Welcome to BIG SPOTLIGHT – the new format where players and staff give you an up-close look behind the scenes at BIG.
Kicking things off is gob b: He returned as our Head Coach to CS:GO in May after turning heads in Valorant for nearly a year. In this interview, he looks back on 2022.
Most of the time, the expectation in interviews like this is that we'll talk about CS right away. But: Does it ever feel good not to think about CS, and what does a day without CS look like for you?
Honestly, I'm glad when I don't have to think about CS for once. A day without CS usually means I go out and do something. That could be something athletic, like playing a round of tennis, or simply a relaxing day at the movies. But a CS-free day for me can also mean gaming Dota all day long.
The year is slowly coming to a close: Are you glad things are finally calming down, or would you rather head straight to another event?
You're always happy to have a break. But if I'm honest, I would have loved to accompany our Academy players to Bali. I would have gladly taken that event along. The location is awesome – and some sun to close out the year would have done me good too.
2022 was an intense year – What were the biggest milestones for you?
The Major definitely belongs on that list. It may not necessarily have been a milestone, but it's actually the most important event there is. We're not quite at the point yet where we're competing for the win there, but as a team and as an org, it's enormously important for us to play on stages that big and showcase ourselves.
Returning to CS as a coach I would call my personal milestone. For the team, I also see IEM Dallas as a milestone, since we made it to the Top 4 there and held our own against good teams. Helsinki was important for us too, because we managed to play well despite syrsoN being out. That definitely gave us a good feeling as a team.
This year we celebrated BIG's five-year anniversary. What does that mean to you personally?
It's just insane. That it's already been five years feels surreal. Honestly, I still can't quite wrap my head around it. It's overwhelming that we've achieved such enormous growth and were able to build something this significant together with the community.
Many people, looking at 2022, call it the year of stand-ins and the setbacks that came with it. Let's take a completely different approach: Did all the absences perhaps also have something positive?
I'd say there was something positive about it: We were able to throw young players into the deep end and test how they handle the situation. We could try a lot of things and play more freely in places. I don't know if we would have tested the guys at this level so quickly otherwise. We also worked really hard despite the situation and showed absolute will to win as a team. That was really great.
On Twitter, the stand-in situation was hotly debated. What role did that play for the team?
If I'm honest, we've learned by now to give it our all despite all obstacles and focus on our game and our goals. Of course, we didn't want to constantly rely on our stand-ins either, even though they did a good job. But we couldn't change the situation and didn't want to waste energy getting upset or engaging in the discussions. We tried to make the best of the situation. With a bit more consistency in the team, some better results would certainly have been possible.
Elisa Masters was your last big event. As a coach, is it actually hard for you not to play yourself?
Of course you get the urge to play yourself again, that's clear, but this isn't my first event and I've settled into my role as a coach by now. I barely play actively myself anymore, but on stage my hand still tingles every now and then.
How does the motivation and hunger of the young players at tournaments like these affect the team?
Of course you have to rein in the young players sometimes, but overall their hunger has a positive effect on the vibe in the team. When they get a chance like that, it's simply fun to see the fire in them.
Instead of talking about goals for 2023 – What would the year need to look like for you to be happy?
The year would need to run roughly similar to this year, but without the constant absences. If we can play with a stable lineup, I'm convinced we'll achieve a lot of success from a competitive standpoint.
On a personal level, I'm currently happy that things worked out here in Berlin with my apartment and I have a good balance through the peace and quiet at home. Here's hoping it continues that way.
What does December look like for you, and what final words would you like to share?
In December there's still some content production coming up, and I might stream too if the setup at home is finished. Otherwise I want to enjoy my free time in Berlin. At the end of December we still have an online tournament before everyone heads home. But around New Year's, preparations for 2023 already kick off again.
At this point I'd like to thank our fans for the incredible support. It was a really awesome year with you! Of course, a lot could have gone better, but you always took the setbacks in stride and had our backs. I hope we can count on you next year too and celebrate successes together!