The partnership and working relationship of IGL & coach as well as team hierarchy 45:07 Thorin explains the internal workings of Team Liquid 48:36 nitr0 returns to CS2 52:23 Twistzz as an IGL 56:30 The Liquid roster moving forward 58:05 America RMRs spot 01:00:18 +s1mple +jks Follow YNk on X: http://www.x.com/YNk Follow Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/thorin Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

NAVI's decision to form an international roster around a year ago was met with some concern. The team faced language barriers and cultural differences. With the move to CS2 NAVI also saw super star S1mple take a break which raised concerns about the future. However, despite most people labelling it a "fluke" NAVI's CS team would go on to win the 2024 PGL Copenhagen Major. In this episode of Feed The Trolls ‪@Thooorin‬ and I are joined by ‪@PimpCS2‬ to discuss this line up, the expectations moving in to the second half of the year, the (potential) return of S1mple and whether or not this lineup, as it stands, can win another Major. 0:00 Introduction and the formation of NAVI's international roster 07:14 Did anyone think this current lineup could win a Major? 14:38 Does S1mple come back to Counter-Strike? 20:41 Was NAVI winning the Major a fluke? 29:26 The power of B1ad3 as a coach and Aleksib as IGL. 34:52 Managing expectations and budgeting for the future 42:46 Can S1mple return to NAVI? 48:13 Debate: who to remove from the lineup 50:20 The uncertainty around the current NAVI lineup 55:56 Thorin throws Sam under the bus 59:34 iM & jL performance conversation Follow ‪@Thooorin‬ on X: http://www.x.com/thorin Follow ‪@PimpCS2‬ on X: http://www.x.com/pimpcs2 Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

Complexity wins the whole damn thing. Du Preeh pops off for Falcons. The Aurora manager shouts insults at ELiGE...  @Darfmike  and I have got together to chat about all the best bits of ESL Challenger Jönköping 2024 and to see how our predictions panned out from the BEFORE video we did. We'd love to hear if your predictions panned out as well so be sure to let us know in the comments. 0:00 Introduction 02:19 Behind the Scenes at ESL Challenger & broadcast team dynamics 04:02 Complexity's victory and the significance of the win for the team 06:26 Bravado Gaming & Project Destiny 2.0 13:20 The ENCE surprise and Podi's performance 16:46 Let's talk about Team Falcons 20:45 Falcons line up changes? 22:38 Sam embarrasses herself in front of Snappi 29:50 What happened to the Mongolz? 35:14 Is Yalla an S Tier tournament? 35:42 Aurora gets to the semi finals 38:52 The problems in Aurora 40:32 Aurora Manager shouting insults at ELiGE 42:51 Best parts of the event Follow Mike on X: www.x.com/darfmike Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

At the end of May 2024 Valve announced some changes to the qualification and regional slot distribution for the Shanghai Major being hosted by Perfect World at the end of the year. The trolls were not impressed with the European, North American and South American open qualifiers for the RMRs being done away with... but it made little sense because the changes seemed... positive maybe? Complexity's CS General Manager & well known scene figure messioso joins  @Thooorin  & myself to chat about the changes. We share the good, the bad, the ugly and to speculate why folks got so damn tilted about all of this. Find Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/thorin Find messioso on X: http://www.x.com/messioso 0:00 Introductions from Yalla in Abu Dhabi 01:42 Old Major Qualification Format and RMR open qualifiers 06:29 New Major Format Qualification Format explained 09:12 Pros & Cons of the new format 14:38 The impact of the changes on top teams and the schedule 21:37 The need for regional specific considerations 24:26 The future of the qualifiers and ensuring fairness 27:24 The Importance of the RMRs for regions with limited domestic play 30:12 The distribution of slots for the Major 33:01 Flaws in the previous system and the need for improvement 37:37 The need for more communication from Valve 43:45 Striking a balance between circuit ranking and the RMRs Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

This is a new Counter-Strike series called CHALLENGED. DarfMike and I realised we work the same events but never get to work together, so we made a thing so we could. CHALLENGED is a series focused around the ESL Challenger Events for 2024. We’ll do a pre and post event video showcasing what to expect from the teams competing and then what we got wrong about those expectations. The first episode is ESL Challenger Jönköping Part 1. In it we share some war… we mean work, stories and give our opinions on the teams you’re going to see compete at Dreamhack Summer. 0:00 Introduction to our new show CHALLENGED 02:23 Mike’s fun GeT_RiGhT story from IEM Dallas 03:50 Sam’s Jonkoping Travel nightmare 06:25 ESL Challenger Jonkoping, last chance for Team Falcons? 10:26 Complexity’s chances 12:16 The question marks around hallzerk 14:40 Party Astronauts and the American dream 16:45 ESL Challenger format 19:35 ENCE’s new line up and what to expect from sdy & podi 22:17 The MongolZ - back to back LAN winners 25:01 Last Challenger’s winners MiBR 26:44 Sam doesn’t have faith in Aurora 29:20 Sweden’s home town rep is Alliance 31:10 Final Predictions 25:51 Some more on potential Complexity roster changes Follow DarfMike on X: https://x.com/DarfMike Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

After months of question marks concerning their performance, G2 beat Vitality in the finals of IEM Dallas 2024, with a stand in. HooXi is attending his sister’s wedding, Major winner Stewie2K who hasn’t competed in ages, stands in. The final is arguably the best CS2 final of the year. So where to go for G2 now? Were the pundits like Kassad who called for HooXi’s head correct? Should the IGL be removed from the lineup? Is Niko’s career about to shift towards IGLing much like Dev1ce? Can m0NESY continue to dominate on the server for the remainder of 2024? There are so many questions around this team and their future. So Moses joins @Thooorin and myself to try to answer all of them and guess future moves for the team. 0:00 Introduction 01:19 HooXi’s sister announced MVP 09:38 Do G2 play better when the pressure is removed? 13:09 HooXi as a coach or analyst versus player 15:06 NiKo as IGL 19:20 No quick fix for G2 21:01 m0NESY fan club 24:18 Should G2 build a roster around m0NESY 29:14 Will we see G2 make roster changes soon? 38:02 HooXi, TaZ and Nexa need to prove everyone wrong 40:04 Here’s a random chat about Donna & Launders to break up this discussion 41:16 TaZ as a coach 46:11 HooXi deserves more credit as an IGL 48:40 Can this team do something as the roster stands 53:00 Can G2 win the Perfect World Shanghai Major? Find Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/thorin Find Moses on X: http://www.x.com/mosesgg Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram -   / techgirlza   Twitter -   / techgirlza   Facebook -   / techgirlza   Twitch -   / techgirlza   Discord -   / discord   TikTok -   / techgirlza   My gear: - Canon EOS M50 Mark ii - My PC: Z590-GUNDAM (Wi-Fi) Motherboard, ROG Strix RTX3080 Graphics Card, PSU ROG Strix 850G GUNDAM edition, Intel Core i7-10700 Processor & ROG Strix Helios GUNDAM edition case. - ROG Strix XG27AQV Gaming Monitor - TUF Gaming VG27VH1B

Team Falcons was meant to be the incredible Counter-Strike super team. Rumours flowed as Falcons was touted as the Saudi Arabian CS2 team with deep pockets and a list of legendary players were linked with signing to the organisation after they announced Major winning coach Zonic had agreed to move to Falcons from Team Vitality. However, the lineup never materialised and now the team consisting of Snappi, Magisk, maden, du Preeh and Sunpayus appears to be struggling. So what is wrong with Team Falcons? Kassad joins  @Thooorin  and myself to discuss what went wrong for the (not so) super team. 0:00 Kassad & Thorin the grumpy men of Counter-Strike 01:10 What is a Super Team? Kassad's answer 03:08 What is a Super Team? Thorin's answer 06:20 What was Team Falcons supposed to look like 09:20 Kassad "the decision makers at Falcons did everything wrong" 14:59 Did Team Falcons damage the Counter-Strike scene? 19:55 Why does this current lineup not work? 23:07 Falcons vs. HenryG's Cloud9 29:08 Too much hype and too much money? 32:30 Kassad fires everyone 36:30 Learning from the past on how to succeed 38:31 Let's discuss Zonic 45:50 Kassad reveals industry buy-outs and salaries 50:00 When unlimited money demands results 55:30 What would your super team look like? 59:00 We like the players in Team Falcons Find Kassad on x: http://www.x.com/kassad Find Thorin on x: http://www.x.com/Thorin Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA

The Heroic Astralis drama that dominated social media and HLTV forums started a soap opera in competitive counter-strike. Stavn and Jabbi joined Astralis to create a “super team” which never got off the starting line. Recently, the Danish move was to drop IGL BlameF and announced that multiple Major winning MVP dev1ce would take up IGL duties. The announcement was met with shock and concern by the CS trolls. However, a few top tournaments in the small sample size would point towards this… working? On this episode of Feed The Trolls I’m joined by  @Thooorin  & SPUNJ (yeah, these two reunited again, old school analyst desk vibes) to weigh in on dev1ce as an IGL. How did Astralis get to this point, could it work and what are the potential pitfalls? While we’re here we also weigh in on the recent rumours that ex-Heroic IGL Cadian may be getting the ex from Team Liquid and where he might go. From the role of the IGL in and out the server, the origins story of dev1ce and BlameF’s exit from Astralis to focusing on what the future looks like for competitive Counter-Strike as a whole - there is a lot to sink your teeth into with this episode. Follow Thorin on X: http://www.x.com/thorin Follow SPUNJ on X: http://www.x.com/spunj 0:00 Intro and why we think dev1ce is great 06:05 The dev1ce origins story 11:45 the fall of BlameF 25:36 Addressing the negative response to dev1ce being announced as Astralis IGL 30:51 Do we buy into the dev1ce as IGL? 32:08 Taking a look at the Astralis team roles now 34:11 Potential downfalls of dev1ce as IGL 38:44 What does Cadian do now? Where to from here? 40:59 Are the Astralis players with dev1ce good enough? 48:53 Will we ever see another dominant counter-strike run like the Astralis of old? 58:28 Ruggah as Astralis coach Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA

This is a special short series dissecting the Business of Gaming and Esports in South Africa. Hosted by Sam “Tech Girl” Wright, an esports broadcaster and desk host who was raised in South Africa but now works primarily in Europe on Counter-Strike events, the series targets agencies and business people looking to enter the gaming and esports space in South Africa. It is a unique and developing market littered with potholes - which Sam attempts to showcase and also help your business avoid.

Meet Jonathan Bandli, the Creative Director at Bad Weather Productions. Jonathan discusses the intersection of entertainment and esports in South Africa. He emphasises the importance of caring about the success of the event and creating tools which enhance the viewer experience. He also highlights the need for authenticity and research when entering the gaming and esports space. Jonathan suggests focusing on building the gaming community and creating inclusive events to attract new gamers. He believes success in esports broadcasts is measured by engagement and entertainment value. He also discusses the challenges of managing client expectations and production costs. 

This is a special short series dissecting the Business of Gaming and Esports in South Africa. Hosted by Sam “Tech Girl” Wright, an esports broadcaster and desk host who was raised in South Africa but now works primarily in Europe on Counter-Strike events, the series targets agencies and business people looking to enter the gaming and esports space in South Africa. It is a unique and developing market littered with potholes - which Sam attempts to showcase and also help your business avoid.

This episode’s guest is South African gaming creator and streamer, Thea Booysen, who discusses her journey in the industry and the differences she has noticed between the local and international scenes. She emphasises the importance of making international connections and knowing one’s worth as a creator. Thea also talks about her involvement with Nixuh, an esports organisation, and her goal to empower South African creators and ensure they’re properly compensated. She highlights the need for better education and understanding among local brands and agencies and suggests creating more opportunities and resources for South African gaming creators. 

This is a special short series dissecting the Business of Gaming and Esports in South Africa. Hosted by Sam “Tech Girl” Wright, an esports broadcaster and desk host who was raised in South Africa but now works primarily in Europe on Counter-Strike events, the series targets agencies and business people looking to enter the gaming and esports space in South Africa. It is a unique and developing market littered with potholes - which Sam attempts to showcase and also help your business avoid.

In this episode, Nick Holden, one of the founders of ACGL.gg, discusses the evolution of the ACGL esports platform and the growth of the esports community in South Africa. The ACGL platform allows gamers from South Africa and other African countries to set up profiles and play with one another in competitive events. The platform caters to both professional and casual gamers, providing opportunities for all skill levels. ACGL runs around 20 to 25 tournaments a week, with regular cash prize pools. The South African esports community in South Africa faces challenges because of distance, communication and cultural differences but ACGL aims to make esports more accessible and engaging for all players. Nick discusses why building a strong long esports community and focusing on regular play and engagement will lead to growth. He also chats about the high school and university esports space in the country. The episode highlights how important it is to understand the culture of esports and engage with the community in a meaningful way - with a strong focus on brands which support and celebrate the interests and experiences of competitive gamers.

This is a special short series dissecting the Business of Gaming and Esports in South Africa. Hosted by Sam “Tech Girl” Wright, an esports broadcaster and desk host who was raised in South Africa but now works primarily in Europe on Counter-Strike events, the series targets agencies and business people looking to enter the gaming and esports space in South Africa. It is a unique and developing market littered with potholes - which Sam attempts to showcase and also help your business avoid.

Episode 2’s guest is Kamza Mbatha. Kamza is a seasoned traditional broadcast professional. He started as a television host at a young age and has continued to work in the broadcasting industry on a host of shows. He is also a long standing MC and stage host for various gaming and esports events throughout South Africa. In this conversation, Sam and Kamza discuss the landscape of gaming and esports in South Africa. They touch on topics such as the history of gaming in the country, the challenges of online gaming because of data costs, the lack of diversity in the gaming industry, and the need for a more localised approach to gaming in South Africa. They also discuss the importance of cultivating a strong gaming community and the role of sponsors and brands in supporting the growth of the industry.

This is a special short series dissecting the Business of Gaming and Esports in South Africa. Hosted by Sam “Tech Girl” Wright, an esports broadcaster and desk host who was raised in South Africa but now works primarily in Europe on Counter-Strike events, the series targets agencies and business people looking to enter the gaming and esports space in South Africa. It is a unique and developing market littered with potholes - which Sam attempts to showcase and also help your business avoid.

For episode 1, Sam chats to Barry Louzada, Managing Director at Mettlestate - which labels itself a “premium esports and gaming authority that offers consulting, activations and live events in South Africa.” In this episode the pair talk about the challenges and opportunities for brands looking to enter the gaming space, emphasising the need for authenticity and understanding of the gaming audience. Barry shares his insights on how brands can engage with gamers and highlights the importance of commitment and proper execution. The episode also discusses the growing mobile gaming market in South Africa and concludes with advice for non-endemic brands looking to tap into the gaming space. 

There was once a time when FURIA’s Counter-Strike team was the best of the best when it came to Brazilian CS. But since the transition to CS2 it has been a bit of a hot mess. The benching of IGL arT led to a tell all live stream spilling tea on the general operations and management without the team and FURIA co-owner Akkari has been adding his own voice to discussions around the team and what is going on, doing an interview on Gaules stream and suggesting the idea of an international coach. From the online antics to the roster moves: Spending a small fortune on FalleN, bringing over chelo and adding kye from the academy team… a lot of these moves have big question marks around them. The biggest question mark of all - how has FURIA held onto superstar KSCERATO as their form continues to falter.  @Mauisnake  joins myself, Sam, and  @Thooorin  to explore the internal issues of the team, the management decisions and to debate whether or not FURIA, as the CS2 team currently stands, can be saved. 0:00 Intro 00:54 But does Maui hate Brazilian CS? 03:08 Maui’s take on the current state of FURIA 07:50 Is there a management problem in FURIA? 13:29 Why did KSCERATO choose to stay? 18:10 Did FURIA spend all their money on FalleN? 21:10 FURIA’s recent roster moves 28:25 Tech Girl fan girls over FalleN.. Sort of 29:54 What role does FalleN fill in the team? 35:06 Should FalleN move to a coaching role? 38:10 What should FURIA do next? 44:34 the future of KSCERATO 48:43 Did COVID lockdowns kill the FURIA dream 53:17 Can FURIA be saved? Find Mauisnake on X: http://www.twitter.com/mauisnake Find Thorin on X: http://www.twitter.com/thorin Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA

Valve announced that Dust2 is now back in the competitive map pool for CS2 with Overpass being removed. ​⁠ @STYKO  joins ​⁠ @Thooorin  & Sam to hate on Vertigo (lies, he's positive the whole way through) and discuss the impact Dust2 will have on pro level CS2 moving forward. 0:00 Intro 00:51 Dust2 & powdered eggs 02:18 STYKO's reaction to Dust2 inclusion in the map pool 03:14 Thorin's take on Dust2's return 06:55 Why would Valve drop Overpass? 11:54 Will Dust2 bring more viewers to competitive CS2? 16:06 What can we expect from the pro players on Dust2? 19:44 Will Dust2 make it boring to watch competitive CS2? 21:43 Scout players boosted on Dust2 28:10 Which pro teams will struggle with the removal of Overpass? 30:33 Is this the worst map pool of all time? 34:01 Community Map Building 36:44 Do the CS2 developers care about competitive play? 41:31 Why we'd remove Vertigo 43:25 Dust2 spawn points 46:55 Some more Vertigo hate 49:06 We broke STYKO 50:24 Check out STYKO's YouTube Channel Seriously ​⁠ @STYKO  YouTube channel. Check it out. And follow him on x: http://www.twitter.com/STYKOcs You can follow Thorin on X as well: http://www.twitter.com/Thorin

On the second episode of Feed The Trolls  @launders  joins  @Thooorin  and myself to get to the bottom of the m0NESY vs donk debate. m0NESY is arguably one of the best players in Counter-Strike but donk's rookie performance at IEM Katowice 2024 was exceptional and he has the potential to be one of the greatest riflers in Counter-Strike history. Both players face pressure and high expectations and we discuss their potential to become the best in the world as well as their roles as AWPer and entry fragger respectively. 0:00 Intro 0:34 laundersLAN 01:42 m0NESY is so good 04:19 donk the entry fragger 06:26 donk’s Rookie Season 10:51 Can you even compare m0NESY vs donk 14:51 G2 vs Spirit CS teams 13:58 donk didn’t choke at the PGL Copenhagen Major 25:10 How long does m0NESY stay at G2? 33:58 donk’s big match temperament 42:45 Which player are we talking about at the end of 2024? 50:20 Which other CS player can join this conversation? 54:48 Why we celebrate these CS2 players Find Thorin on X: http://www.twitter.com/thorin Find launders on X: http://www.twitter.com/launders Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza X - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA

On this episode of Feed The Trolls, Sam &  @Thooorin  are joined by HLTV's NER0 to discuss whether HooXi is the right IGL for G2. G2's consistent playoff appearances are not enough for this team and a lot of the internet likes to blame HooXi as IGL. Will replacing HooXi solve G2's problems? And if he remains what needs to change in the team? 00:00 Feed The Trolls 01:05 G2's current performance 06:10 What makes a good IGL? 12:24 Good vibes 13:56 Who are you replacing HooXi with? 22:04 What does HooXi need to do as IGL to win trophies? 28:26 Why don't the G2 players support HooXi publicly? 45:08 Would we have this conversation if G2 hadn't kicked JKS? Follow Thorin on X: http://www.twitter.com/thorin Follow NER0 on X: http://www.twitter.com/NER0cs Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza X - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza Discord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4 TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA

I had a chance to interview esports organisation NAVI's Performance Coach Urszula "Xirreth" Kimczak about the organisation's Counter-Strike team's win at the first ever CS2 Major. Talking points include: 01:46 The moment NAVI won 01:46 the feeling in the moment that NAVI won the Major - reactions from the team & backroom staff. 03:30 not being the favourites for the Major. Was it easier or harder on the team? 07:11 jL's social media personality and how it impacts his game as well as how AleksiB handled so much online criticism and question marks around his IGL style. 11:37 W0nderful having to replace S1mple and having S1mple watching him in the arena. 16:05 Is B1ad3 one of the best coaches of all time and how does his style work with a performance coach? 21:23 Insight into the conversation that happened amongst the team between Map 2 and Map 3 of the PGL Copenhagen Major final between FaZe and NAVI. 26:51 Was NAVI winning the Major a fluke?

NAVI on X

Xirreth on X

Sam "Tech Girl" Wright on X

Sam "Tech Girl" Wright on Instagram

Azin Alikhani was born and raised in Iran. She has gone on to become the Country Head for Africa for ASUS Open Platform Business Group and is also the ASUS Regional Marketing Director for the Middle East and Africa region. The tenacity and drive it takes for a woman to rise up the corporate ranks in an IT company is something impressive but more so when you consider the country of Azin’s birth. In this episode we chat a bit about the corporate nature of her job, her love for gaming and esports and what it takes to do what she does. We also discuss the role women have to play in showing other women the paths available to them and touch on the current women led revolution in Iran. 

I really wanted to have Niklas on the podcast this season because not only is he able to give some valuable insight into work behind the cameras for esports broadcasts, but he has also built a successful esports business from the ground up. Black Molly Entertainment is a Swedish and European esports staple and has had a hand in some incredible broadcasts. I wanted him to share his knowledge not only about the inner workings of esports productions but also what it takes to build a scalable and successful business in the esports space. 

Follow Black Molly Entertainment on X www.twitter.com/bmeproductions 

What exactly is a talent manager? I speak to freelance talent manager Mosawer Tokhi, better known as Mo, to find out what exactly is required when it comes to looking after and assisting esports broadcast talent. Mo breaks down what his job looks like, how he explains it to his friends and what a normal day on broadcast looks like for the talent manager, who has to ensure the broadcast team you see on camera is able to give you the best possible show if you’re watching your favourite esports at home or in a live setting.

If you’d like to find out more about talent management you can find Mo on X @StacksMo 

When you watch the Grand Finals of your favourite esports event, what you’ll see whether in the stadium or watching at home - is an incredible showcase of the best players. It isn’t only a competitive game but a show that celebrates the beauty of the game we’ve all loved. In order to make sure that show looks the way it needs to, someone needs to be in charge of the moving parts that ensure people, players and broadcast talent are where they need to be at any given time. Which is where Oliver ERbe comes in. As a stage manager he has had a hand in directing some of the most epic Counter-Strike events of our generation. He chats to me to explain what goes into his job and how he is able to manage all the moving parts. 

You can find Oli on Twitter @VersumOli 

As an esports player, organisation, tournament operator or broadcast talent do you need a specialised esports lawyer? In this episode I chat to Nick Williams, a barrister who represents a host of esports players and broadcast talent while also heading up esports and gaming talent agency DotX Talent. He chats about the specific legal needs in the esports industry. It’s a really insightful chat about legal representation as a whole and how it pertains to esports specifically. 

You can find Nick on Twitter at @nickwbarrister or head on over to dotxtalent.com

Photography is art. Esports Photography is art with a bunch of hurdles thrown into the mix. You need to try to deal with various lighting headaches, understand the complexities of the game because emotional moments are limited and make someone sitting in front of a computer or console playing video games competitively interesting enough to catch attention. One of the best esports photographers in the world is Stephanie “Vexanie” Lindgren. She explains what her job entails, how she didn’t really like photography to begin with and some of the complexities of photographing iconic esports moments.

You can find Stephanie on Twitter and Instagram with the username @vexanie or visit her website https://www.vexanie.com/ 

Being an analyst for an esports title is not nearly as simple as you might think. It takes a level of knowledge and game understanding that comes from hundreds of hours poured into the server. It also requires a presentability and knack for broadcast. Alex “Mauisnake” Ellenberg has risen up to be one of the top tier analysts for Counter-Strike. In this episode we discuss the nuances of the broadcast role he has chosen as well as how he tries to set himself apart from other broadcast talent in the industry. 

You can find Mauisnake on all social media platforms under the username @Mauisnake

Wilton “Zews” Prado is a living legend in the competitive Counter-Strike community. However, the Brazilian esports coach should be recorded as a legend within the esports industry as a whole. His story is the one they write movies about: how a band of brothers left Brazil to try to take on the best in the world… before becoming one of the greatest CSGO teams the world has ever seen. A multiple major winning coach with a resume longer than your arm, Zews has a plethora of insight around coaching esports teams, the industry as a whole and the world of Counter-Strike. He shares his personal journey in this episode with golden nuggets of knowledge littered throughout. 

To find out more about Zews, you can follow him on Twitter, his handle is @Zews. Alternatively find him on Instagram at @WiltonZews. His YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/@WiltonZews and he is on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@wiltonzewsprado 

The concept of a performance coach for an esports team or player seems somewhat odd. Surely esports players just sit and play games all day? WHY would they need a performance coach? Urszula Klimczak is an esports performance coach currently working with the ENCE Counter-Strike team. In this episode she breaks down the nuances of competitive gaming and how it compares to traditional sports as well as the fundamental differences between competitive play and casual gaming. She dives into the inner workings of esports teams and some of the struggles faced by competitive esports players. Her insights also offer guidance to those interested in the psychology of professional gaming. 

To find out more about what Urszula does, you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Her handle is @Xirreth on both platforms.

In the new season of Tech Girl Talks, Sam chats to friends and colleagues in the esports industry about their specific jobs, how they found themselves in esports and what they do. It’s a deep dive into the esports jobs many people don’t know exist and showcases the diverse nature of the industry. In episode 1, Sam decides to explain what it is she does as an esports broadcaster, desk hosting various events, focusing in on Counter-Strike and discussing a bit more about her esports content creation and this podcast.

To find out more about Sam you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and threads. Her handle is @TechGirlZA on all platforms.

Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Duncan “Thorin” Shields has had a global impact on esports both as a content creator and broadcast talent. He has amassed a following across multiple platforms and regularly makes Counter-Strike content that starts conversations (and debates). 

It seemed only fitting to end Season 3 with an icon of CSGO. Expect some bangers in this one, it is a plethora for soundbites.

You can find Thorin on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thorin

You can watch him on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@Thooorin

The Pro Player - Maikil "golden" Selim

Golden is an extremely talented Counter-Strike Global Offensive player who has played for Fnatic, Cloud9 and did a brief stint with Ninjas in Pajamas at a CS Major. He has a wealth of experience and knows what the pressure is like when being part of one of the best CS teams in the world. 

As an IGL he also has an interesting view on what it takes to lead a team. I wanted to pick his brain to really understand what it takes to be a professional Counter-Strike player and how young talent can be spotted.

You can find golden on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/goldenmajk

SapphiRe began as a competitive Counter-Strike player before moving into a host of different roles. The one I desperately wanted to chat to her about was that of Observer. I believe observers are the most important role in any esports broadcast. Without them, the magic of the game can easily be lost. Yet, they’re the unsung heroes of many CSGO events. 

I wanted to find out what led sapphiRe to carving out a space as an observer and what it takes to work on some of the biggest events in the world, including the 2022 Rio Major, which she is currently working on.

You can find sapphiRe on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sapphiReGG

Matthew “Sadokist” Trivett is, in my opinion, one of the best Counter-Strike commentators in the world. His voice is linked to a host of legendary moments in CSGO history. His life has also become somewhat public fodder. I wanted to chat to him to find out what it is like to be at the top of your game - from constantly pushing yourself professionally to dealing with a social media world shrouded in “cancel culture”.

You can find Sadokist on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Sadokist

You can also find him on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Sadokist

The conversation around female Counter-Strike has been a heated one for some time. I wanted to add to it and thought there was no one better to contribute than Hege “Hedje” Botnen. Hedje is a competitive Norwegian CSGO player who competed at a host of international events in an all women line up. She has since retired from competitive play and now works as an analyst on a host of esports broadcasts. 

She gave some insight into the women’s leagues currently being run and shared her own experiences as a woman in esports and Counter-Strike.

Follow Hedje on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hedjee

Follow Hedje on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hedjecsgo/

What does it take to become a shoutcaster in one of the most popular games in the world? In this episode of Tech Girl Talks, I chat to Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne, a Counter-Strike commentator who has casted a host of S-Tier events. 

Dinko’s story is an interesting one as he is one of the few shoutcasters on the scene working at high level events who does not have a dedicated casting partner. He explains how that works and how he navigates the CS:GO scene.

Follow Dinko on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dinkotv

Bleh has cemented himself as one of the leading analysts in the Counter-Strike broadcast space in recent years. An impressive feat on its own but even more so when you consider that he lives in India, one of the regions not as popular on the global CS map. 

For this episode of the Tech Girl Talks podcast I chatted to Bleh about how he was able to crack international competition and how he was able to grow in a career that is far tougher than it might look to the rest of the world.

Follow Bleh on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/officialBleh

Follow Bleh on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/officialbleh

In this episode of the Tech Girl Talks Podcast, we chat to Tiaan "Tc" Coertzen. Tc is the head coach of Complexity Gaming's Counter-Strike team. 

His story is an interesting one - from competing in CS: GO in South Africa, to making history with a South African lineup called Bravado Gaming that moved to America - he has great insight into competing at the top level but also happens to be a qualified medical doctor! He shares how he balanced studying medicine with competitive gaming and how his parents handled him giving that up to pursue esports.

Follow Tc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrTcCs

Find Tc on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiaanc_za/

Tech Girl Talks, hosted by Sam Wright, was nominated for the Podcast of the Year in the 2022 DSTV content creator awards, and is back with a bang for Season 3. In this season, Sam chats to well known names in the industry to bring their stories to a new platform. Season 3 streaming soon.

In the Season finale of Tech Girl Talks, Narrative Writer for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Simon Ducharme, adds development team insight into the discussion around Representation in Video Games - with a focus on how character stories are scripted as well as the process around developing characters for your favourite video games.

Rainbow Six Siege is a popular First Person Tactical Shooter published by Ubisoft.

Focal points include:

Understanding the game development process

How character development takes place

Discussing the term "box ticking"

Ensuring accurate representation in video games

In the final episode of Season 2, Sam discusses representation in video games. A somewhat controversial topic but an important one. Robin Gray, founder of Gayming magazine adds insight around the changing landscape of video games as an entertainment medium and artform as well as why conversations around diversity and representation in games have become louder. 

Dissecting some of the AAA game titles that have incorporated more representation into their story telling in the last few years.

Focus points:

Why representation in video games is needed

Games that do it right

Are developers "box ticking"?

Discussing the back lash and negative feedback that occurs

You can follow Robin Gray on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ThatRobinGray

Find out more about Gayming Magazine here: https://twitter.com/gaymingmag

Nick "Ashes" Ridgeway, Complexity Gaming's Assistant General Manager, joins in on a discussion on what you need to know about Esports Organisations. Adding insight from his time with one of the oldest and most successful gaming organisations in the world. 

Focal points include: What Esports Organisations offer players, Complexity's unique offering, How Esports Organisations make money, Content Creators and Esports Organisations, What questions to ask when looking to sign to an Esports Organisation.

You can follow Nick on twitter here: https://twitter.com/thyAshes
Find out more about Complexity here: https://complexity.gg/

The new dream job is to be a gaming youtuber or Twitch Streamer. But the reality is, it's not about sitting around all day playing video games. For this episode we take a look at what it really takes to make it big as a gaming content creator globally. Special insight is supplied by the incredible Clare Siobhán, and with more than a million subs on YouTube she definitely has knowledge to share.

You can find Clare's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/claresiobhan

Focal points include: How long it takes to "make it", how to make money from being a gaming content creator, bits about the job no one discusses.

For the second part of this episode we move from looking at the brand perspective on esports sponsorship to understanding how the best tournament organisers and event producers in the game are able to attract partners and, most importantly, keep them coming back for more.

Special Guest, Farrell Sweeney, Director of Partner Management at ESL, adds insight into better understanding the relationship between partners and esports offerings.

Focal points include: Esports events and the marketing benefits for big brands, Nurturing partnerships in the esports space, understanding the importance of innovation

What is the secret sauce to get your esports tournament or team sponsored? Ever wondered what sponsors really expect in return for their products and cash?

In this special two part episode I'll chat to one of the most successful tournament organisers in the world AND one of the biggest gaming brands, to figure out what works and what doesn't. 

Part 1 features insights from Tim Ashton, Global Esports Account Manager at gaming peripheral brand Steel Series. 

Focal points include: Why would a brand sponsor esports, Getting your sponsorship pitch right, What ROI actually looks like for a brand, Reporting metrics and what needs to change

It sounds like the dream job - playing video games full time, competitively and winning heaps of cash. You've probably read a glitzzy interview with a multimillionaire esports player and thought, hey I can do that. 

But there is a lot that isn't discussed or shared. Turning competitive esports into a full time gig is no easy task. In this episode we give you the information you won't find in those PR pieces.

Featuring two of the world's top FIFA players, Mohamand "KingCJ" Diop and Julio "Beast" Bianchi. 

Focal points include: Established versus developing regions and the competitive offerings available to players, how much money can you really make from being a full time esports player, the day in the life of a top esports player and the importance of education.

Producing an esports live broadcast is far more intricate then most realise. In this episode one of the world's best esports producers, Jason Baker, breaks down what happens behind the camera before you see your live games on the screen. 

Jason Baker has more than 17 years of esports experience and has worked on some of the biggest shows in the world, creating how games are viewed to the rules that govern million dollar tournaments.

Focal points include: The real cost of esports production, the traditional sports vs esports debate and the importance of observers who are often times overlooked.

Sam deep dives into gaming addictions and speaks to experts about some of the misconceptions around it and some practical advice to avoid being addicted to your game.

Focal points include: How kids game, why do we get addicted to our screen, and what steps can we take to game healthy.

Despite the flashy numbers bandied about in PowerPoints selling esports, many broadcasts and esports-focused content are just not seeing the eyeballs expected. But why? 

Sam deep dives into esports content and some of the fibs being told by esports experts. Esports Hall of Fame inductee and an icon in the global space, Richard Lewis, join in on the discussion to add his own insight. 

Focal points include: Esports content, creating value, measuring successfully, and reaching the casual gamer.

The success of season one saw us reaching over 50 countries and spanning over 10K downloads and an active listenership weekly. Sam Wright is back with new topics, discussions, and Q&As. We will no longer be premiering the episodes on Youtube so this season is exclusive and will feature fresh new content never heard before.

When recorded no executives had stepped down from Activision Blizzard following the allegations the state of California leveled against them. That has since changed. The conversation focuses on how sexism continues to run rampant in the industry and how we address it.   

I'm partnered with Logitech G - we play to win!

In this special episode, we are rewinding the clock to revisit the first-ever episode that brought Tech Girl Talks to life.

Sam shares personal stories about how she led down the path of shoutcaster and gives you practical advice to apply in your life.

If you have topics you want me to discuss or would like to join the conversation then feel free to comment on this video OR you can join my discord to chat directly with me here: https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4

I'm partnered with Logitech G - we play to win!  Find me on the socials: Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.com

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlza

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlza

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlza

Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlza

This is the VOD of the talk show and podcast where we discuss topical issues relating to gaming and esports. For Episode 6 of Tech Girl Talks we focus on the death of the gaming journalist - looking at how smaller regional gaming publications (traditional and digital) are closing their doors or losing staff... and we ask why?   

I'm an international esports shoutcaster and gaming/tech content creator based in South Africa. I'm partnered with Logitech G - we play to win!

From the Hot Tub Meta to ASMR "ear" licking in suggestive poses. In Episode 5 of Tech Girl Talks we discuss how Twitch dealt with streamers pushing the lines of terms and service and, if the Hot Tub Meta and ASMR ear licking should be allowed.   

I'm an international esports shoutcaster and gaming/tech content creator based in South Africa. I'm partnered with Logitech G - we play to win!

This is episode 5 of the Tech Girl Talks series, where I do a live esports discussion on my Twitch channel every Wednesday at 1 pm SAST. Why do we experience so much toxicity in gaming? I asked for insight from studying psychologist, gamer, and mental coach for Goliath Gaming, Stephen Vermaas.   

08:07 Why is there so much toxicity in gaming? 

22:56 Are you toxic?  

36:19 support for victims of toxicity   

I'm an international esports shoutcaster and gaming/tech content creator based in South Africa. I'm partnered with Logitech G - we play to win!

For Episode 3, because it was Pride Month, we discussed the LGBTQ Community in Esports.  A huge thank you to Marco, the editor of GLITCHED for sharing his story. You can visit GLITCHED at www.glitched.online  Demonik for contributing. Follow in on Twitch at www.twitch.tv/demoniksa Finally thank you to @nicholasvanj for spending so much time chatting to me and helping me with this live talk. 

16:13 Sonic Fox acceptance speech at the Game Awards 

26:41 Demonik's experience in esports 33:18 Marco's personal experience with the esports community 

40:06 Marco on how to be a better ally to the LGBTQ community 

43:04 Demonik on how to be a better ally in esports 

48:16 an incredible summary from Nicholasvanj   

I'm an international esports shoutcaster and gaming/tech content creator based in South Africa. I'm partnered with Logitech G - we play to win!

In this episode, I was asked to investigate the divide in the Fighting Games Community. A nice broad topic which I tried to do justice too. I hope you enjoy the show! Also if you have any comments I love feedback.  

04:52 @sigmaG19 gives a history on South African fighting games 

https://youtu.be/BRQMnY0GOM4 12:07 introducing you to UGCZA 

https://youtu.be/hglwYesDsqw 13:09 JabhiM at Red Bull Kumite 

https://www.redbull.com/za-en/videos/...

23:51 More on Red Bull Hit the Streets courtesy of @HobbyGamer https://youtu.be/6QjGVsWgmv4 

23:51 @Button Check explains bad blood 

https://youtu.be/TexKWiWSkz4 33:13 the cake analogy 

58:07 Questions and Answers

In this episode, I speak about good and bad sponsorships in esports as well as how to spot a scam sponsorship opportunity. I break the conversation down into sponsorships for esports teams, esports events, and then esports players. Any feedback is always welcome!  

06:00 Team Sponsorships 

06:24 Bravado Gaming & Alienware example 

18:06 Event Sponsorship 

18:29 Toyota Esports Challenge 

31:26 Player Sponsorship 

32:00 Red Bull x Thabo "YvngSavage" Moloi 

39:11 Bad Sponsorships 

46:10 Questions and Answers  

I'm an international esports shoutcaster and gaming/tech content creator based in South Africa. I'm partnered with Logitech G - we play to win!

My gear:  - Logitech Brio Webcam - Blue Yeti microphone - Logitech G Pro X Wireless Headset - Logitech G PRO wireless mouse - Logitech G G915 keyboard

This is Tech Girl Talks. A Just Chatting stream and podcast that jumps into topics of interest around esports and gaming every week.

Sam Wright is your host, creator, and writer of this show.

Sam was the brains and the hands that made Acer for Gaming and the 2017 Valkyrie Challenge possible. She has hosted numerous esports competitions in South Africa and internationally. These include the big ones like desk hosting and interviewing for PUBG Europe League 2019, Hosting Nintendo Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bro Ultimate European Championships, hosting an ESL stage at Gamescom 2017, Overwatch Contenders Europe, the Samsung Galaxy CSGO Championship and even the 2017 Crossfire Grand Finals in China. Sam gets to travel the world sharing her love for esports with you on this podcast.

A Playlyst Original.