Oliver "orcl" Stubley takes a look at the few breakthrough players in the last couple of years, in a three part feature.

This article is the sole opinion of the author and does not represent that of Heaven Media or any other affiliates.



Over the years the top end of the European CS:S scene has been populated by many of the same people who were there when things took off, with very few new players able to make their way to the top and stay there for any longer than a few fleeting months. It is almost possible to count the amount of breakthroughs over the last few years on one hand, however, on very rare occasions individuals force their way through the barrier and go on to become greats.

It takes a lot of work to finally earn the chance to represent a top team and once there it's even more difficult to keep your spot, continue to improve and show that you can always offer something to the team. This past year though we've seen a number of players do just that, I'll be having a look at those privileged few as well as having a very brief chat with them or those closest to them.

Nathan “NBK” Schmitt

Nationality: French
Age: 16
Former Team(s): Dreamrar
Current Team: VERYGAMES

Nathan "NBK" Schmitt came out of nowhere until he joined the up and coming French side known as Dreamrar, a team that were gradually pulling themselves up the French scene through EPS, going on to claim a well deserved 2nd place finish behind Team VERYGAMES at the finals of EPS FR Season 7. It was not not long after this that Dreamrar pulled in some old school french players in the form of victorztw, flex0r and AsP, whilst NBK moved over to become the stand-in player for Team ROCCAT. This didn't last long, however, as a short time later he was given a chance that many players could only dream of. Nathan was asked to play along side Ex6tenZ, Shokk and RegnaM in the new look Team VERYGAMES, who not longer after acquired RPK and became a truly unstoppable force.

Since then, VERYGAMES have been winning almost every event they have attended as well as the most recent seasons on the French EPS, apart from the recent MaxLan, where they lost out to team 3DMAX in the finals. Picking up multiple MVP Nominations as well as winning a few of them alongside various other awards Nathan is widely considered to be have not only been one of the best up and comers but one of the best players the game could have ever seen. He has achieved in two years the prize money and placements that some could only dream of.

I caught up with Nathan “NBK” Schmitt to find out exactly what kept him motivated as well as his advice to up and coming players:

Before joining up with Team VERYGAMES, what kept you motivated to keep playing and improving?

The game was fun enough to keep playing. I always had funny teammates, and that really helps you to keep motivated to come every evening to play 3/4 hours straight. I knew that I was able to play in a team like VERYGAMES or ROCCAT. I had a team of old players (aged around 22, not so old I know), who had one goal, to make me join VG or the old Roccat, and they managed to do it. Being motivated by your teammates all the time (even if it's not especially for you) is very important to keep playing like a monster!

Do you have any advice for those that wish to follow in your footsteps?

My main advice would be: Keep playing. Find opportunities to be always better yourself, to grow as a good player with advices from those better than you. You can watch demos and always try to send messages to the top pro players about the game. You have to find the mates who fit well with you, then keep playing and play a lot of deathmatch .. That worths it!

Achievements to date:

5/6th MAXLAN 2009
EPS France Season: VII
Gamers Assembly 2010
Lan79 2010
EPS France Season: VIII
EMS Season VI
Multiplay i40
French Masters Circuit 2010
DSRack LAN 3
EPS France Season: IX
EMS Season VII
Spirit-Lan
MAXLAN: Decade Edition
Copenhagen Games

Janne “zawahiR” Mikkola

Image from eXelon Gaming

Nationality: Finnish
Age: 18
Former Team(s): RCTIC eSports
Current Team: eXelon Gaming

Things all began for Janne “zawahiR” Mikkola towards the start of 2010 when his former team RCTIC eSports slowly began to make a small mark on the Finnish scene, placing well at small local lans but ultimately not doing anything too significant. Around mid 2010 Janne found himself being presented with an opportunity to make the step up into the upper tier of teams in Europe, getting a chance at the big time with none other than eXelon gaming due to Juho “zaikovski” Sunneri deciding to step down before the team attended i40, due to school commitments.

The team attended their first event together Assembly Summer 2010 in which they beat CKRAS 2-0, taking them to a quad overtime on the first map where they managed to come out on top with a 28-26 and then a double overtime on the second, which against saw eXelon take the win. This final was a spectacle to beheld and a lot of it came down to Janne's incredible awping, being truely on form and showing what he can do in the LAN environment. Many would even go as far as to say that he was the difference maker for eXelon at this event.

In an attempt to find out how Janne “zawahiR” Mikkola is doing, I caught up with his teammate and fellow breakthrough player Jesu:

As someone who has seen Janne grow as a player over the past year or so, what is behind his rapid improvement?

Well from my point of view he has always been an incredibly talented player, he wouldn't have been given the chance to play for eXelon if he wasn't. But he was an uncut diamond before he joined eXelon and the man who helped him improve his game to the level it's at now was Sami - who helped both him and me so much in our time together.

How difficult was it for him and yourself to break into the top level? Do you think most players are capable of it? If so, what needs to be done?

Well the most difficult thing when you're up and coming is trying to find a team who have similar goals, and are willing to commit to make it there. Myself and especially zawa always had the potential to reach that level but neither of us could have done it without Samitsky - he taught us so much.

Achievements to date:

EMS Season V Finnish Qualifiers
Insomnia XI LAN
eXtended'2 LAN
4th Assembly Winter 2010
4th Thermaltake CS:S Online i40 Qualifier
Assembly Summer 2010
9-12th Multiplay i40
EMS Season VII Finnish Qualifiers
7/8th ESPC.fi #2
5/6th DSRack LAN #3
Solid Rebirth
Assembly Winter 2011
5/6th 30P LAN

Brandon 'weber' Weber

Nationality: British
Age: 17
Former Team(s): GE Clan, FMToxic, fish123, Dignitas,
Current Team: Rasta xD

There have been many players dubbed 'the next Re1ease' as they make their way up the competitive ladder (remember Deathrow?), but rarely has the title been banded about as much for a player than with weber, luckily he managed to prove to the European scene that he had every right to be handed such a tag with a few brilliant performances with and against the best Europe had to offer. He started off like most aspiring youngsters attending LAN events with sub par teams and mixes and his first few outings were rather disastrous, the most memorable on being with GE Clan.

Despite his teams failure to perform there was always something special about weber as a player and he was soon given his first big break by Richard 'ritch' Gibbs in FMToxic, attending LAN79 with the side. At the French event Brandon held his own when it mattered, rarely making any mistakes and at times proving himself to be the star player, yet unfortunately the team didn't stick together for long and he found himself out on the cold - stepping in for UK EPS mix fish123. The big teams would come calling once again and he was picked up by team Dignitas ahead of their outing at i41 where the team managed an unexpected 3rd place finish. Afterwards he made the switch to Rasta xD where he has gone on to impress not only his own countrymen, but almost everyone in the European scene.

His defining moment came at the 30P LAN as he stole the show with some incredible performances against two teams who would go on to finish in third and first place, LDLC and CKRAS. Against both teams he played a vital role in almost securing shock wins, sadly it wasn't to be but it's clear that the constant improvement of weber will continue and the next time we see him in action teams will have to be wary.

I had a few words with Brandon about his rise to the top of the UK scene and how he's managed it:

What's your thoughts on the UK scene (talent wise) and do you feel it is difficult for youngsters to break into the top level?

Well it seems to be a common misconception that the top end of the UK scene is shut-off for players unless they're in "the clique", for me it wasn't anything like that and I just worked had at improving my game until I was spotted. The UK has a broad range of talent, and I think that shows with the recent I-series where we saw a good few players perform well. I don't think it's that difficult for youngsters to breakthrough into the scene, I believe if they are genuinely good they will get noticed one way or another, the hardest part is not blowing their chance when they get it.

What have you personally done over the past year or so to improve your game?

Over the past Year or so, I've just played and played consistently with the same people and taken in what they've said to improve my gameplay. I've always thought that playing with people you like is the most important thing in CSS and I really enjoy playing with Rasta so that's where I play my best CSS.

Achievements to date:

5th LAN79
Multiplay i41
Epic LAN 5
9th/12th 30P LAN
Multiplay i42


Tune in next week for the second part in the series, right here on Cadred.org