In a match that will live on amongst the legends of UK Counter-Strike, exceL eSports took on Team XENEX in a game that would go on to span a total of 127 rounds. The first map of which consisted of a record breaking six overtimes with a grand total of 88 played rounds. After a long nights rest, we have made contact with the exceL side that eventually went on to lose the series 2-0, a scoreline that fails to do the efforts of the team justice. Victor Meulendijks and Andrew Thursfield spoke to us together.

Going into the game against XENEX, it was hard not to classify you guys as the underdogs. How did you feel going in, and had you done any specific preparation to face up to the XENEX side?

Victor: I felt very comfortable despite playing about 30 hours over the last four months. We played them before on both these specific maps, so we had a rough feel of what their play-style was like. Back when we played them in the qualifiers we had another caller, which meant that from my perspective it was easier the second time around. I think them underestimating us helped a bit as well in the “earlier” rounds. Andrew: I went in knowing we had a chance to win. I wanted to prove that we were more capable than before when we had a very bad best of 3 against them in the qualifiers.

At one stage in the game you found yourselves 14-8 down, with your backs against the wall and a look that it may have been all over. How did you manage to turn your game around and eventually go on to bring the score to 15-15?

Andrew: I just stopped letting them dictate how I was gonna play. I was feeling very strong, stronger than them actually, and by playing more aggressive and confident I was feeling like I was getting rewarded for not respecting them more than they deserve. Victor: Our CT sides had been the weaker up until recently, but since the qualifiers we picked it up and became very solid, mainly thanks to picking up a great additional rifler in Boaster. Next to that we had them read pretty well from a calling perspective, getting a feel for their tendencies and therefore reading their positioning quite well. It felt good knowing that, by playing our own game, we could hold them off very consistently and we just built up momentum.

So, you reach overtime number one. What is going through your mind? How do you approach this situation?

Victor: We had all the momentum and we started the CT side, and I’m pretty sure we had them at a loss in terms of feeling as confident against us as they might have at the start. I felt like we had them in the bag honestly. And we did. Because if you’re really subpar you don’t push them to another 5 OTs. I just kept calling with my intuition knowing that I had them read most of the rounds and it worked out. Andrew: Initially with a lot of relief, because we were playing with a deficit for most of the game. It felt like a hard-reset of the game – we’re all even again. I was even more confident at this point too, simply because of how well our CT-half was going. Continuing that momentum I felt like we could just close the game out – although that evidently didn’t turn out to be the case.

Talk me through your mental changes as the game just kept on dragging on. Did motivation or stamina hold you back at any point?

Andrew: No, from a motivational point of view we were all here to win, at all costs. But as surprising as it sounds physical and mental fatigue really hits hard after playing 85 rounds of straight counter strike. Then with the potential of two more maps in the series, the whole ordeal becomes quite daunting. Victor: From a caller’s perspective the game just breaks down. We weren’t playing inferno anymore. We’re playing xenex. Normal meta plays don’t matter anymore. Every call you make you have already made 10 times, 15 times, 20 times before. Motivation wasn’t ever a question, we were calm, composed, solid and had our heads together. I have to say though, standing up after 3 hours of straight CS your legs do feel a bit weird.

58 rounds after the match initially tied, you eventually lost out in what has come to be known as the longest game in CS history. How do you feel having been part of such a momentous event?

Victor: I don’t know. I can’t say I’m mad at losing, or particularly disappointed. I think what I felt was closer to relief. We knew we had a good chance in the other maps, so confidence wasn’t a factor there. I’m not sure if it really will be a such a momentous event. At best both of us are b-grade topteams, it’s not like NiP and Virtus battled it out for this long. If it does get remembered though, I feel quite weird about it. As an esports journalist I would write about this stuff – not play it. It’s funny being on the flip-side of the coin. I guess it would be cool to leave your mark on the scene like that. Andrew: I hope it’s just the first marker I leave on the scene, and to be part of more history-making events in CS.

Again on the second map, you managed to push XENEX all the way into overtime. Do you think that, despite losing 2-0, you will get a more serious response from the UK scene now?

Andrew: The only thing I really care about is winning. My main focus is on that as opposed to who takes me seriously, who rates me, or who thinks I deserve what I get. Victor: I can’t say I care. I play this game with friends I have played with for many years. I have never been close to getting in one of the top teams, or aspired to in the last few years. I’m willing to see how far this goes and perhaps I’ll get more serious about who cares about my play in the future.

Finally, your next matchup is against Perilous RAGE. What are your thoughts and feelings heading into the game tonight?

Victor: I’m confident but also think they have an edge on us after the long games of last night. We will just play solid and see where we end up. Andrew: We’re very serious about winning and qualifying, especially after last night.

Final words?

It goes without saying that we have to thank ESL for awarding us a wild-card invitation. We didn’t live up to our potential in the qualifiers despite getting close to making it, and we are happy to reward their trust with great games so far. Also thanks to xL, they picked us up recently and have been good to us so far. Thanks to Kyanite and Gumpster specifically for being driving forces in the UK scene.

exceL can be seen again tonight in the ESL UK Premiership Group A lower bracket match against Perilous RAGE.