kNgV-: "Some players preferred Immortals over the team"

Vito "kNgV-" Giuseppe is currently a free agent after being released from his Immortals contract as a result of playing for the Brazilian team in an EPICENTER qualifier match against CLG while being suspended by the North American organisation.

The 22-year-old had been in hot water after threatening Pujan "FNS" Mehta on Twitter in the aftermath of DreamHack Montreal following a tweet from the CLG member in which he stated that three of Immortals players had been "hungover" during the semi-final match between the two teams, which left kNgV- fuming.

kNgV- addresses his departure from Immortals

In a lengthy Facebook post, kNgV- argued that Immortals had never told him what his punishment was, and revealed that he had been given permission to step in for team coach Rafael "zakk" Fernandes and play against CLG in the EPICENTER qualifier.

"After DreamHack Montreal, I returned to Brazil and I was told that I was going to be punished," he wrote. "But they never told me what the punishment would be. Our meeting was supposed to take place after the match against CLG.

"When I came on the team's group chat, I wrote that I was going to play against CLG, even if there was lag. After 10 minutes, steel came to me and said I would not be able to play because I was suspended for a month.

"I was mad because no one from the organisation had told me that. Then they lost the first map, and Lucas "LUCAS1" Teles and Henrique "HEN1" Teles asked me to play and said that they had messaged [General Manager] Nick [Phan], who had given permission for me to play.

"It was then obvious that I was going to play, it was a qualifier for EPICENTER, a big event. After watching my teammates lose, I decided to play despite the lag, I wanted to help my team.

"After the match, I read Noah's post on Twitter. He then called me and he said that it was over."

kNgV- then revealed that, upon returning from Malmö with the team, he was denied entry into the United States by the Immigration services after they discovered that he was being paid by Immortals while staying in the country under a tourist visa.

This is the reason why he was forced to sit out a number of ESL Pro League matches and also the team's ELEAGUE Premier group encounters, in Atlanta, where Raphael "cogu" Camargo filled in for him.

"They found out that I was playing for Immortals and that my work visa (which was delayed) was not ready," he explained.

"I was entering the country with a tourist visa... I was refused entry and I had to return to Brazil. I was held for two days before I could return."

Regarding the night before the DreamHack Montreal final, in which Immortals forfeited the first map after arriving late at the venue, kNgV- rejected suggestions that he, LUCAS1 and HEN1 were partying.

"zakk, HEN1, LUCAS1 and I were playing cards in the twins' room and talking about the match against CLG," he revealed.

"At 1 in the morning, zakk and I went to our room. I am going to be honest, I could not fall asleep and I only went to bed at 7.

"We woke up at 9.30 and we were already late for the match [against CLG]. After lunch, we decided to get some rest. We were only supposed to meet at 3.30 (the final was scheduled for 5pm).

"zakk was really sick, so he fell asleep, while HEN1 went to our room, where we watched the other semi-final. HEN1 also fell asleep, while I stayed up, and then steel messaged us saying that we would play one hour after that match.

"I knew that would be earlier than 5pm. I should have stayed up, but I thought I would be able to take a nap and we would have plenty of time because the first map of the semi-final was still being played.

"zakk and I woke up at 3.30, and we ran to the venue. We got there at 3.40, and, for the first time, we were late. It was just five minutes, it would have been good sense [to wait] to not ruin the final... Oh well, rules are rules.

"We were sad about everything and we also had to listen to all the jokes about us being drunk. We really like to party, but we did not go out that night.

"My reaction was obviously an impulsive one because it was a big lie. We were already being criticised and for something we had not done. 

"Losing a tournament because you slept in? That is very wrong, for sure, but losing because you were out drinking, that's a whole different story."

kNgV- also opened up about the strained relationship between the organisation and the team, and lamented the way that Immortals CEO Noah Whinston publicly handled his case.

"Obviously, our relationship was not good after the Major, we demanded a valuation that never happened, and then there was horvy's signing, with which most players did not agree," he noted.

"As Noah wrote, honor > all. Noah, honor would be you telling me that I was suspended, because, for me, honor was wearing your team's jersey with all my will and commitment.

"But unlike you, I am not here to judge you or criticise you. Just like me, you make mistakes, and I wish you all the best, for everything you did for us." 

The Brazilian player then admitted to being "sad" with the interview that Lucas "steel" Lopes and Ricardo "boltz" Prass gave shortly before their ELEAGUE Premier group matches in which they stated they were "not sure" that the remaining team members had been drinking the night before the DreamHack Montreal final.

Regarding the future of the team, kNgV- wrote that he would like the roster to stick together - even if under a new organisation -, but lamented that some of his teammates "preferred Immortals over the team." 

"I was sad about the video in which steel and boltz said they were not sure that we had gone out, that was f*cked up," he added.

"They knew we had not gone out. And they did not even thank me for the effort I made... Like it was my obligation after the issues with my visa.

"I really would like us to stay together, regardless of Immortals' help, which was really big, only the seven of us (the players, zakk and our video editor, Ricky) know what we went through to get that Major spot.

"Regardless of the organisation, we should stay together, but some people preferred Immortals over the team.

"I understand their decision, but, in my opinion, it was not the best one. Our team was very good and we had achieved the best results of all of our careers.

"Counter-Strike has always been my life. I have fought very hard to be here. I have always had this explosive temper.

"I was already upset about what had happened, and listening that we were hungover made me lose my temper. 

"I made a mistake. But that is not going to make me give up. The game is not over."

Following kNgV-'s departure, twin brothers HEN1 and LUCAS1 both asked to be allowed to leave the team, which forced Immortals to withdraw from the EPICENTER qualifier.

In a Reddit post, Mr. Whinston has revealed that he will make a public statement about the CS:GO team on Friday.