Only a fool, an addict or a billionaire would ever bet against Shox — no matter the opponent. Consistently lighting up scoreboards and top 20 lists alike, Shox has time and time again declared candidacy to be one of the greatest individual players of CS:GO history. The past few years of history have seldom seen a time where any analyst could comfortably declare a win of any team over a roster with Shox in it.

And as a player so celebrated, Shox was no stranger to his fair share of titles. Dreamhack Malmo 2017, the ESL Pro League Finals in early 2017, the first ECS finals in 2016 were amongst many titles he was able to claim. In fact, his name had already been etched into Counter-strike history as a champion of a Valve major as early as 2014 where Dreamhack Winter saw NiP being rocked out of the grand finals in a stunning 2–1 match where LDLC was able to cement themselves as the champions of CS:GO.

But after a top four placing at ESL One Katowice in 2015, Shox found himself in need for a change of leadership from underneath Happy. Ex6tenz welcomed the godlike French players with open arms and Titan’s roster to be the new star in the stead of KennyS — a godlike French player himself. Unfortunately, no-one without a crystal ball, a touch of dementia and enormous prophetic powers could have predicted what was in store for Shox next.

The group of death at ESL One Cologne 2015. The Major that was predecessor of terrible things to come. Fnatic, Na’Vi and Titan: all in one group. Losing in a tragic overtime loss to Na’Vi, Shox and co. dropped down to the lower bracket where they were one game away from elimination … And then the gods of counter-strike themselves bestowed a gift upon them. The next team they would have to face? A renegades roster that had no business playing at the top level of competition — still being lead by Spunj at the time. What followed though, was a horrific 16–9 beating where Titan had the ground swept away from underneath their feet.

ESL One Cologne 2015: dead last. Maps won: 0.

But surely, one major tournament could not have signified anything, especially when you remember that RpK was forced out of retirement to adjust to the new style of Global Offensive. And French fans rejoiced, as Titan qualified for Cluj Napoca once again and were able to edge out NiP — still then considered an excellent team — 16:13 to start things out. But hell hath no fury like that of a struck down Swede in 2015. NiP found themselves reacquainted with Titan in the lower bracket of the group — courtesy of VP demolishing Titan — and were able to decimate the French in a bo3 with Dust 2 being the site of execution as a 16–1 finish reminded the French crew of their place.

How many group of deaths could you possibly receive though? How long could you be on the cusp of breaking through without quite making it? Very long apparently. A union of Shox and Scream was formed under the banner of G2 and MLG Columbus rolled around in 2016. Unfortunately, yet again G2 were unable to pass the test of Polish steel, as their group saw them losing out first a single map, and the subsequent bo3 revenge match that they received.

Superstitions and desperation riding high, Ex6tenz was exiled from the top tiers of Counter-Strike to go back to the trenches — never to be seen again for fear of the ‘Ex6tenz curse’ returning to ensure a swift elimination in the group stages of a major. A promising youth by the alias of Bodyy was picked up and Shox put on his thinking hat and decided to put his best foot forward as ingame leader of the second best French team.

Despite more question marks surrounding the team than in the conversation of a teenager who just found out that her best friend just had her first kiss, Shox and Scream were able to transcend to a level of play that gave hope to a new dark horse contender who could prove to be the champion of the French scene in the era of a declining EnvyUs. RpK was accruing form, Bodyy showed promised and Smithz…. Well, Smithz was Smithz.

Cologne 2016 rolled around — the last major given to ESL — and one of the deadliest groups in all Major history rolled into existence. SK Gaming — the champions of the previous major, Fnatic — still one of the greatest teams in the game despite Olof’s decline in form since his injury, Faze — a mix of pure skill and unpredictability and G2 — our unwitting protagonists who were destined to lose first to SK only to face a Fnatic that had been upset by Faze that would knock them out dead last of the major yet again.

It really did seem as if the superstar’s poor luck at group stages would never end as again, as the Eleague Major in 2017 saw them eliminated through losses to Virtus Pro, Astralis and North. The finalists of the overall event and a team that would go on to cement itself as the ultimate gatekeeper team to the top 3 spots in world Counter-Strike.

Enough was enough. Envyus had fallen further than ever before, and Shox still hadn’t made a major. It was time for a French coalition unlike any other seen before. The superteam was born: Shox and KennyS finally had their destinies intertwine as both star players joined forces to take on the world. The newest iteration of G2 was formed with much hue and cry predicting the return of French dominance that had once been seen.

But it was not to be. Despite winning two titles, this iteration of G2 was just struck with the worst economic decisions seen in a very long time — and after years of dominance the unthinkable happened. Shox’s form started to decline. Ingame leading the team was taking its toll on him. It seemed that the end was near as G2 were eliminated by a Fnatic that was struggling to fight through the major themselves. Despite a better group than they had seen in years, G2 wasn’t able to get it done.

And now, as months progressed from the major, analysts started to write G2 off. The emergence of Faze, resurgence of SK and consistency of Astralis lead people to believe that the French simply could not gain a grip over their economic management and the situation could not be bettered until the introduction of a proper ingame leader to allow Shox back to his old form.

What no-one realized, was that the beast was stirring. Shox was cracking knuckles and grinding his teeth in frustration as he saw his own form fall further and further into the trenches — all for the sake of a team that was not winning. Enough was enough. The Boston Major of 2018 rolled around and was greeted by Shox wearing the guise of the grim reaper himself.

Six to nothing. Not a single match lost. Averaging only 6.8 rounds forfeited per map, Shox is here to play. Now, with Astralis being eliminated, he faces his two biggest hurdles in SK and Faze respectively. SK, a team which has infamously been susceptible to G2’s play and Faze, a lineup who matches up poorly map-for-map against the Frenchmen.

Now, back to the world stage at the playoffs of a Major, the new Napoleon of Counter-Strike is poised to take it all. Only a fool, an addict or a billionaire would bet against Shox and G2.

For in the end, all must fall to the reaper.