HLTV Confirmed - Counter-Strike Podcast

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**HLTV Confirmed – Counter-Strike Podcast**

HLTV.org’s live talk show hosted by Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill dedicated to hot topics surrounding the professional Counter-Strike scene.

Catch us live here:
https://twitch.tv/hltvorg

Latest Episodes:

HLTV Confirmed S4E13 | kassad talks 100T future, former players NiKo & nexa, and how to beat ZywOo Mar 11, 2020

Show notes

https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed

Timestamps:

Hotseat with kassad

1:06 - Introducing kassad

1:40 - What do 100 Thieves do in LA?

2:42 - kassad on working on his team’s mentality

6:51 - Is there a specific goal to remain at the top?

7:56 - Is CS becoming more individualistic?

9:54 - Do 100 Thieves specifically prepare to face star players like ZywOo?

11:48 - How kassad started coaching and how his style has changed over time?

15:10 - What’s the outlook for kassad for 2020?

16:15 - What makes a good coach?

18:30 - How much does confidence matter?

19:30 - Were there any instances of potential rosters on the table?

Recent news

23:25 - MAD Lions bench HUNDEN

25:17 - “Something doesn’t add up” - kassad on HUNDEN’s situation

31:30 - AcilioN replacing HUNDEN. Is it good or bad?

36:07 - ALEX steps down from Vitality

43:50 - “I’m afraid that he made the wrong decision” - kassad

47:51 - AGO sign seventh player

Minors

51:00 - Overviewing the Minors

52:41 - Talking Europe Minor

54:18 - Surprises in the European Minor lineup

1:03:33 - Changes in the teams that didn't qualify?

EPL S11: Groups A and B

1:07:00 - EPL format and team list

1:09:45 - Group A: will Astralis prevail?

1:12:57 - Group B: will Na’Vi keep their pace?

1:17:40 - Talking EPL’s continuous LAN format

1:20:00 - Predicting the teams to top groups A & B

FLASHPOINT

1:24:40 - Team lineup still not finalized (but known?)

1:26:26 - Talking FLASHPOINT’s format and lineup

1:31:28 - The buy-in aspect

Playtime

1:39:25 - kassad on his fellow Serbian nexa playing in G2

1:41:26 - Can any player eventually become an IGL?

1:44:34 - Is it a problem for star player like NiKo to explain his view as an IGL?

1:46:10 - Economy, krieg, schedule, booths, Valve - good or bad?

1:52:07 - The final words from kassad

HLTV Confirmed S04E12 (ft. Nomad) | Can Na`Vi dominate in 2020? Coronavirus to impact more events? Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

Follow the show: ➡️https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed

Timestamps:

BO$$ Talk with Nomad

2:27 - What is Better Collective and what is the deal about?

3:40 - Does it mean HLTV will have more resources to develop?

5:38 - “They didn’t buy because they wanted to change something.” - Nomad

8:45 - “We’re 100% in control of this company” - Nomad addressing the concerns

9:42 - Is expanding to more games on the table?

12:33 - What’s coming up for HLTV?

14:13 - Will there be an open API for HLTV?

15:30 - Nomad addressing concerns of the potential removal of the forums

17:00 - Is a unified ranking possible?

19:19 - Nomad vs. Twitch chat

24:32 - Final words from Nomad

Recent news

25:45 - swag quits competitive CS:GO

28:32 - "Keeping them banned serves as a reminder" - SPUNJ

30:07 - Gen.G win DH Anaheim

37:15 - Minor change in AWP

Good, Bad, and Ugly

40:40 - Ugly: The crowd less spectacle

42:46 - How it was watching the event without viewers?

50:00 - Ugly: what more can ZywOo do?

54:00 - Striker: “Vitality never had a second star to ZyWoo”

59:00 - Good: The Na’Vi we have all been waiting for?

1:12:31 - Good: fnatic are rust-resistant

1:16:00 - Good: G2 and FaZe finding form

1:22:22 - Discussing the teams in the race for top-5

1:31:35 - Bad: mousesports stumble at the key event

1:35:00 - Bad: worrying signs for Astralis, Liquid and EG?

Playtime

1:39:00 - Discussing the bracket for the Europe Minor Closed Qualifier

1:42:40 - FLASHPOINT Global Qualifier projections

1:47:00 - The long-term impact of coronavirus on CS

https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed

https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt

https://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorg

https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS

https://twitter.com/SPUNJ

https://twitter.com/nomadhltvorg

HLTV Confirmed S04E11 (ft. NBK) | Will mouz be #1 after Katowice, how international team communication works Feb 22, 2020

Show notes

➡️ Get notified about the show: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed

📺 Join the discussion and watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg

🎧 Listen to audio podcast (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv

Timestamps:

1:10 - Introducing NBK

1:57 - Is Counter-Strike now different to what it used to be?

5:10 - What is the time frame for a team to succeed?

7:22 - NBK- explains how three big discussions after ICE developed OG

9:15 - NBK- plays down the "international team communication issues" theory

11:55 - A few rules of OG approaching the game

13:55 - What is NBK’s view on in-game leadership issue?

17:10 - The reasons behind poor performance of Astralis and other teams at BLAST

19:00 - OG’s agenda for the first half of the year

20:50 - Aleksib’s role in the team

Recent news

25:42 - “Crowd cheating” measures from Katowice

31:38 - “Fuck yeah!” - NBK on whether there should be info contamination by audience

35:35 - Complexity and GamerLegion fail Minor Qualifier

42:15 - c0ntact in talks with AcilioN?

45:44 - EPL, FLASHPOINT schedule and format - what is better

DreamHack Open Anaheim

56:37 - Who is most desperate for the DreamHack Anaheim win?

1:06:18 - Which squad is going to win and who will be the best long-term?

Smarter than Twitch chat

1:08:25 - NBK vs. the Twitch chat

IEM Katowice

1:16:30 - NBK on why he thinks IEM Katowice is a great event

1:19:10 - Will mouz win the event and become the world #1 team?

1:23:17 - Are EG and Liquid still in the trophy discussion?

1:30:20 - Which top 10 team will flop?

1:36:00 - Dark horses to make playoffs

1:42:15 - Who will make top-6?

Playtime

1:51:40 - Should player contracts be public?

1:55:00 - NBK shares his own perspective

1:59:00 - What could be improved in the transfer practices?

2:04:30 - The last few words from NBK

HLTV Confirmed S4E10 | Fifflaren on NiP retirement, coaching Dignitas, (un)realistic expectations Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

➡️ https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed

📺 Join the discussion and watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg

🎧 Listen to audio podcast (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv

Timestamps:

1:17 - Introducing Fifflaren

1:57 - Being a coach located in the US while the team is in Europe - how it is?

3:25 - How life has changed after Fifflaren’s retirement and how he ended up becoming Dignitas’ coach

8:13 - The story behind the old NiP roster reunion

15:59 - Fifflaren’s take on what has changed in the game since he left

17:43 - Dignitas’s results so far

22:05 - What are Fifflaren’s expectations from Dignitas

23:55 - Why hallzerk is going to work as team’s fifth?

28:00 - Will Fifflaren stay with the organization or the team if they happen to part ways?

29:27 - What it means being a coach and general manager at the same time?

FLASHPOINT

32:21 - Fifflaren’s first impression on FLASHPOINT

37:34 - “No one is making money” - Fifflaren on the issue of leagues’ financial sustainability

44:02 - “Everyone is trying to work out what’s the best model is” - SPUNJ

50:25 - How the concept of a $100,000 fine for being out of the top will affect the scene?

58:56 - Will the team owned league solve the issues the current tournaments have?

1:02:00 - The issues of the content quality

1:06:40 - SPUNJ responds to the community outcry

1:09:49 - Explaining the FLASHPOINT format

1:15:30 - Sharing opinions on the format

1:20:17 - Ex6tenZ, SmithZz retire

1:27:35 - mithR, Jumpy joins North

1:34:20 - Virtus.pro looking at n0rb3r7

1:40:00 - Good: Awakening of the Juggernaut

1:45:25 - Good: The Na’Vi we’ve been waiting for?

1:54:40 - Bad: Astralis in slumber

2:02:00 - Ugly: Vitality without peak ZywOo

2:14:50 - Talking about IEM Melbourne 2020

2:19:00 - Fifflaren on the dealing with toughness of schedule

HLTV Confirmed S4E9 (ft. ESL Carmac, Vitality apEX) | ESL Pro League changes, Vitality 2020 expectations Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

Connect with us: @HLTVconfirmed
Timestamps:
1:10 - Introducing Carmac

1:54 - Carmac sharing his history

3:20 - Explaining the EPL format

5:50 - Carmac on the reasons behind the changes in the format

8:09 - Are the changes caused by the "B Site"?

10:31 - Carmac talks about the business side of making a league

17:13 - What is the way ESL makes CS:GO events profitable?

24:16 - "If we had a complete monopoly ... , we would probably be, in relative terms, bathing in money" - Carmac

25:52 - When was the decision on the current format made?

28:41 - Why the changes in EPL happened with short notice comparing with Pro Tour?

31:25 - Carmac on the published graphic with teams and the negotiations rumors

35:07 - How the Member Teams are decided?

41:40 - How many teams will be partnered?

44:14 - How being a Member Team affects team's ESL ranking?

48:43 - Carmac's view on the Valve's Major ranking events

51:49 - Are the newly scheduled tournaments going to affect ESL events?

53:04 - What ESL is preparing for the Rio Major?

57:00 - How fast the tickets got sold?

58:00 - The last few words from Carmac and from the panel
1:00:18 - Introducing apEX

1:01:00 - Was removal of NBK tough decision to make?

1:02:20 - What was the biggest takeaway for apEX about 2019?

1:03:25 - Was there a clash in Vitality about a loss on the last Major?

1:04:56 - apEX talks about the motivation behind running own YouTube channel

1:06:10 - How important personal brand should be for young players?

1:07:47 - The goals of Vitality for the first months of 2020

1:10:15 - Who has the most potential to improve as fire power in the team?

1:11:30 - apEX on Dignitas being inspired by Vitality

1:12:22 - Why it's not possible to play a single role in CS:GO anymore?

1:15:38 - apEX's thoughts on the Major changes

Recent news

1:17:57 - apEX shares his opinion on the map update

1:19:40 - Are the changes positive?

1:21:50 - "From my personal view, at least, it's not changing much" - apEX on practicing on the updated maps

1:22:30 - "I'm confused why Valve are giving T's more things to do" - Striker

1:25:30 - "I think for me Mirage is T-sided map" - apEX

1:27:50 - apEX's view on Krieg and the overall gun situation in the game

1:29:18 - apEX on the economy changes

1:30:57 - Heretics invited to EU Minor Closed Qualifier

1:33:40 - Discussing the participants of EU Minor Closed Qualifier

1:36:02 - BIG, Dignitas run the Open Qualifier gauntlet

1:41:50 - ENCE's failure at ICE Challenge 2020

1:46:20 - "Objectively, [ENCE] were already on the downturn" - Professeur

1:49:55 - Reviewing Sergej's stats

1:53:37 - NBK-'s debut with OG

1:56:43 - NBK- calling the CT sides - can it be the issue?

1:59:33 - What is the highest peak of OG we will see?

2:04:01 - Is FaZe a contender at BLAST Premier?

2:07:47 - Vitality's group of death at BLAST

2:11:00 - Is it important to have a lot of official matches before going to bigger tournaments?

2:12:37 - Closing thoughtso lose a single map in his group?

1:12:37 - Closing thoughts

HLTV Confirmed S4E8 (ft. Semmler) | B site explained, ESL Pro League updates, BLAST Premier kick-off Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

Follow the show on Twitter for updates: @HLTVconfirmed
The discussion about CS:GO leagues continues with guest Auguste "Semmler" Massonnat, a spokesperson for B Site, with topics ranging from the business side of things (revenue share, sustainability, inflation) to how it will affect the Counter-Strike played and the viewers. The podcasts' panel also talks about ESL's PR blunder while downsizing Pro League, and looks at which teams are affected. Wrapping up the HLTV Confirmed episode is talk about the recently finished DreamHack Open Leipzig and the upcoming BLAST Premier group stage.
Timestamps

1:25 - Introducing Semmler

2:05 - Semmler on his return to CS:GO

2:57 - The difference between working on Overwatch League and CS:GO events

4:29 - What Overwatch League experienced gave to Semmler?

5:50 - Did Semmler always want to come back to CS:GO?

7:24 - What role in the broadcast Semmler is going to pursue?

9:56 - Semmler’s opinion on the changes that happened in the game

13:42 - Striker explains BLAST’s format

14:28 - How absence of mousesports and fnatic will affect BLAST Premier Spring

15:53 - Will BLAST set the tone for the season?

17:34 - SPUNJ shares some insights on the BLAST scheduling

18:58 - How important is BLAST in the 2020 schedule?

21:18 - Will the single organizer prevail in CS:GO?

25:30 - Discussing Group A of BLAST

27:14 - “I’m calling this right now: nawwk should be the primary AWP of NiP” - Striker

30:04 - Can MIBR return to the CS:GO elite?

33:33 - What does Semmler becoming the spokesperson for B Site mean?

37:50 - Semmler comments on lack of information about B Site

42:42 - How B Site is going to make money?

44:46 - Will the teams be able to return their massive investments for participating in B Site?

47:48 - How the teams who bought the franchise and who qualified will coexist within the model?

52:01 - What happens if B Site won’t get top teams right away?

55:55 - Do leagues in CS:GO work at all?

1:06:24 - What is known about B Site’s format now

1:08:48 - Few last questions for Semmler

1:13:02 - SPUNJ vs. Twitch chat

1:22:45 - Striker explains ESL Pro League drama

1:25:17 - ESL is trying to make the format more profitable. Is it good or bad?

1:29:20 - SPUNJ gives insight on the Oceanic teams

1:32:41 - Uncertainty with EPL Relegation system

1:36:02 - Announcing invited teams that are not confirmed - good or bad?

1:42:44 - Discussing the released list of the teams

1:48:22 - ESL’s apology - does it help?

1:54:04 - What power does CSPPA have?

1:59:58 - Prof: "CSPPA as an entity should watch out for this"

2:01:30 - SPUNJ: "We are already doing too much for players"

2:05:10 - Another full-on SPUNJ rant

2:14:40 - Good, Bad, Ugly: DreamHack Leipzig

2:14:50 - Good: BIG triumph with the new lineup

2:19:50 - Bad: No Danes in the final

2:26:57 - Ugly: Virtus.pro keep flunking

League warfare (ESL vs. B-site vs. BLAST), Major changes & 2020 schedule issues | HLTV Confirmed E4E7 (ft. FaZe YNk) Jan 24, 2020

Show notes

Follow the show on Twitter and give us feedback twitter.com/hltvconfirmed
Timestamps
Hotseat with YNk

1:26 — Welcoming YNk

2:09 — Plans for 2020

3:32 — The effect of victory at BLAST Pro Series 2019 and reflection on other results of the last year

5:14 — YNk on the consistency issues of FaZe

7:42 — What should we expect from broky?

9:32 — How the team change changed coldzera’s role and play style

11:57 — How CS:GO has changed in the last few years

14:38 — CS:GO at the moment: what is the number one issue?

16:23 — Sponsors’ hesitance about entering the CS:GO events sponsorship market

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