Since 2019, FURIA have grow to be the definition of Brazilian Counter-Strike. Their relentless, aggressive playstyle mixed with the gracious performances of core gamers Andrei “arT” Piovezan, Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato, and Yuri “yuurih” Santos has impressed followers and personalities from everywhere in the world, regardless that they’ve by no means gained an S-tier worldwide LAN event.
In 2022, nonetheless, the strain on FURIA’s shoulders has elevated. After the Brazilians fell within the quarterfinals of the PGL Antwerp Main in Could, that they had some middling outcomes, similar to an early elimination at ESL Challenger Valencia in July, a one-sided loss to Outsiders in the round of 12 of ESL Pro League season 16 in September, and did not safe Legend standing within the upcoming IEM Rio Main, that means they’ll have to start the event in Brazil within the Challengers Stage for the primary time because the StarLadder Berlin Main in 2019.
Brazilian streamers and commentators like Alexandre “Gaules” Borba have voiced their disappointment with FURIA, and so did international analysts, due to their obvious battle to adapt throughout matches and their repetitive playstyle.
Though the critics are beginning to mount, FURIA’s No. 1 star KSCERATO feels that a part of the evaluation is wrong and that his facet is ready to do effectively on the IEM Rio Main, regardless that head coach Nicholas “guerri” Nogueira will as soon as once more have to take a seat out of a Main.
Guerri continues to be suspended from Majors due to his ban from the coaching spectator bug case that banned 36 other coaches back in 2020, forcing FURIA to area an surprising coach through the IEM Rio Main.
“We analyzed the match towards Outsiders in ESL Professional League and we merely got here to the conclusion that they performed very well,” KSCERATO instructed Dot Esports. “We made some errors however Outsiders did some unusual issues throughout that sequence. There have been plenty of rounds that we mentioned ‘we have been humiliated,’ it wasn’t a matter of them studying us, it was extra about them having some nice particular person performs.”
FURIA’s final exhibiting previous to the IEM Rio Main was on the Americas Regional Main Rating (RMR) in Stockholm, Sweden. They breezed by Infinity, O PLANO, and paiN Gaming, however a 16-14 loss to Evil Geniuses within the 1-1 pool price them their likelihood of securing Legend standing on the upcoming Brazilian Main.
In the course of the event, assistant coach Marcos “tacitus” Castilho stood behind the gamers as he has executed previously as a result of Valve sustaining guerri’s ban despite the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC)’s recommendations. It gained’t be both tacitus or guerri teaching FURIA through the IEM Rio Main, although.
The Brazilian group has enlisted its co-owner André Akkari as head coach for the IEM Rio Main regardless of his lack of expertise on the subject of CS:GO. Apart from investing in FURIA, the 47-year-old is called one of many ambassadors of poker in Brazil, having additionally gained a World Collection of Poker bracelet in 2011. The explanation why the gamers and the teaching workers determined to make use of Akkari on the Main is that he may also help the staff maintain their cool in tense moments, in line with KSCERATO.
“We imagine that the Main will convey some additional strain as a result of our household will likely be watching us along with the media,” KSCERATO mentioned. “We have now let plenty of the tactical half ready for the Main, so we gained’t concentrate on the tactical assist a coach can convey as a result of guerri gained’t be there behind us. Guerri may also help with each the psychological and tactical side of the sport, whereas tacitus has solely been behind us through the Majors and doesn’t have the expertise within the a part of hyping us, which Akkari does.”
Akkari has an excellent mindset due to his profession in poker, in line with KSCERATO. The co-owner of FURIA coached them previously throughout one event within the U.S. and has been across the gamers for a very long time. Akkari’s expertise in poker will come in useful when he feels FURIA want a tactical timeout to mentally get well, in line with KSCERATO.
FURIA will likely be one of many three Brazilian groups on the IEM Rio Main alongside Imperial, house of back-to-back Main champions in 2016 Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, Fernando “fer” Alvarenga, and Lincoln “fnx” Lau, and 00 Nation homes Marcelo “coldzera” David and Epitácio “TACO” de Melo, the 2 different gamers that gained MLG Columbus Main and ESL One Cologne Main in 2016 underneath Luminosity Gaming and SK Gaming, respectively.
Regardless of the legacy of this Main-winning quintet, FURIA are the staff anticipated to make a deep run in Brazil as a result of they’ve been taking part in collectively for extra time than Imperial and 00 Nation, they usually additionally reached the playoffs of the final two Majors.
The expectations and the strain have by no means been so excessive, however KSCERATO is bound that the ambiance through the IEM Rio Main will likely be one thing particular for the Brazilian groups—and he’s assured FURIA can ship on the first Main held in Brazil.
“Being extraordinarily sincere, we’re very assured in regards to the Main,” KSCERATO mentioned. “We practiced for a very long time, boot camped one month for ESL Professional League and the RMR, we talked loads and simply need to concentrate on the features we missed in these two tournaments. We have now to recollect to take it step-by-step and never assume an excessive amount of about reaching the grand finals and profitable the Main.”
FURIA will debut towards BIG within the IEM Rio Main Challengers Stage on Oct. 31 at 11:30am CT. The groups that win three matches on this stage progress to the Legends Stage, whereas the groups that lose three are knocked out of the occasion.
