​Welcome to DeKay Mailbag, a semi-regular feature in which Counter-Strike reporter and insider Jarek "DeKay" Lewis answers questions from readers on Twitter. Check out ​the previous editions.





Do you have a question for DeKay? Tweet him @NWDeKay or email dekaycs@gmail.com, and your question might end up in another edition of the mailbag. Now, onto the questions:

Have you heard anything about ScreaM possibly joining C9? — 🅾mar (@L0rd0m4r) July 20, 2018

DeKay: As far as I know this discussion hasn’t taken place, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen of course.

What team do you think will be the biggest surprise at the upcoming major and who will be the biggest disappointment? I know the full field of teams is not set quite yet so this could be used for a mailbag closer to the major as well. Thanks — Matt. (@Hiillzzyy) July 20, 2018

DeKay: This worked out perfectly because we have 24 teams now following the weekend of Minor action. At first glance I’m really intrigued by TyLoo and their prospects after finally getting Mo back into the lineup. I think BnTeT has been a revelation in Counter-Strike; there isn’t a more perfect opportunity for them to practice up and do some damage. On the other end, I think you can count on Virtus.pro continuing to struggle and not making it into the final 16 teams. That team need a roster move as soon as possible for any chance to become revitalized prior to the event.

Got an update on the coldzera and liquid situation? is cold leaving Mibr? is he joining liquid? who is he going to replace if he joins? — Jadjadz (@Jadjadzz) July 20, 2018

DeKay: Because of the shock of this possible move, I think people have gone way too far with it. It wasn’t that close to happening and was more of an first choice for coldzera should MiBR not work out later in the year. Should things not improve with Tarik, I’m sure cold will consider it. Even then, it’s no guarantee to happen.

How long more will astralis rule? — Rhongomyniad (@Rhongomyniad) July 21, 2018

​​DeKay: I’d put my money on them continuing this semi-dominance for another six months. I didn’t expect Na’Vi to beat them at Cologne, but it doesn’t make me feel any worse about Astralis moving forward. They are my favorite for the Major, as you’d expect.

What's happening with North? Do they really trust on MSL? Any rumors on why k0nfig did leave? What about mertz? — Marcos Junior (@MJunioR___) July 21, 2018

​​DeKay: I don’t think Mertz will return unless he doesn’t get an offer elsewhere. Additionally, that possibility hinges on North being able to find a suitable replacement, and there aren’t many options free of the Major/Minor roster lock. K0nfig didn’t want to leave; the team decided to bench him and let him explore options for leaving. As you’ll notice, players don’t like to hang around on the bench if they feel unwanted, even more so when the player is as good as k0nfig. He knew someone else would want him and got out as soon as he could.

In a recent French interview, Apex said that his buyout is no longer 800k, and he seemed like he wanted a move to C9. Have C9 been in contact with G2 recently to negotiate buy-outs for NBK/Apex? — Mayank (@StraightAtHimV2) July 21, 2018

​​DeKay: As far as I know, C9 is bitter after the attempt to get NBK for so long, only to not to be able to come to an agreement. At the end of the day, C9’s future depends on how the organization feels about this five-player lineup it brought to ELEAGUE. If the org is extremely unhappy, I can see Cloud9 attempting to rekindle conversations with G2. I think C9 prefers NBK over Apex by a long shot, though. RUSH plays a similar role to Apex, meaning NBKs play style is more suitable.

updates on the french scene, LeftOut, Happy & RpK, nbk- & apEX — dzull kamil (@dzull_h) July 21, 2018

​​DeKay: Happy and RpK have continued a tryout with Tempo Storm. The LeftOut guys are simply weighing their options and don’t really know what the future holds. It seems there are enough players left to give another all-French lineup a go, so we’ll just have to see. There is a ton of time until after the Major.

To piggy back off of Thorin's recent video, what would your NA dream team look like as well as Sweden while you're at it? — 🌚 Jason 🌝 (@ASC_JW) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: For NA: elige, NAF, Nifty, autimatic, and twistzz. For Sweden: Dennis, Olof, Flusha, Lekr0, and Draken.

Any updates regarding the C9 roster? — Liam Carlson (@LiamC_18) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: We should all know more in the coming week.

Is cloud9 considering replacing skadoodle after the major ?

Did stew and tarik left because of lack of dedication of skadoodle and other players in practicing and grinding cs? — Nishant Jain (@njnishantjain) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: I have not heard anything regarding Skadoodle leaving. He is on Cloud9 for as long as he personally sees fit, unless something changes. I don’t think Tarik or Stewie2k left because of disagreements with one player in particular, more so because they felt the opportunity presented to them would end up being more fruitful later in the year.

did olof come back because he was about to be replaced by a different player ? — x.x (@hendrikq_) July 20, 2018

DeKay: As far as I know, it was just convenient timing, not that he was going to get replaced. ​​

Compared to the last Major, of the 8 teams in the final stage, how many teams that didn’t make it at the last one do you think will make it at this one? — Brian Sprague (@bpsprague) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: Teams I expect in the playoffs that didn’t make it previously: Team Liquid, Astralis, TyLoo.

Has cromen decided where he is going, and which three teams are most likely to make changes after the major? — ZeGermanPotato (@ZeGermanPotato) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: I don’t know the status of Cromen at the moment. All I know is he did have some decent offers a couple weeks back.





As for your second question: Virtus.pro, North, and Mousesports

We know IGLs and support players have been lacking in the NA scene for a long time - are the players or the orgs the driving force behind this trend of focusing on hotshot young aimstars instead? How do you see this being fixed? — Ethan (@Hanshotsolo) July 20, 2018

DeKay: This has been asked in different ways on multiple occasions. The North American mentality prioritizes ego-driven decision making based on friendship politics and salary levels. Until a group of likeminded (and skilled) players comes together who can look past these things, it won’t improve. Many of them say the right things and promise to work as hard as they possibly can, but few ever actually do it. Team Liquid is as close to this as you can get at the moment, so hopefully they prove me wrong and take it to another level the second half of the year.

I have two questions, just incase you end up getting a bunch of c9 questions.



Should c9 rebuild an international around auti?



or



Would you ever work an event as a host? or maybe some other role? — Pjammin (@pjammin) July 20, 2018

DeKay: I don't plan to work as talent, no. I’ve been asked on a couple occasions to work as talent for online leagues and have declined. I enjoy what I do now and already struggle to fit time around my full time job to attend events. In a perfect world, I work in Counter-Strike only in the future in one form or another. Some sort of role to help players would be ideal.

Any hint or clus about RpK? will he continue playing? — Tulkor (@Tulk0r) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: As far as I’m aware, he wants to keep playing.

Do you think Tarik will IGL and that will open up space for Fallen to shine? — Joao Mariani (@joaohmariani) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: I can see him secondary calling or taking over duties on specific maps. I don’t expect him to take over entirely unless Fallen is really struggling.

Is Cloud9 really planning on keeping STYKO and/or Golden? — maucs (@deadmaucs) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: We’ll know more soon.

For you what was the biggest waste of money in a buyout by a CS:GO organization? — AK-45 Pente Alongado (@zebasso) July 20, 2018

DeKay: There is only one answer to this question. 100 Thieves.

What changes do you think are necessary/possible for cloud9 to become a good team again? — FelixMemoria (@FelixMemoria) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: Match two players who reinvigorate the remaining three to feel motivated and confident. I’m not sure yet if Golden and STYKO are those two players. We will see.

Who are flipside looking at seeing as they have three open roster spots? — Primary Asset (@anthonysimon_15) July 20, 2018

​​DeKay: Last I was told, they were trying out some players I had never heard of.

do you know what is the real situation with NTC? SK will pick them? who will be the replacements for fnx and bit? — Sebastián Ahumada (@sebastiansiag) July 20, 2018

DeKay: I have heard a ton of rumors and haven’t gotten word on what will actually happen with them. I don’t think they’ll officially join SK Gaming, even though the players have been earning a salary and bootcamping at their headquarters for months. The door isn’t necessarily shut, but I’d say it’s unlikely.

What teams will make changes if they flop at the major? Is there a possibility of cromen going to cloud9? Ty :) — Nick 🇧🇪 (@DyceCS) July 20, 2018

DeKay: See above for teams likely to make changes. I can’t say for sure that it’s likely or not. Of course it’s possible, but I’m not aware of the two parties discussing anything. This could definitely change if they aren’t happy with their performance at ELEAGUE.

Not sure if you’ve clarified, but any reason for not doing your short podcast, miss them bruv — daltss (@Itherr_au) July 20, 2018

DeKay: Two reasons. First, I have a much more busy schedule lately. It’s not impossible to squeeze it in, but it would be very difficult. Second, I have been brainstorming some sort of new format. The previous one went down in views every single episode, which makes no sense given the information I discussed in them. They included things never revealed publicly, yet no one seemed to latch on to them. That’s my fault, though. I need to improve the format.

Thoughts on how much longer coldzera and fallen Can continue to coexist? And Who would coldzera be replacing on the Liquid squad if that were to happen? — Thomas Holm (@MrHolm5) July 20, 2018

DeKay: I don’t see them extending into 2019 together if they can’t make improvements moving forward. Coldzera has all the leverage because he will have a ton of teams knocking on his door. I’m not sure who he’d replace on Liquid.

Did EspiranTo have any good offers while on bench? — Andrei Valentin (@Tarni234) July 21, 2018

DeKay: Not that I know of.

Is NiP considering kicking GTR is things don't go well at the Minor/Major? — DaMaDe (@officialDaMaDe) July 21, 2018

DeKay: I think he is next on the block there, but it likely hinges on how they perform. Should they place last, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him gone.

How do you think the new NA major teams (Rogue and Complexity) will do at the Challenger stage? — Infinite (@Infinite_Ouya) July 20, 2018

DeKay: I expect Rogue to place better of the two, but seeing both of them in the final 16 is a stretch. I’m not sure either of them makes it.

What are the prospects for NBK and Apex? Are we really just going to see them locked down by G2? — YamsInACan [Yamin A] (@Yams1nACan) July 20, 2018

DeKay: If I had to guess, I would expect one of them to join a team. One option is Mousesports, in my opinion. I would also guess that one of them rejoins G2 for bodyy. That’s just my hunch.

Do you know who MIBR is looking to hire as a coach? — GODZERA 🇧🇷 (@HydeManlet) July 20, 2018

DeKay: Not currently, no.





Photo courtesy of Turner Sports/ELEAGUE