North and Heroic to do niko-mertz swap - Report

3/8/2018 - 12:11

North are in talks to obtain the services of Nikolaj "⁠niko⁠" Kristensen from Heroic, who in turn would welcome Daniel "⁠mertz⁠" Mertz, vpesports.com reports.

With the benching of mertz in early June, North have been on the lookout for a new fifth player, the Copenhagen based team even trying out an international roster at DreamHack Open Valencia, where they fielded Oscar "⁠mixwell⁠" Cañellas.

In spite of winning the Spanish event, North will seemingly opt to continue with an entirely Danish roster for now, with captain Mathias "⁠MSL⁠" Lauridsen commenting after DH Valencia that communicating in English was a tough challenge, and Valdemar "⁠valde⁠" Bjørn Vangså tweeting that playing with people who speak the same language is a 'top priority'.

In North, niko will get a chance to showcase his abilities at the Major

The move would leave North without a dedicated AWPer. Seeing as there are no obvious choices among snipers in the Danish scene, the alleged acquisition of niko could mean that MSL's troops could implement a style similar to the one used by Liquid, with the captain himself and Philip "⁠aizy⁠" Aistrup picking up the AWP intermittently.

According to vpesports.com, Heroic would receive AWP talent mertz from North in exchange for the 20-year old rifler. While certainly a promising, gifted sniper, mertz seems to lack tactical prowess, as MSL hinted at in an interview with HLTV.org during DreamHack Open Valencia.

At this point, it is unclear whether the trade deal is permanent or the players will be loaned out.

With the trade deal in place, the two Danish rosters would look as follows:

North
Mathias "⁠MSL⁠" Lauridsen
Philip "⁠aizy⁠" Aistrup
Valdemar "⁠valde⁠" Bjørn Vangså
Markus "⁠Kjaerbye⁠" Kjærbye
Nikolaj "⁠niko⁠" Kristensen

Heroic
Andreas "⁠MODDII⁠" Fridh
Adam "⁠friberg⁠" Friberg
Patrick "⁠es3tag⁠" Hansen
Asger "⁠AcilioN⁠" Larsen
Daniel "⁠mertz⁠" Mertz

Contacted by HLTV.org, North refused to comment on the reports, stating only that the line-up for DreamHack Masters Stockholm and the FACEIT Major will be announced on August 8.

Heroic > North

2018-08-03 12:11

22 replies

2018-08-03 12:12

10 replies

danish friberg i.imgur.com/FUp2tHb.png

9 replies

another 0iq roster change from MSL

2018-08-03 12:13

6 replies

We are uses to that

2018-08-03 12:16

1 reply

AcilioN-Kjaerbye switch soon MSLUL

2018-08-05 11:12

More than expected from MSLUL

2018-08-03 13:35

2018-08-03 13:50

As always. Now -MSL +Esetag , he's leading heroic better than Msl north so .. might work

2018-08-03 14:17

2018-08-04 17:32

and MODDII

2018-08-03 12:15

and moddi

2018-08-03 12:31

expected

+111111

2018-08-03 12:27

Definitely, especially now that they got rid of niko.

5 replies

Got rid of niko, by far their best player. Good logic, bro.

2018-08-03 15:59

4 replies

How would you know?

2018-08-03 16:03

3 replies

Because I bother to watch their matches when I can. He's their most talented player by a long margin and it's not even close lol Plus, statistics speak for itself too.

2018-08-03 16:05

i guess mertz is a good add cuz they need an awp

2018-08-04 09:53

He is right

2018-08-05 02:15

>Team Liquid

2018-08-03 12:32

Smh Herioc didn’t even qualify for the minor Borth at least has potential but Herioc literally lost their best players to Optic and picked up Friberg

2018-08-03 19:30

Yep

2018-08-04 09:48

Gg FaZe

+1 vlad1m1r Weird for faze to get rid of Bosnian Legend

8 replies

+1 YMCA

Im not czech im just in prag

2018-08-03 12:18

Do a glory hole shoot aaaxaxaxaxaxaxa

2018-08-03 12:20

Why not LUL axaxaxaxa

2018-08-03 12:25

Fake flagging cunt

2 replies

Your name is olter stfu

Ropzgod lul

2018-08-03 13:08

nt prodka

2018-08-03 12:34

nice

Why? Mertz did well recently didn't he?

20 replies

I dont get it either. Scene is very hard atm.. people just get switched and kicked

2018-08-03 12:33

16 replies

apparently he's not "tactically good" according to MSL

2018-08-03 12:49

15 replies

Expected from MSLUL

2018-08-03 14:49

MSL probably isn't "tactically good" enough according to MSL

2018-08-03 15:05

Sounds 'bout right

2018-08-03 15:12

MSL said he needed more experience in lower teams before he can really compete at this level. I agree with him. Mertz is talented, but he's too green for this level.

2018-08-03 16:00

11 replies

Heroic isn't much lower to be fair. But I see what he means

2018-08-03 16:12

They are, though. North are a top 10 team, Heroic are not even top 20.

2018-08-03 16:16

Yet heroic usually wins against North. EDIT: Just looked, heroic won last 6 maps they played against North

2018-08-03 16:31

Synes efterhånden North laver det ene dumme skifte efter det andet

2018-08-03 16:55

Indeed. Kicks magisk, now could be considered a top 10 player and is playing for the best team, Kicks cajunb and konfig leaves to create a danish super-ish team who haven't reached their potential yet.

2018-08-03 18:12

But none of that matters. Magisk being kicked, while he was a good player, he was far from performing at what he is now. And Valde for like 3 months was a great edition to the team and helped them win a tournament. Cajunb was in one of the worst forms of his career. And k0nfig wasn't kicked, he left the team on his own, probably because he thought Astralis would pick him up. Also, just a side note, your comment of "Heroic won their last 6 matches against North" is stupid because it was a completely different Heroic roster.

2018-08-04 04:46

You're ofc right with most of that. Yeah, konfig left, like i wrote. Though, last time heroic and North played, it was the exact same lineup as now. And yet heroic won 16 - 10.

2018-08-04 23:14

Last time they played Mixwell was standing in for North

2018-08-04 23:32

And acillion for heroic

2018-08-04 23:38

My fault, they signed him 2 days before.

2018-08-04 23:40

2018-08-04 07:41

Not the kinda AWPer North wanted I guess

2018-08-03 12:39

They wanted someone who can kill a lot and play smart. The latter is covered under MSL's leadership, but mertz is just way too fucking inconsistent. It's like the north of old where you just replace Magisk and k0nfig with Kjaerbye and valde and if the AWPer (cajun and now mertz) doesn't perform they just lose.

2018-08-04 10:09

I know that, I but it did get better

2018-08-04 10:45

Watafak why faze do that

friberg - danish??

And modii

So is MODDII haha

2018-08-03 12:14

Aizy main awp?!

MSL main awp

2018-08-03 12:37

OMEGALUL

2018-08-03 13:18

April fool :D

2018-08-03 13:51

I remember that the aizy played second awp. who, if not he

2018-08-03 14:19

LUL

xpected

Friberg and Moddii Denmark Flag?

Congrats on the new citizenship, MODDII and Friberg!

mertz saved, niko blazed

Friberg and moddi are danish LUL

reallllly

and who awps for north?

Aizy or niko

expected from brain mss

2018-08-03 12:30

friberg denmark lul

unexpected. We need mertz back.

Good for Mertz. Now he'll become a top class player like magisk,k0nfig and others who got kicked.

+1!!! MSL is just helping the gifted players as he know he restricts their full potential :D We just need him to let Valde go! :D

2018-08-03 13:52

That move is so stupid... Remove MSL and add niko, let mertz stay and let valde do the ingame leading, good and experienced player... MSLUL

2018-08-05 11:07

finally valde & niko duo back btw aizy still not kicked lmao

Friberg danish PogChamp

Are friberg and moddi danish now?

Well moddii has lived in Denmark for like 10 years at this point or smth

2018-08-03 12:21

danish friberg lul

didnt know moddi and friburger is from danks xD Kappa

Friberger Denmark flag?

friberg and moddii converted to danishbongs

MODDII Danish flag PogChamp

nvm fixed

Heroic Denmark Andreas "MODDII" Fridh Denmark Adam "friberg" Friberg Denmark Patrick "es3tag" Hansen Denmark Asger "AcilioN" Larsen Denmark Daniel "mertz" Mertz

Friberg turned into a dane ?? :O

Friberg and Modii danish?

Denmark Adam "friberg" Friberg

aizy the new awper or what? now that he is finally in a good form with the rifle? North is just a mess

did friberg and moodi betray Sweden?

Finally danish citizenship Friberg and MODDII, congrats!

Aight, North is low key Epic with that squad cuz They Will have 4 awesome riflers and msl to lead them lul

Friberg from Denmark now?

Friberg and modii Danish? Expected

MODDI AND FRIBERG DANISH?!?!

2018-08-03 12:17

lol

no awper ? gj north 10 iq

Will be funny if this gonna work for NiP and North on Major

2018-08-03 12:22

nip have lekr0 and f0rest they can play awp very well but north ?? who maybe back to MSL ?

2018-08-03 12:23

sometimes aizy would pick up the awp

2018-08-03 13:10

Niko > mertz but this trade is good for heroics's own good

2018-08-03 12:19

very nice but who will awp in north

Thank mr. Adanish Friberg

Who is AWPer in North?

its like the are trying to trash the team on purpose man wtf

Seems a good move

2018-08-03 12:24

Actually sick lineup by North but they don't have a sniper

good play

and aizy still in the lineup ahhahahaha that guy must be amazing at sucking gaySLs cock

2018-08-03 13:53

RiP FaZe

2018-08-03 12:26

niko>NiKo

2018-08-03 12:29

Good move

good for heroic bad for north

Ez 4 heroic

2018-08-03 12:38

what

2018-08-03 12:40

mertz was doing really well wtf,, I hate danish roster-changing. But worth swap, still better than when they bench magkiskboy and k0nfig

2018-08-03 12:41

Who is going to awp for north now

2018-08-03 12:43

CUCKFIG

2018-08-03 12:55

Mertz carrier ruined ?

2018-08-03 12:45

more like north carrier ruined

2018-08-03 16:09

Danish shuffle happening

2018-08-03 12:48

pls god no. awp on msl its fucking useless like fallen twofaced toledo

2018-08-03 12:50

no awp,nice move lmao,so useless

2018-08-03 12:51

It'll be interesting to see if North can develop strategies around this AWP dilemma they now face. Liquid is managing very well without an AWP'er so North possibly could too. They definitely have some firepower in that lineup now. niko is a quite good and rather underrated player.

2018-08-03 12:52

-aizy +cadian -aizy +natosaphix

what the fak

2018-08-03 13:11

so... heroic doesn't have a rifler/star rifler, north doesn't have an awper... o boi I love the danes

2018-08-03 13:12

2018-08-03 13:13

North don't have sniper anymore?

new nip remove ur sniper

2018-08-03 13:28

Unlucky for Heroic, they are 4th dannish team, so those 2 out of 3 teams above just stealing their players everytime they need any change.

2018-08-03 13:20

stupid decision they should've picked nato to be their main awp, niko is another rifler..

2018-08-03 13:37

NaTo isnt ready for t1

2018-08-03 18:51

But north isn't a t1 team They are t2 or t3

2018-08-03 21:26

Well obviously they want to become t1 and if they do they need someone who is better than natosaphix

2018-08-04 12:18

Sign acillion over cromen, trade niko for mertz.. Heroic is doing everything in their power to become worse and worse...

2018-08-03 13:41

i want to see event with just Astrails , Noth , Optic , and Heroic (maybe add fnatic and NIP) the event name should be King of Nordic... oh wait

They need awp WTF North

2018-08-03 13:45

MSL will awp north #1 ez

They need igl who can think

2018-08-03 21:25

2018-08-03 13:46

Moddii moved to Denmark during 1.6 days because of his Danish girlfriend

ez faze top1

2018-08-03 13:57

Interesting strategies inc . mertz was average - .He wanted to push above his limit and sometimes that costed a lot. He had some amazing plays and some lucky plays as well .Lets wait and see how it will go , MSL used to AWP long time ago if im not mistaken

2018-08-03 14:23

Niko left Faze for this OMEGALUL

2018-08-03 14:26

2018-08-03 14:33

It looked promising right up until they mentioned that MSL would be the awper Its still not a bad lineup persay, but I'm struggling to believe that MSL could have the impact nitr0 or chrisj do

2018-08-03 14:29

But why?

Looking forward to see Niko in the squad! - Such a skilled gamer! - Best man on OpTic yesterday in the SS qual!

2018-08-03 15:22

Who will awping????

2018-08-03 15:29

msl

2018-08-03 18:50

I didn't see that many games of North, but I don't remember Mertz being the worst player on the team. I feel like with the proper igl he would be a really good asset to a team.

2018-08-03 15:45

Msl and aizy awping XDDDDDDDDDD

2018-08-03 16:10

Heroic is a dead team and needs to disband

2018-08-03 16:14

North is dead team too until they have msl

2018-08-03 21:23

+North -Heroic (good swap for North)

2018-08-03 16:30

gg hero :D

what is north actually doing lately, who is going to awp lol xD is msl going back on it?

2018-08-03 16:33

I can only see North improving because mertz hasn't brought anything to the team and has only been a burden. They can go like Liquid and have someone like MSL or Aizy pick up the awp, or run a 5 ak lineup, which is perfectly viable for a tactical team.

2018-08-03 16:56

The thing its u cannot compare nitro to bot aizy or msl

2018-08-03 20:50

Yeah that's why the team will most likely still be shit. What they need is a competent IGL because they have the talent in Kjærbye, Valde, and now niko.

2018-08-03 21:16

2018-08-03 21:22

i think after major its time for a big change in north,they should release both aizy and MSL North valde North Kjaerbye North niko North NaToSaphiX / dragonfly North torben / syncrone

2018-08-03 22:43

omg, nice, niko is so good

2018-08-03 17:46

ez sticker

2018-08-03 17:51

another L for north

2018-08-03 18:03

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not another wasted talent in this shit team rip valde rip niko msl needs to stop this madness

2018-08-03 18:21

Valde Talent pick one

2018-08-07 20:19

Discount niko

2018-08-03 18:25

Msl said: "We wanna awper who can kill a lot" But now there is no awpers in roster. WTF? Lul P.S rip niko in this shit team with shit igl

budget and garbage niko.

2018-08-03 21:27

welp, end of nikos career i guess :/ north is shit

2018-08-04 08:01

Nice scam by north

2018-08-04 10:32

I like how everyone is lamenting this as a shit move lmao mertz didn't impress and he wasn't north's hard carry. He was good for like 2 weeks and then became wildly inconsistent, yet all of you are talking as if he was s1mple in Na'Vi for North. In fact 80% of the time if you want to talk about carries valde and kjaerbye were so much more consistent than him, even though kjaerbye took some time to settle in. You wanna flame North for kicking k0nfig and Magisk? Sure, k0nfig is debatable because of his personality, skillwise no question it was an idiotic move. Magisk's kicking was literal fucking retardation as well. Now North goes and replaces a wildly inconsistent AWPer that has failed to live up to his potential in the MONTHS he has been given for a stable talented and proven player and you guys are flaming them? Fucking bullshit.

2018-08-04 13:41

As if North weren't big enough chokers as they are already

2018-08-07 20:18