Tomi "lurppis" Kovanen answers YOUR questions.

With EG taking part in the up coming IEM world finals next week it is a busy time for the team. The recent news that the group of death they are in got even deadlier means they will be stepping up their practice in order to finish well at the event. However Tomi 'lurppis' Kovanen has taken time out of his bootcamp in Berlin to answer your questions.

How does it feel being one of a select few players to move from one country to another country half way across the world in order to play the game you love? Are you glad you made the move? - Animation

I guess it’s pretty cool in a way, but I don't think I look at it that way. I've never really "loved" CS as I think it just happens to be a really competitive game and I have fun competing at pretty much anything. I've always wanted to live abroad all my life so now I get to combine two different things I love doing which is great.

What are EG's plans for 2010? Do you think we could see you winning an international event? How do you think you will do at the IEM world finals coming up, are you well prepared? - Must

We're going to keep practicing and attending all tournaments that we can as there’s really nothing else we can do. I definitely think we could win an international event, but if we will is a another story. You could already say that GameGune Mexico was an international event even though not many international teams attended. Also, we should’ve won Arbalet Cup, but then again almost doesn't count, so we'll just have to see how this year plays out. Our practice in the U.S. has been horrible in the past few months even when compared to the already-low standards we have there. We've been able to put in a lot of work this past week boot-camping in Berlin and hopefully that will pay off, even though we are in one of (if not the) the sickest groups in the history of CS.

How much of an impact have you had on the development of CSPromod? What are your opinions on the game? - LHOOQ

I haven't had that much to do with it. I've played it a little before it was released and given Alex my thoughts on things that could/should be improved. I think it's starting to look good, but I'm just waiting until the next patch to see the normal sized player models before really trying it out more because right now I feel all maps are a little messed up due to the proportions.

Team EG in action with Tomi (middle) - Photo courtesy of myEG.net

Finland has always produced very skilled 1.6 players, disregarding your placings at the WCG and WSVG and more recently Power Gaming's 2nd at WEM Finnish teams haven't really achieved any big finishes in the top tournaments, what are your views on why no Finnish teams have been able to get to a level to consistently push the top tier of teams? I remember watching a video interview and the player was asked the same question. He said he didn't know but if he had to of had a guess he thinks it was maybe down to the Finnish mentality, when things were good they were great and the Fins could compete with anyone in the world but as soon as some things started to go wrong they'd pretty much self destruct. Would you agree with that? What do you think the reasons are? - rb

Actually, the most top finishes that Finnish teams got were in 2006-2008 by Hoorai/69N-28E/Roccat when we competed well in a number of tournament. Anyways, the reason for Finns and their instability is definitely the lack of motivation/dedication and ultimately horrible attitudes of the players. There have definitely been a lot of people in the top Finnish teams who’ve always given up easily and whined like crazy as soon as things stopped going great and that attitude has definitely had a huge impact on things.

What is the best lineup you have ever played in and why? What four players would you pick up into your dreamteam including yourself and why? - Atza^

It's pretty hard to say because I've always had really mixed results with all of my teams, but I'd say that I felt the most confident in the Hoorai line-up of fall in 2006. We had so much practice and solid preparation for such a long time that we felt 100% confident heading into any match on any map.

Do you genuinely believe that with time EG can consistently place top three in the world? - revoltz

I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I know we can already beat all top teams. We just need to find a way to do that consistently.

How long do you see yourself playing in America for, and ultimately CS? Is it economically viable? - revoltz

I take it one year at a time, that's really all you can do. For now all I can say is that I plan on playing through the year 2010, but after that I have no idea. We'll see when the time comes. CS is not economically viable...not as a future anyways, but I think the fun that I can have doing this during this stage of my life is definitely worth it, even though I know it will end sooner or later.

What did your parents think when you brought up the idea of moving to America in the first place, are they supportive of your CS career? - revoltz

I didn't really bring up the idea...I just told them I'm moving. I was 21 years old so it wasn't really up to them and they've always been 100% supportive of everything I've done so I knew it wasn't going to create any tension. Besides, my parents know me well enough to know I would do it if ever given the chance.

What do you think about Finnish e-sports scene? What it needs to grow up and is it any good in your opinion at the moment? What good things does it have and what bad things? - Atza^

I haven't been around for a year now so I haven't followed up on the recent updates at all, but I can only assume the scene still goes around ClanBase which is not good news. There needs to be some kind of league structure in place for everyone to get better. Also, a Finnish community site would definitely help the scene. As far as the good, Peliliiga does a good job of organizing all the events in Finland and if it wasn't for them I think the scene would already be dead. So, I have to give huge props to them for making things happen.

Tomi at bootcamp before the Arbalet cup(Photo courtesy of myEG.net)

Given the amount of time some of your team spent away from top level CS along with some members having little experience of international competition, do you feel you will ever have a realistic chance at winning a major event or do you feel teams such as fnatic and SK are too far ahead? - PALMRRR

I don't agree with this question at all. Danny and Tyler are both some of the most experienced players in the community and even though they once took a two-year break, it doesn't mean they have little experience of international competition. I've been competing internationally for five years now, Jordan for about two or so, and Ediz for three. So, I'd say we're definitely an experienced enough team. As far as beating SK and fnatic, I think we've already played enough close games and started beating top teams towards the end of last year that everyone should know we can do it, but that it's just up to us to string enough wins together in a single tournament to make it happen. Once again, though, it definitely should have happened at Arbalet, but we just gave the SK match away.

If you could turn back time, would you go back to "the golden days" of Finnish CS to play with and against the likes of diGitaL, bloodR, and barrack again - or are you happier playing for an American team? - vENdetta

I had the most fun playing with the wings/Serious Gaming lineup of Kuppi, NASU, Shiri and either barrack or toNppa. All of us are still good friends, but every trip was a lot of fun and we always managed to have tons of fun outside of CS as well. But in-game it’s hard to say. I really enjoy playing for EG as well, but those Finnish guys just happened to remain really good friends of mine that I've had for years now.

How long are you planning to stay in US? Will you or EG extend your stay in the organisation or will you go on for other opportunities, maybe go back home, or plan other things in life in the US? Nordy

Like I said, for now the plan is to stay through 2010 and then see what’s up after the year ends. I really don't plan things for more than a year at a time in CS so I really don't know for now. I don't think I want to live the rest of my life in Finland or even Europe so I wouldn't be surprised if I tried to go to school here, or returned here for work after school and the mandatory military service.

What's the biggest difference between the US and European CS scenes? What should Europe learn from the US and what should the US learn from Europe? - Atza^

I think more people just play CS in Europe and have better internet connections to play it on which helps them out a lot more than here in the U.S. Also, countries in Europe are like the size of a state in the U.S., so everything is more packed and therefore more easily accessible. On the other hand, USA has a much better structure with CEVO and ESEA having leagues while Europe doesn't really have anything similar, so sometimes it makes you wonder why it hasn't developed the same way or even better.

After you became one of the top finnish CS players did you ever think that you would be as successful as you have been sometimes? When was it the first time you realised that you and your team could beat known and good international teams? - Atza^

You can't really think like that. You can just hope your work pays off and you get good enough to compete internationally. I think the first time we thought we were starting to get good enough to beat internationally good teams was after beating D-Skyline online for FESL towards the end of 2004. However, I still remember thinking going into CPL Spain in April 2005 that we weren't confident at all playing the top teams and I even remember thinking 3D would be one of the few ones we might get to play first round that we could beat, which we ended up doing (it was our first international event for all of us and the first legit top team we beat).

What was the best and most intense game you ever played in? Who was it against and in what tournament? - Vappoxx

I'd have to say the whole NGL ONE Season 4 finals, but especially the finals versus Fnatic. Our tournament started with a close 1-2 loss versus Fnatic and then followed up with two close 2-1 wins against mouz and aTTaX. In the finals we played Fnatic again, and after winning the first BO3 set 2-0, we lost the second one 1-2, losing the last map 14-16 after it was tied up at 14-14. I don't know if it can get any more intense than that.

What is your favourite memory of playing 1.6? - SkiddY

Overall, my favorite memory from my CS career is beating 3D at CPL Spain. Just can't top that adrenaline rush.

Thanks for your time Tomi.

No problem. I'd also just like to thank all of the sponsors of Team EG. Without the help from Intel, SteelSeries, Peregrine, MSI Notebook, Kingston HyperX, Bigfoot Networks, and GIGABYTE Motherboard/VGA, we wouldn't be able to travel and compete internationally.