We caught up with fnatic's Danish superstar Martin "trace" Heldt in order to find out how the Black and Orange have been doing in China, what he thinks about CS:GO and CS:Online, and more.

As we haven't heard much from fnatic ever since Richard "Xizt" Landström departed for what he thinks to be greener pastures at NiP and CS:GO, we decided to find out how the team is doing.

There were many things to ask and we touched up on K1 League and CS: Online, CS:GO, fnatic's future and their change of in-game leader from the newly recruited Emil "FYRR73" Karlsson to Finn "karrigan" Andersen.

You recently placed second in group A at K1 League in Shanghai. What were you expecting going into the tournament? How was the entire event? Would you have rather finished the entire tournament at once instead of returning next month for the semi-finals?

 

To be honest I was expecting the group stage to run more smoothly, but the game took me by surprise and I realized that we had to adapt much more to this game than first expected. The event itself was good. We played our matches in a studio, with a normal tournament-style setup. The admins were helpful, even though they sometimes had trouble understanding us, which caused some small problems. It was cool that we only had to play one match every 2 days or so, which gave us the opportunity to experience China as well. About the structure I would say I am 50/50. We enjoyed our stay in China and would love to go back, but it is also tough traveling so much, and it was difficult for us to plan everything and some had to sacrifice some things at home, in order to go.    

 

What are the main differences between CS 1.6 and CS: Online? Why is the game so different that both you and Na`Vi struggled against what most would consider weaker opposition? How much would you actually estimate you have played the game in hours?

 

The maps are pretty much the same, except for tuscan. It is not possible to set any rates or bind anything and it feels like the game is lagging badly. I would compare it to playing with 100 ping in 1.6 plus the bullets do not hit exactly where you aim, which is why it is also difficult to tab-shoot with great precision, something we unfortunately rely on a lot. It is a struggle because you have to change the way you play. It is not possible to take out multiple enemies within seconds with few bullets, unless you are really random. You have to position yourself in other ways and play differently. It is hard to play against teams who know the better strategy for this game. Uhm I am not really sure but I believe we probably practiced like 15 maps total, since it is not that easy to find opponents. Adding that with deathmatch and official games I would say about 30 hours of playing.

 

Judging by your results at K1 League it seems like you're finally getting the hang of CS: Online, but you still have not yet defeated TyLoo. Do you have something specific planned for the Chinese giants if you are the face them in the grand finals late in October?

 

Not so far, because we immediately had to switch our focus back to 1.6. As you mentioned we finally feel more comfortable in CS:Online and we should have won the last match against Tyloo so we stay optimistic and we will try to come up with some new things, if we are going to face them in the final

 

During your stay in China you also visited Tehran for a promotional visit by MSI. How was Iran and is there anything you would like to share about that trip?

 

Iran was so awesome, probably the best trip I have been on. The venue was great and all the people there were very friendly, it was a nice atmosphere. They took so good care of us, it felt like we were kings. On top of that it was special to be in a country like Iran, I had no idea what to expect, since it is such a different culture than ours, but we were all happily surprised. Nothing in particular, it was just 5 incredible days and I am grateful that I had the chance to experience it. Big thanks to MSI and to all the people there!

 

With Counter-Strike 1.6 on the decline, the two events you'll be attending this month - PGS Portugal and DreamHack Bucharest - might be the last two real tournaments left for the game. How do you feel about this? Are you excited to give it your all one last time, and how has your preparation been affected by playing CSO and being in China?

 

It is so sad that this most likely will be the last two 1.6 events. This perfect game we all love so much has come to an end, because it is no longer profitable, but I guess that is just the way it is. I hate it. The game is so good and balanced, such a shame. Actually I am not that excited. It is too bad that we can't have one last tournament with all the best teams joining in for one last clash - I feel like that was the way it should have ended. Nevertheless we will of course give everything we have, since it still is one of the last, and I would love to be the winner of the last 1.6 tournaments. We have struggled a bit since we were gone for over 3 weeks, obviously. It is also hard to find practice so our preparations have been sloppy, but there is not that much we could have done to prevent it. In the matter of playing a different game I do not think it should affect us in a huge manor, it is after all pretty much the same game with the same settings.

 

According to an interview with Andreas "MODDII" Fridh on fnatic.com, the newly recruited Emil "FYRR73" Karlsson is no longer the in-game leader, but Finn "karrigan" Andersen has taken that role. Why the change, and how is it working out?

 

We changed because we had no time practice that much as a team. Us other 4 know how we play and how we want to play, and it was too big of a change to get a new tacleader right this moment, we tried the first matches in China and it was just simply too chaotic, so we made the change and it works well. Karrigan still needs to be more comfortable in the role, though, and we all try to help during the game.

 

Can you explain the main differences between Richard "Xizt" Landström and his replacement Karlsson for our readers? How about Landström and Andersen as in-game leaders?

 

It is tough to compare players, especially when I have only been playing with them for approximately one month each. I would say that FYRR73 is an extremely aggressive player in general, more than most players, which is probably the biggest difference. Xizt is very calm both as a player and a tacleader, which is the opposite of karrigan who is more dynamic and eager. Karrigan still needs experience but I think we are doing good and I am confident that we will make the right decisions as a team during our games. Furthermore I am glad it works out so well because we were afraid it would be a big problem when xizt left. 

 

fnatic.com's article about FYRR73 joining said you plan to attend DreamHack Winter. Have you tried Counter-Strike: Global Offensive yet, and if so, what do you think about the game? Does everyone share the same thoughts or is there a chance someone might not make the switch?

 

I have not really been playing it, only some time ago. So I cannot say much about it, but I hope it will be more competitive, which also seems to be the case. There are a lot of updates and tournament announcements, so it is going to be fun to see where it goes. I believe we are all ready to make the switch, but you never know if someone is going to quit. We will start playing it a lot after our last tournaments, since we have much to learn because we have not played it from the beginning.

 

Are you at all worried about being late in switching to CS:GO? Teams like NiP or VeryGames will have much more experience in the game by DreamHack Winter than your team and early on in the game that is likely to affect the results a lot. Should we expect to see fnatic competing for the title in CS:GO at DreamHack Winter or is it more like a test run in the new game?

 

I have no idea at all what to expect. I do not know anything about the teams or their skill level and how good we will be ourselves. At his moment I cannot see us as a top contender, but I might when Dreamhack is about to start. Obviously we are behind and it will most likely be kind of a big deal, but I am not particularly worried, since I am still ignorant towards pretty much everything. Fnatic always want to be a top contender and we will do our very best to go deep in the tournament. We are the best 1.6 team so we will see if it is possible for us to make the switch on such short notice, hopefully it is going to be fun.

 

cArn recently published his "So you want to be a progamer?" -guide. If you could add one thing to the list, what would it be? What helped shape your career the most?

 

I think the guide covers about everything but if I should mention one little thing it would be to always evaluate yourself and your team. Do not be afraid to make mistakes during practice. Find out what works and what does not, and discuss it with the team afterwards - this is how you will develop as a team and some might forget that and just play play and play without improving. I am not sure how to answer this question but I will try to say a few things. The friends I played with and had fun with, giving me the motivation to keep on playing when I was younger. Then I would say skill, luck and not being a total jackass. I was very childish in my teenage years, and nobody who does not know you, do not want to play with you, if you are just a little annoying kid! Basically I would say respect is the key thing, and being willing to learn. But of course you also need to be talented.    

 

Next up for you are two CS 1.6 tourneys in Portugal and Bucharest. How has preparation for these events been for you? Are you confident you are still the best Counter-Strike team with FYRR73 on the team?

 

Not good at all, unfortunately. Teams are rarely playing anymore, so most teams are probably poorly prepared. I do not think these events will show the top level of any of the teams competing. We still need to get FYRR73 into the team, so it is hard to say but nevertheless I expect us to go all the way, since fnatic have proved to be the best team right now.

To be honest I was expecting the group stage to run more smoothly, but the game took me by surprise and I realized that we had to adapt much more to this game than first expected.

The event itself was good. We played our matches in a studio, with a normal tournament-style setup. The admins were helpful, even though they sometimes had trouble understanding us, which caused some small problems. It was cool that we only had to play one match every 2 days or so, which gave us the opportunity to experience China as well.

About the structure I would say I am 50/50. We enjoyed our stay in China and would love to go back, but it is also tough traveling so much, and it was difficult for us to plan everything and some had to sacrifice some things at home, in order to go.    

What are the main differences between CS 1.6 and CS: Online? Why is the game so different that both you and Na`Vi struggled against what most would consider weaker opposition? How much would you actually estimate you have played the game in hours?

The maps are pretty much the same, except for tuscan. It is not possible to set any rates or bind anything and it feels like the game is lagging badly. I would compare it to playing with 100 ping in 1.6 plus the bullets do not hit exactly where you aim, which is why it is also difficult to tap-shoot with great precision, something we unfortunately rely on a lot.

It is a struggle because you have to change the way you play. It is not possible to take out multiple enemies within seconds with few bullets, unless you are really random. You have to position yourself in other ways and play differently. It is hard to play against teams who know the better strategy for this game.

Uhm I am not really sure but I believe we probably practiced like 15 maps total, since it is not that easy to find opponents. Adding that with deathmatch and official games I would say about 30 hours of playing.

fnatic happy after GameGune victory in July 

Judging by your results at K1 League it seems like you're finally getting the hang of CS: Online, but you still have not defeated TyLoo. Do you have something specific planned for the Chinese giants if you are to face them in the grand finals late in October?

Not so far, because we immediately had to switch our focus back to 1.6. As you mentioned we finally feel more comfortable in CS:Online and we should have won the last match against Tyloo, so we stay optimistic and we will try to come up with some new things, if we are going to face them in the final.

During your stay in China you also visited Tehran for a promotional visit by MSI. How was Iran and is there anything you would like to share about that trip?

Iran was so awesome, probably the best trip I have been on. The venue was great and all the people there were very friendly, it was a nice atmosphere. They took so good care of us, it felt like we were kings. On top of that it was special to be in a country like Iran, I had no idea what to expect, since it is such a different culture than ours, but we were all happily surprised. Nothing in particular, it was just 5 incredible days and I am grateful that I had the chance to experience it. Big thanks to MSI and to all the people there!

With Counter-Strike 1.6 on the decline, the two events you'll be attending this month - PGS Portugal and DreamHack Bucharest - might be the last two real tournaments left for the game. How do you feel about this? Are you excited to give it your all one last time, and how has your preparation been affected by playing CSO and being in China?

It is so sad that this most likely will be the last two 1.6 events. This perfect game we all love so much has come to an end, because it is no longer profitable, but I guess that is just the way it is. I hate it. The game is so good and balanced, such a shame. Actually I am not that excited. It is too bad that we can't have one last tournament with all the best teams joining in for one last clash - I feel like that was the way it should have ended.

Nevertheless we will of course give everything we have, since it still is one of the last, and I would love to be the winner of the last 1.6 tournaments. We have struggled a bit since we were gone for over 3 weeks, obviously. It is also hard to find practice so our preparations have been sloppy, but there is not that much we could have done to prevent it. In the matter of playing a different game I do not think it should affect us in a huge manner, it is after all pretty much the same game with the same settings.

trace and his fnatic are still trying to figure out CS: Online for K1 League playoffs (Photo: 5eplay.com)

According to an interview with Andreas "MODDII" Fridh on fnatic.com, the newly recruited Emil "FYRR73" Karlsson is no longer the in-game leader, but Finn "karrigan" Andersen has taken that role. Why the change, and how is it working out?

We changed because we had no time practice that much as a team. Us other 4 know how we play and how we want to play, and it was too big of a change to get a new tacleader right this moment, we tried the first matches in China and it was just simply too chaotic, so we made the change and it works well. Karrigan still needs to be more comfortable in the role, though, and we all try to help during the game.

Can you explain the main differences between Richard "Xizt" Landström and his replacement Karlsson for our readers? How about Landström and Andersen as in-game leaders?

It is tough to compare players, especially when I have only been playing with them for approximately one month each. I would say that FYRR73 is an extremely aggressive player in general, more than most players, which is probably the biggest difference.

Xizt is very calm both as a player and a tacleader, which is the opposite of karrigan who is more dynamic and eager. Karrigan still needs experience but I think we are doing good and I am confident that we will make the right decisions as a team during our games. Furthermore I am glad it works out so well because we were afraid it would be a big problem when Xizt left. 

fnatic.com's article about FYRR73 joining said you plan to attend DreamHack Winter. Have you tried Counter-Strike: Global Offensive yet, and if so, what do you think about the game? Does everyone share the same thoughts or is there a chance someone might not make the switch?

I have not really been playing it, only some time ago. So I cannot say much about it, but I hope it will be more competitive, which also seems to be the case. There are a lot of updates and tournament announcements, so it is going to be fun to see where it goes.

I believe we are all ready to make the switch, but you never know if someone is going to quit. We will start playing it a lot after our last tournaments, since we have much to learn because we have not played it from the beginning.

Black and Orange in action in Shanghai with FYRR73 on the squad (Photo: 5eplay.com)

Are you at all worried about being late in switching to CS:GO? Teams like NiP or VeryGames will have much more experience in the game by DreamHack Winter than your team and early on in the game that is likely to affect the results a lot. Should we expect to see fnatic competing for the title in CS:GO at DreamHack Winter or is it more like a test run in the new game?

I have no idea at all what to expect. I do not know anything about the teams or their skill level and how good we will be ourselves. At this moment I cannot see us as a top contender, but I might when Dreamhack is about to start. Obviously we are behind and it will most likely be kind of a big deal, but I am not particularly worried, since I am still ignorant towards pretty much everything.

Fnatic always want to be a top contender and we will do our very best to go deep in the tournament. We are the best 1.6 team so we will see if it is possible for us to make the switch on such short notice, hopefully it is going to be fun.

cArn recently published his "So you want to be a progamer?" -guide. If you could add one thing to the list, what would it be? What helped shape your career the most?

I think the guide covers about everything but if I should mention one little thing it would be to always evaluate yourself and your team. Do not be afraid to make mistakes during practice. Find out what works and what does not, and discuss it with the team afterwards - this is how you will develop as a team and some might forget that and just play play and play without improving.

I am not sure how to answer this question but I will try to say a few things. The friends I played with and had fun with, giving me the motivation to keep on playing when I was younger. Then I would say skill, luck and not being a total jackass. I was very childish in my teenage years, and nobody who does not know you, do not want to play with you, if you are just a little annoying kid! Basically I would say respect is the key thing, and being willing to learn. But of course you also need to be talented.

Next up for fnatic are two CS 1.6 tourneys in Portugal and Bucharest. How has preparation for these events been for you? Are you confident you are still the best Counter-Strike team with FYRR73 in the lineup?

Not good at all, unfortunately. Teams are rarely playing anymore, so most teams are probably poorly prepared. I do not think these events will show the top level of any of the teams competing.

We still need to get FYRR73 into the team, so it is hard to say but nevertheless I expect us to go all the way, since fnatic have proved to be the best team right now.

HLTV.org will be on-site at PGS in Oporto on October 11-14 and in Romania for DreamHack Bucharest on October 20-21, where fnatic will attend possibly the final Counter-Strike 1.6 tournaments.