HLTV Confirmed - Counter-Strike Podcast

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Astralis keep losing, RMR rule drama, Vitality & Falcons rumors | HLTV Confirmed S7E8 Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

The RMR results, Major-less Astralis getting fined by ESIC, mid-RMR rulebook change sets BIG back, Opening Stage Pick'Em, roster rumors, and more in this episode featuring hawka. ➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop 0:00 - Intro 3:41 - Welcoming hawka aka Striker replacement Recent news 5:33 - Hall of Fame announced! 9:00 - ESIC ruling on Astralis BLAST sub 15:02 - FalleN’s tweet RMR debrief 18:10 - Rating RMRs: viewing, surprises, controversy 22:51 - Mid-RMR changes controversy 31:50 - How much cinema was at the RMR? 35:27 - RMR numbers 36:55 - Asia RMR teams; will Mongolz get support? 39:46 - Americas: Wildcard over M80 44:08 - RMR upsets: EF, Sangal, B8, Nemiga 50:35 - RMR surprises: Sashi, CZ teams, Passion UA 56:20 - Astralis 4th Major missed 1:02:20 - Are these the last RMRS? 1:02:55 - RMRs of the past - Skinionaire 1:16:14 - Looking back at What Are The Odds Major preview 1:18:55 - Will BIG make the top 16? WATO 1:25:54 - Who’s in the title contention? 1:36:35 - Opening matches overview Opening Stage Pick’Em 1:40:30 - Rare Atom, The MongolZ 1:41:50 - Liquid 1:43:20 - FURIA, VP 1:45:50 - Complexity, paiN, MIBR 1:49:25 - FlyQuest, Wildcard 1:50:30 - Passion UA 1:52:40 - C9, GL, misc Roster rumors 1:56:40 - Vitality rumors: Spinx, apEX 2:01:34 - Jimpphat to Falcons? 2:03:35 - device to Falcons?! 2:06:00 - s1mple status & post-Major shuffle HLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. https://twitter.com/hawka_cs https://twitter.com/SPUNJ https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt #HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

Who will make Shanghai Major? Big RMR preview ft. Trav | HLTV Confirmed S7E7 Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

Big preview of Shanghai Major RMRs: who's locked in to go through and who's under risk of not making it? Discussing this in great detail as well as BLAST World Final results, CS2 update, and Mongolz's surprising surge in Valve ranking. ➡️ Follow us for updates: / hltvconfirmed 📺 Watch live: / hltvorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop

0:00 - Intro

3:13 - There’s more content!

5:00 - Striker keeps on stealing…

7:55 - New map before the Major?!BLAST World Final

10:06 - Underwhelming grand final

13:22 - Top 1 conversation

16:00 - Singapore impressions

17:55 - G2 another win

23:10 - NiKo & m0NESY rivalry?

27:02 - “MOUZ’s result is the worst” - Prof

Recent news

31:34 - Mongolz reach #5 VRS - WTF?!

51:10 - CS update

Americas & Asia RMRs

59:41 - Introducing Trav!

1:03:05 - Trav takes Skinionaire

1:10:33 - RMR format

1:12:45 - Asia RMR: who goes through?

1:19:38 - TALON: any chance for them?

1:23:34 - Americas RMR: format & (bad) time zones

1:24:50 - Complexity: can they crumble?

1:28:30 - BESTIA: upset potential?

1:33:22 - FURIA: set to go through?

Europe RMRs

1:43:50 - Overview

1:46:35 - UNiTY, Rebels, ECLOT

1:50:25 - Nemiga, Sangal, B8

1:55:20 - Aurora, 9 Pandas

1:58:43 - NIP, GL, Passion UA2:04:20 - TSM, PARIVISION

2:08:17 - Sashi, SINNERS, BIG

2:14:25 - BB, NAVI, FaZe, Astralis, C9

2:19:21 - Vitality, Spirit, G2

2:23:07 - EF, SAW, MOUZ

2:28:45 - Falcons, 3DMAX, VP

2:34:23 - HEROIC, fnatic

2:41:25 - WATO: top 10 to miss out?
2:47:26 - Prof shows & tells HLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. / travcs / spunj / strikerhltvorg / professeur_cs / lukaswiinholt #HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

olof, friberg, and THREAT live from Stockholm | HLTV Confirmed S7E6 Nov 02, 2024

Show notes

In a special episode brought to you from Red Bull GIBAWAY in Stockholm, we catch up with the Swedish veterans olofmeister, friberg, THREAT to talk about the state of the scene as well as natu to touch on the businessy side of esports. ➡️ Follow us for updates: / hltvconfirmed 📺 Watch live: / hltvorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop

0:00 - IntroTHREAT of NIP

3:25 - We’re live from Adult GIBAWAY

4:35 - Introducing THREAT - the BEAR

5:45 - MisteM the newcomer; REZ the veteran

10:10 - NIP’s view on the ranking

16:43 - xKaspercky joining ENCE

21:21 - Economy takes

26:35 - Invites vs. open quals

31:43 - Is NIP a Swedish team?

38:33 - What is THREAT’s routine?

41:50 - Incideary vs. molotov

43:15 - Are national teams done?

friberg & olofmeister

49:50 - olof and friberg join!

52:55 - Missing competing

57:20 - Where is CS now?1:05:00 - Top 3 race

1:06:51 - Could Swedish scene be better?

1:10:25 - Has culture changed in pro CS?

1:17:40 - “Map pool never been worse” - olof

1:23:27 - Hall of fame? Nicest person in Sweden?

1:28:35 - “I miss national teams” - friberg

1:32:10 - “Fuck stats!” - friberg

1:34:25 - friberg tells FIfflaren story

1:37:47 - olof & friberg build Swedish lineup

1:41:40 - RobbaN & personalities in CS1:49:42 - Hair transplant insights1:51:15 - olof & friberg take Skinionaire

natu of ENCE2:00:42 - Winning Elisa Masters

2:06:05 - Learning in CS:GO & CS2

2:07:43 - Valve vs. other devs

2:13:09 - Keeping in touch with CS2:22:00 - 2025 plans and expectations

2:26:11 - Thorin & RL coming to Elisa

2:31:21 - Some final words

HLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. / threat_cs / fribergcs / olofmeister / natu / spunj / strikerhltvorg / professeur_cs / lukaswiinholt #HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

s1mple with Falcons: first matches & future | HLTV Confirmed S7E5 Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

Going in-depth on s1mple's return with Falcons: the first games, how sensible is the change, s1mple's stats, what is up next for the team, and could s1mple and NiKo co-exist on a single team. Other topics are CS2 update, BLAST World Final, and SAW not falling off despite the change.➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed📺 Watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltvHLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place:📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop0:00 - Show intros1mple & Falcons7:53 - s1mple back: first impressions15:01 - s1mple’s first 7 maps performance23:15 - Falcons: NiKo + s1mple?29:52 - Falcons to keep 3? Who?Recent news40:05 - Jump bug fix (again?)44:21 - Golden new SAW coach49:35 - SAW win Katowice51:22 - BLEED split up & jkaem to BCGame55:11 - kyousuke aka CEMEN_BAKIN1:00:30 - SPUNJ shows the roomBLAST World Final1:03:00 - Skinionaire: BLAST WFs1:10:34 - BLAST World Final1:13:46 - B1ad3 on team leadership1:22:10 - huNter- on the “elephant in the room”1:27:06 - donk interview1:28:43 - NiKo didn’t end up being an IGL1:30:06 - Another NAVI final? WATO1:38:52 - DRILLAS non-Asian core1:40:17 - World Final storylines1:42:57 - cadiaN has an injury?1:44:33 - Chad’s Singapore childhood storyHLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike.https://twitter.com/SPUNJhttps://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorghttps://twitter.com/Professeur_CShttps://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt#HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

Everything wrong with CS events in 2025 | HLTV Confirmed S7E4 Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

Gamechanger episode (ft. Complexity's GM messioso) about all the ways the new Valve rules will impact the 2025 circuit: Valve ranking, invites, qualifiers, rev share schemes, prize pools, limits on roster changes, event fines, breaks, and the BLAST & ESL against the rest split, and more! ➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop 0:00 - Show intro 3:43 - What is this show about? 7:45 - Skinionaire (tech issues) 16:15 - Valve ranking (VRS) explained 30:15 - Invites based on VRS 34:45 - How prize pools affect ranking 41:05 - ESL & BLAST rev share in 2025 58:47 - Why no open quals in 2025?! 1:09:02 - Reviewing the calendar 1:19:20 - The problem with Valve qualifiers rules 1:23:46 - SPUNJ addresses Valve 1:26:50 - Event fines: should they be public? 1:35:32 - BLAST token incentives 1:43:39 - Wildcard invite rules 1:47:10 - PGL vs. BLAST & ESL 1:53:02 - Rev share role 2:05:50 - Core changes & COUPS 2:13:35 - How many quals in 2025? 2:18:12 - Is the circuit more closed now? 2:27:18 - “I wouldn’t play local quals” - messioso 2:33:15 - PGL event to have six top 10 teams? 2:45:52 - Tournament breaks future? 2:51:19 - What is yet to be announced? 3:03:15 - Most prize pool ever? 3:05:25 - Binding invites HLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. https://twitter.com/messioso https://twitter.com/SPUNJ https://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorg https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt #HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

32-team Major, NAVI win again, G2 fall flat, Rating 2.1 explained | HLTV Confirmed S7E3 Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

NER0 joins HLTV Confirmed to discuss the addition of Rating 2.1 and what it means, IEM Rio results including another NAVI win and disastrous G2 run, BLEED being UNPAID, 32-team Major, RMRs being no more, and the new partner system shaping up. ➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop 0:00 - Show intro 5:35 - RedBull Gibaway on Nov 1-3! IEM Rio 8:26 - Are we NAVI haters?! 11:41 - G2: reality is kicking in 14:35 - NAVI win despite the fatigue 25:51 - Contracts expire before the Major 28:02 - MOUZ - improved or not? 33:54 - G2 debacle & voice comms 39:55 - “G2 has no future & no present” - Prof 42:55 - “G2 is the least coachable team” - SPUNJ 47:05 - FURIA & Heroic - what did we learn? 51:34 - iM MVP explained! 56:23 - No Rio next year: Brazil events problem? 1:04:48 - Major return to Rio? 1:01:25 - SPUNJ’s alt?! Forums 1:12:21 - NER0 takes in Skinionaire (Brazil events) Recent news 1:19:38 - Rating 2.1 explained: why & how? 1:30:50 - Why no economy in HLTV Rating? 1:50:10 - BLEED s(h)ituation & UNPAID 1:55:26 - SAW lose arrozdoce, Berry 1:59:52 - 32-team Major explained 2:07:40 - Why is it bad? Scales issue 2:15:30 - RMRs being removed: why it’s bad 2:23:43 - Post-partner system: not gonna work? 2:41:50 - Jame 1.05+ rating at the RMR? - WATO 2:49:58 - Elisa Masters Espoo preview HLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. https://twitter.com/NER0cs https://twitter.com/SPUNJ https://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorg https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt #HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

Will s1mple improve Falcons? G2 first trophy with Snax | HLTV Confirmed S7E2 Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

Talking through s1mple's comeback for Falcons and what we should expect of it as well as BLAST Fall Final performances including G2's first win with Snax, m0NESY's MVP, NAVI's finals streak, Spirit disappointing, FaZe surprising, and the Astralis-BLAST controversy. ➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop

0:00 - Show intro 3:00 - Striker’s gyatt… but no leaks! 6:11 - 2024 is a crazy year! BLAST Fall Final 15:30 - G2 win in Copenhagen! 17:13 - NiKo’s clutch & table hit 24:21 - Snax is on HooXi level? 35:45 - m0NESY MVP & Top 3 race 39:30 - NAVI: fatigue? 43:50 - The IGL protest 47:50 - BLAST-Astralis situation 54:56 - BLAST Fall Final impressions 57:45 - Astralis debut 1:07:10 - More on protests 1:12:40 - Spirit flop & zont1x interview 1:20:15 - BLAST was a good event to watch 1:27:01 - FaZe is not bad! Recent news 1:33:00 - Prof takes Skinionaire 1:39:39 - s1mple loaned to Falcons 1:54:29 - Can s1mple & NiKo team up? 1:55:25 - Will s1mple best SunPayus? WATO 2:01:40 - Aim performance chart IEM Rio 2:06:30 - Event overview 2:08:14 - Will EF keep up? No final for NAVI?

Astralis cadiaN scandal, NAVI win EPL with naugthy crowd | HLTV Confirmed S7E1 Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

New-look Confirmed is back to talk through everything important about NAVI winning EPL over EF as well as Astralis signing cadiaN and surrounding controversy. ➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop 0:00 - Intro 3:00 - New season, new look! ESL Pro League 9:00 - EPL crowd controversy (+rant) 25:20 - SPUNJ on EPL issues 32:36 - The best EPL ever? 34:02 - Reluctancy on interviews 36:44 - Prof on EPL final: "Better than Cologne" 38:14 - EPL vs. EF: great game! 48:51 - SPUNJ on DHL MVP award 53:58 - iM: star player level? 55:45 - jL: running for top 5? 59:03 - EF’s impressive run 1:03:18 - XANTARES top 20 candidate? 1:06:25 - EF’s bracket run 1:08:23 - MAJ3R clutch situation (more rant) 1:12:12 - MIBR stepping up, Lucaozy reports 1:15:42 - SPUNJ takes Skinionaire 1:22:56 - Snax’s fragging is "actually horrendous" 1:24:47 - Spirit’s horrible match cadiaN to Astralis 1:29:01 - Astralis sign cadiaN 1:32:08 - Was cadiaN NOT the first option? 1:34:25 - Astralis considered non-IGLs?! 1:40:26 - +cadiaN makes no sense! 1:46:34 - Will Astralis play Heroic style? 1:49:30 - Emergency sub situation 1:57:20 - Roster locks should be changed 2:06:04 - RMR roster locks 2:09:01 - Was br0’s "illness" falsified? Recent news 2:23:34 - nawwk to fnatic 2:28:45 - OG & ENCE 2:31:02 - Will Astralis play on stage? WATO 2:37:04 - BLAST quick preview HLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. https://twitter.com/SPUNJ https://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorg https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt #HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

DRILLAS to RMR, 2025 circuit problems | HLTV Confirmed S6E115 Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

Talking about the RMR team list being finalized, including ohnePixel's DRILLAS making it to Shanghai, as well as 2025 circuit issues: massive schedule, Valve ranking implications, lack of open quals, etc.

➡️ Follow us for updates: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop 0:00 - Podcast intro 4:55 - BB Dacha… snoozefest? Recent news 6:51 - XQTZZZ candid about Vitality 13:11 - Valve Ranking on HLTV 19:41 - M80 rebrand 20:23 - DRILLAS made it to the RMR 24:55 - Does ohne pays his team? 26:27 - Far East Russian team to RMR 28:14 - TALON 30:15 - TYLOO lose to Rare Atom 33:25 - Americas RMR 38:41 - DRILLAS make the Major? WATO 2025 circuit 44:46 - Prize pools & money 53:25 - Equal treatment to teams 1:03:03 - Skinionaire: 2025 events 1:14:42 - SLTV to host Budapest Major?! 1:16:12 - 2025 calendar overview 1:26:34 - Will production get worse? 1:32:06 - Talent exclusivity 1:37:00 - Open quals & Major invites 1:42:23 - “I told Valve TOs wouldn’t do open quals” - Striker 1:47:41 - New teams to the Major? BB Dacha 2:01:00 - BB Dacha takes 2:04:35 - electroNic and VP - an issue? AMA 2:09:04 - Cannibalize a top 10 team 2:14:21 - Transfer after Shanghai 2:17:43 - MVP value of Dacha 2:19:16 - Liquid woes HLTV Confirmed is a Counter-Strike (CS2) talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as s1mple, device, ropz, Twistzz, karrigan, smooya, dupreeh, cadiaN, Pimp, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. https://twitter.com/SPUNJ https://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorg https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt #HLTVConfirmed #podcast #cs2

NiKo to Falcons reports, RMR qual scandal, Spirit won't change | HLTV Confirmed S6E114 Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Talking through the reports about NiKo going to Falcons and the implications for both Falcons and G2. In other topics are chopper saying Spirit are staying together, PARIVISION disqualification overturned, RMR qual and BLAST results. ➡️ Follow us for updates: / hltvconfirmed 📺 Watch live: / hltvorg 🔊 Listen to audio (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is presented by 1xbet & Skin Place: 📗 1xbet: https://cropped.link/hltvtwb 🔪 Skin Place: https://p.skin.place/hltv5 👕 HLTV Merch: https://hltv.org/shop 0:00 - Podcast intro

2:51 - Chit chat

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