Chr1zN: "I wouldn't write us off in terms of becoming a really strong Train team from the get-go"
There's been a lot of change for OG in 2024, and as we approach 2025, the organisation still doesn't have a full roster.
However, back in August, they picked up what might prove to be one of the signings of the year, as they signed Chr1zN from MOUZ NXT.
The latest in a long line of top prospects to come from MOUZ's academy system, we spoke to the young IGL about his hopes and concerns for 2025, his time on OG so far, and the potential for Train to be added to the map poo.
"I have some concerns because I'm not sure how it will be for us with tournaments next year"
You joined OG in August, what's it been like in the first five months or so?
It's been good, I've enjoyed the time here so far and I'm impressed by a lot of the people I work with. I enjoy it a lot. I feel like we have a really good work environment, which I appreciate a lot.
Obviously, we were hoping for something different when it comes to results, but we're a newer team and we're trying to build ourselves up going into next year.
With what you said about results there, you've had a couple of losses you wouldn't have wanted, but you also had some decent wins at tournaments such as Thunderpick. How are you feeling about the level you've achieved so far?
I feel like we have a pretty high ceiling, but our problem at the moment is that we can fall pretty far, pretty fast. We lack consistency.
Of course, we've also been playing with four players, which hasn't made it easier. It's going to do a lot for us to be a full roster and be able to grind to fix mistakes faster than we can right now.
That said, overall I'm really happy with how we play when we're at our top level, we just have to work on that consistency.
Photo: OG EsportsAs you said you've been playing with four players but you've used M1key as a stand-in in that time, is that something that is likely to continue or will there be news on something more permanent soon?
There should definitely be some news soon, but I can't say much more than that.
The Major is on right now, which unfortunately you haven't been a part of, but do you think that not being there can actually be a benefit to you because you can practice more?
Both yes and no. Of course yes, but when you're a new team you learn a lot from playing officials and feeling pressure as a group, and I think we might be lacking that heading into the new year.
I also think it's nice that we get the time to practice and to strengthen our map pool now, before we jump into matches. There's two sides of the coin, so it's not that I mind it too much, but I would love to be playing the Major.
You mentioned the map pool there, have you been guessing at what map might come in after the Major to get better at it?
I have some hopes that we'll see Train, but I do think that the current state of it isn't optimal. I think they need to do a lot of changes to it, but I believe it will be a lot of fun if those changes come.
I also saw that they made some changes to Overpass, which I wouldn't mind them adding, but I wouldn't cheer for it as much as I would cheer for Train.
In terms of maps that could go out, Vertigo is overdue at this point, I think that Mirage could also go because it's been there for so long, or maybe Inferno too.
So if they add Train, can we expect OG to be the best Train team in the world because of all this extra practice?
I mean [laughs], it's hard to say, right? I never got to play it when it was in the map pool last time, so I don't have too much experience on it as a caller or as player, but it's a whole different map now so I wouldn't write us off in terms of becoming a really strong Train team from the get-go.
You mentioned that you don't think the map is optimal right now, what would you change about it?
There's a lot. I think they went overboard trying to make it more T sided, which I don't think is a bad way of going about it, but they went too far.
They need to change the way that the trains work on A, you can't play around them as much as you used to be able to because there aren't many places to go. It's also too easy for the T's to come out onto the A site, you don't have to fight for control.
When it comes to the B site, when you're standing in Connector you can see every angle on B, which is a problem because you can't hide as a T. They need to change a bit of the leveling of the trains and just some of the layout.
I think the new Popdog is nice, I enjoy it a lot, but I believe that both bombsites need to be changed.
Photo: OG EsportsLet's talk about 2025, we spoke to volt recently and he said he's concerned for teams outside of the top 32 with the new invite system, you're currently 65th on the Valve Ranking so do you have any concerns yourself?
I do, I think the big problem with how it's going to work is that it's a bit complicated. I understand how they're going to invite, but the way that the ranking works is weird considering how much it takes prizepool into account and not the level you're playing against.
It seems there's a lot of work for Valve to do, so I have some concerns because I'm not sure how it will be for us with tournaments going into next year.
But again, it's out of my control so I'll just have to wait and see like everyone else.
You spent a reasonable amount of time in MOUZ NXT which has produced a lot of talent, and we've also seen talent come out of NAVI Junior, Spirit Academy, Young Ninjas, and BIG Academy that have then gone onto tier one, what kind of motivation does that bring you now that you're with an organisation that will support you and allows you to play in Majors that you couldn't do previously?
Of course, it's a big step for me and it's something I've been looking forward to for a long time so it means a lot that I get to do it. The motivation to achieve great things also means a lot to me, so there's a lot of hours being put it.
Looking around and seeing all the other teams bringing up academy players doesn't surprise me. I've been playing a lot of the guys who are now on those teams, so I know how good they are. Looking back, you could always tell it was going to happen.
I think we're in a time in CS now that a lot of teams are going to bring in newer and less experienced players because of the skill ceiling getting a bit higher, people like b1t and m0NESY are some of the earlier ones that brought a whole new ceiling to tier one.
It's going to happen more and more throughout the next couple of years as we see some of the older players take steps back, and more academy players like PR, makazze, and kyousuke come into teams.
In terms of 2025, outside of playing at a Major, what are your hopes for the year?
Well, if I shouldn't say playing at a Major, then I'd say that I hope we move towards being in the top 30 as a team. I think, from looking at where we are now, it's going to be hard to move in that direction if you're not already there, so it would mean a lot to me if we make that happen.