❘ Revealed: 2022-11-15T13:06:59
❘ Up to date: 2022-11-15T13:14:13
Kenny ‘kennyS’ Schrub has expressed his pleasure at having the ability to play CS:GO competitively once more after 18 months on the sidelines. “I do know I’m nonetheless top-of-the-line mechanical gamers on the planet,” he informed Dexerto.
The French AWPer has signed with Saudi Arabia-based group Workforce Falcons to finish their CS:GO lineup for 2023, placing an finish to his almost six-year affiliation with G2 Esports.
kennyS has spent the final 18 months out of motion after being benched by G2 in March 2021. The choice got here after a downturn in outcomes and a sequence of uninspiring tournaments by kennyS, who for years had struggled with psychological well being points.
With a considerable buyout clause and his inventory at its lowest ever, kennyS was in limbo. He used his time away from the sport to recuperate mentally and scope out his choices. He dabbled in content material creation, rising his YouTube channel to over 160,000 subscribers. He additionally gave Valorant a shot.
Ultimately, kennyS felt that he had one other chapter left in his CS:GO profession.
“A number of months in the past, I made a decision that I actually wished to play CS competitively,” he informed Dexerto. “I waited a bit bit to see if it was only a feeling, an emotion, and I concluded that it was not. I’m actually secure in my life and well-surrounded.
“I believe I deserve one final probability to complete my profession in a manner that isn’t being on the bench. I’m grateful I’ve the chance to do issues otherwise. It feels superb to be again. I’m actually pleased.”
kennyS mentioned that he was attracted by the prospect of taking part in alongside French expertise as soon as once more. Two years into his G2 profession, he noticed the group go the worldwide route, with blended outcomes, regardless of the high-profile additions of Nemanja ‘nexa’ Isaković, Nemanja ‘huNter-’ Kovač and Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kovač.
kennyS reunites with NBK, with whom he received the Cluj-Napoca Main in 2015
However maybe the largest think about his choice to hitch Falcons was his reunion with former longtime teammate Nathan ‘NBK-’ Schmitt. They performed collectively on a few of the most profitable French CS:GO groups, profitable the DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca Main in 2015 throughout their time with EnVyUs (at the moment Envy).
“I’ve all the time felt, even throughout my greatest occasions in France, that I haven’t been handled as I ought to by the French group,” kennyS mentioned. “NBK is a type of who’ve all the time revered me as a participant. I do know he nonetheless does.
“That was an enormous plus for me as a result of I do know the problem I’ve forward of me. Lots of people see this as of venture, and I perceive why. The one folks I must consider in me are myself and people round me, my group, and my teammates.”
Why does he suppose that his relationship with the French scene is so difficult?
“I don’t know,” he mentioned. “Possibly it’s as a result of I’ve a very massive ego. Possibly they don’t like that, the aggressive mindset that I’ve. They all the time have a tendency to love extra quiet gamers, which I can perceive. I’ve by no means had an issue with that as a result of my viewers is usually worldwide.
“It’s what it’s, everybody has a unique mindset. I suppose my mindset and persona don’t sit effectively with folks from France.”
Competing in Paris
kennyS exhibited maturity and professionalism in the way in which he talked about G2 Esports, however he admitted that the hefty price ticket positioned on him “stopped a number of issues” whereas he was on the bench. He had provides from “massive organizations” and even got here near becoming a member of OG’s Valorant group on a mortgage foundation earlier than Riot Video games blocked the transfer. “I truly suppose it was a superb factor in the long run,” he mentioned in regards to the deal falling by way of.
The timing of his return to competitors will not be a coincidence. Within the spring of 2023, France will host its first-ever CS:GO Main, in Paris, and kennyS has his sights set on taking part in within the event.
“That may be the purpose for everybody in France proper now,” he mentioned. “I’ve performed so many Majors, and lacking the Rio Main was already fairly painful. At the least attempting to qualify for the BLAST Main is one thing I actually wish to do. The Paris Main is certainly the largest goal and one thing I’ll grind for.”
kennyS remains to be assured about his mechanical stage
kennyS is conscious of the scale of the duty dealing with him at Falcons. After nearly two years on the sidelines, he has a number of catching as much as do as he goals to steer the group to the Main. However he has little question that he can nonetheless play at a excessive stage.
“If I don’t consider in myself, who will?” he requested. “It’s fairly troublesome to get again at it after not being aggressive for nearly two years. I’m conscious of the quantity of labor I’ve forward of me, however I do know that I’m nonetheless top-of-the-line mechanical gamers on the planet. My final season was actually powerful due to COVID. I’ve all the time carried out effectively offline. On-line, it’s a bit harder for me.
“I’m not nervous in any respect about my mechanical stage. I do know it’s going to return again actually shortly, however I undoubtedly must make amends for stuff just like the meta. There may be a number of work forward, I’m conscious of that. I’m conscious of the problem. This was not a light-weight choice. I really consider in myself.”
Workforce Falcons CS:GO roster:
- Ali ‘hAdji’ Haïnouss
- Jordan ‘Python’ Munck-Foehrle
- Nathan ‘NBK-’ Schmitt
- Kévin ‘misutaaa’ Rabier
- Kenny ‘kennyS’ Schrub
