Oliver "orcl" Stubley talks to the up and coming Rasta, Shane "shaney" Smith

With the UK scene slowly breeding talent, every so often a player gets plucked from the masses to be given a shot at being the next big thing. The most recent up and comer, Shane "shaney" Smith, has now managed two 3rd place finishes at his last two events. I caught up with him to see how he was coping with his newly found stardom. After his Epic LAN performance with the mix team FISH123, shaney was given a shot to roll with the big dogs of Rasta.XD, the eventual event winners. After a recent podium finish at Multiplay's i42, I grabbed him for a quick chat.

Hi shaney, could you first introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi, I'm Shane Smith and I'm part of the new Rasta.Xd lineup.

What was your history before becoming part of the Rasta.Xd team?

Well, I don't really have a lot of history before Rasta. My last iSeries before i42 was i37, where my team, emnity, finished 13-16th. Back then I was about 14, So I thought 'Nice one, got a great LAN achievement!' As before that I was just one of these players that wanted to play with people who, at the time, I thought were god sends.

After i37 I didn't do anything then somehow ended up in ritch's EPS mix team , and no, I didn't bum lick my way into it as many people have said to me in the past, it was more coincidence than anything.

When the EPS season was in play, I thought that I was playing at a pretty good standard, thus leading me to get regular gathers will jakem, nayden etc on Andy's Vent. I really think going to Epic LAN with the FISH123 lineup could have played a part of me going to i42 with Rasta. I thought I'd done better than most people thought I would do and it urged me to want to be even better.

So, how did you end up playing for Rasta?

Well, as everyone knows, des and mole left shortly after the 30P LAN. I had been mixing and gathering with them all a fair amount anyway but I never really thought that id be a permanent fix in the team, kinda expected the boot after iSeries. I thought I was just going to be a stand in if I’m honest.

Just before the iSeries, many were sceptical of the new line-up due to a bumpy start to your EMS group matches, what did you do to get on track?

Online and offline are two very different things, throughout the EMS games other teams played a different play style, whereas we kept ours the same. Weber actually brought this up to the team whilst we was at our very unproductive bootcamp - were zeo had bought WWE All Stars for the xbox and Jake pretty much played that the whole time, ending with him singing Michael Jackson songs which you can find on the Rasta Website.

We just played the same as we would online and it just paid off really. Plus all sorts of weird and wonderful things happen at LAN!

Jakem with his Michael Jackson - Black or White cover

In the run up to the iSeries, what were your goals, both as a team and on a personal level?

My personal goals were to just play my best and to show people that I can play at a high level, which I think I did successfully. Whether I can keep it up or not is another question.

I'm not really sure what our goals were as a team. They were probably just to make the seed, but I don't think we expected to win the tournament. As the tournament went on our goals increased, overall we just wanted to try and get on the stage. I'm happy with the result and I’m bout 60% sure the team is too.

Do you want a quick chance to clear up the whole “forget to take my PC to LAN” ordeal?

Yes! I had to get a coach to Luton airport and I physically couldn't take my PC, so I took my monitor, keyboard mouse etc. as I was told that I would be able to use something that Blanks had, a Dell XPS laptop. This laptop was fine for fps until it started to overheat, then the fps would drop to around 30. Whilst making that ridiculous flame infested thread, Blanks was building a PC from spares he had lying around the house and a few of zeos old parts. Blanks, however, didn't think to tell me. So overall I blame him :)!

At the iSeries, you met an on form team going by the name of CRAZYAIMERS, who went on to beat you in the group stages. What happened in that match?

We underestimated our opponents and my PC also didn't have enough fps, so I changed it again on the Saturday. Mainly I think we just massively underestimated them.

shaney played well at the recent iSeries

So, after a successful 3rd place finish at the iSeries, things were looking good for the team.. and then it was announced that zeo was being dropped. Why did this happen, and why do you think you managed to stay?

I can't really say much on this topic because I haven't got a clue. I knew before the weekend that we were contemplating picking up Eamon and dropping Nick, but I didn't really know why, just peoples preferences I guess. I came back on Saturday and heard all sorts of stuff about weber leaving to join dignitas and what not, and then we confirmed the team on the Sunday. In truth, I don't know anything about this subject. I’m not sure why I was picked over him, I’m just guessing that my consistency was adequate, and maybe because I was the “one to replace des” as the team AWPer, I honestly have no clue.

What is your personal preference, zeo or cauzed?

I didn't really know cauzed that well, I’d gathered and spoke to him occasionally before LAN but that's about it. But then I kinda spoke to him at LAN and he seems like a nice guy, and obviously a good player, whereas I've known zeo for absolutely ages and he is a good player.

My preference would have to be zeo purely on the fact that I've known him longer. But I'm sure the change was made for a reason so my opinion is invalid.

How does it feel to finally be in a team pushing into the top end of the UK scene?

Its a really good feeling I guess. A while ago I can remember jagg saying 'shaney will only ever be one of these players you'd ask to play an ED mix or ESL Cup' and to finally be in a team pushing to be one of the top teams in the UK is great. I reckon my motivation was there because people doubted me a while ago.

What was LAN like with the roaring support of the entire Rasta community?

It was an amazing experience, all the players are really sound guys (even CRMJ who I had thought turned a little arrogant, seems Rasta has changed him!) The management is fantastic, they are always willing to help. They are massive motivators, especially biggie and Arky who shouted so much at LAN it was ridiculous. Its just a fantastic community to be part of.

What lies in the future for Rasta.Xd?

Just continue our 'push to the top of UK css.' We will be attending epic lan 6, hoping to keep hold of the title! From there we will be going to i43 :)

Will we see a similar picture containing shaney at Epic 6?

Telford or Newbury?

Telford! It has an ice rink near by to own them eMpathy noobs (holl1s) in a speed race!

Thanks a lot for your time, any shoutouts before we finish?

Shoutouts to the Rasta community, fantastic group of guys! Also, shoutouts to Jake, Nayden and Brandon for 'giving me the chance' to be in Rasta.Xd. Oh yeah and a shoutout to ritch who without him actually picking me up for the EPS mix team, I probably wouldn't be anywhere near where I am now.