Alexandre ”bodyy” Pianaro. Foto: Hltv.org

As yet another shuffle struck the French CS:GO scene, 19-year old Alexandre ”bodyy” Pianaro was given his first big shot in a top team.

Ever since, G2 Esports have continued show new found strength, both online and offline.

– We want to show the world what we are capable of, bodyy, says to Aftonbladet Esport.

Alexandre ”bodyy” Pianaro have been one of the pieces that have made French G2 Esports go from a seemingly struggling squad to a team that time and time again have proven to be capable of beating many of the top teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

The 19-year old frenchman got his first opening to play on a professional level after a series of unfortunate events. As he realized that the university major he had picked wasn’t for him, bodyy dropped out and took a ”normal” job. What followed was the opportunity of a life time, as Team LDLC approached him with an offer for him to play on their team.

– They gave us the chance to live off playing Counter-Strike, so I haven’t continued my studies yet. I recently moved out of my mom’s flat and I’m living with my amazing girlfriend in the south of Spain, close to the beach, and I really enjoy it, bodyy tells Aftonbladet Esport.

Fresh blood in the top french hemisphere

Six months passed, and another infamous shuffle hit the French scene. Bodyy saw his team mate, Timothée ”DEVIL” Démolon, get picked up by the defending major champions, Team EnvyUs, and now his own team were in dire straits to say the least.

However, soon came the next big announcement: Kevin ”Ex6TenZ” Droolans, the then longest standing member of G2, was forced out. As the veteran left the squad, a new door opened for bodyy to play on the team – and he immediately took the chance.

– When they approached me I was so happy and motivated to have the chance to be part of a top team. From an in­-game point of view, they are four amazing players, and one nice manager, that I used to watch on streams and wish to play with. I didn’t know the players before, and, to be fair, they’re really cool. I would say that I’ve been adapting to the team very well.

As the countries two top teams were joined by new talents, LDLC were in trouble. Soon, however, came the announced that Ex6TenZ were to put together a new squad under the LDLC banner. According to bodyy, who have played along side most of the people in Ex6TenZ’s new team, there’s a lot of potential to harvest in the scene.

– I played against the whole french subtop for two years, and to be honest there are some players that have good potential. I would say that my former LDLC team mates have this potential, and it’s not just because I played with them.

”We have a bright future”

Bodyy debuted on LAN with G2 Esports at Dreamhack Masters in Malmö, Sweden. However, it was hardly a happy story, as the squad were sent packing in disappointing fashion after two straight defeats.

– I’d say our results in Malmö were not surprising because we literally had no preparation. I had joined the team only a few days before the tournament, bodyy says about his first event with the new squad.

After the tourney in Malmö, the team were quick to get back on their feats. Three straight weeks of practice followed and in May 2016 they attended the ESL Pro League finals in London. There they chocked the entire CS:GO community with new found strength and eventually came in second after a nerv wracking and heartbreaking loss against Luminosity Gaming in the grand finals.

– We attended ESL Pro League Finals with almost three weeks of practice, and I guess it paid off. We didn’t waste any time that could help our preparation, bodyy says.

G2 Esports have continued to prove themselves online ever since. With Richard ”shox” Papillon and Adil ”ScreaM” Benrlitom in the front delivering headshots out of this world, only time will tell how far this team can go.

Is this the beginning of a new era?

– I really don’t know how the team was working before I joined, but from what I was told they had a completely different approach. Considering our recent results, I would say this is at least a new step for us. Getting the chance to travel the world and compete in CS:GO, how does it feel and what’s it like?

– It’s like a dream, doing what you love, competing in CS:GO and traveling around the world at the same time. This is a really amazing lifestyle, and I wouldn’t change it for anything!