Guild Esports Enters VALORANT Circuit with Full Roster and New Coach
Guild Esports is set to compete in the 2021 VALORANT circuit with a complete roster and the addition of André “BARBARR” Möller as the team’s coach.
BARBARR joins Guild Esports as the organization’s first VALORANT coach, bringing his expertise to the team’s player roster which includes Malkolm “bonkar” Rench, Yacine Laghmari, Leo “ziz” Jannesson, William “draken” Sundin, and Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel. Together, they will prepare for the VALORANT Champions Tour.
These players have varying experience in VALORANT, having played together in the past as part of their old Bonk stack or during brief stints with Ninjas in Pyjamas. It will be BARBARR’s first venture into coaching after transitioning from CS:GO, and he’s diving right into the action. The team has already participated in the Red Bull Home Ground tournament and is currently competing in the EU VCT Challengers.
Before the Red Bull Home Ground tournament, BARBARR spoke with about the challenges of transitioning to VALORANT, the impact of the pandemic on his work, and the team’s expectations for the future.
Transitioning from CS:GO to VALORANT
What made you decide to switch from CS:GO to VALORANT?
BARBARR: Throughout my playing career, I focused on developing talent. However, I felt limited by the lack of support and stability in my previous clubs. I wanted to reach the top and be number one.
After the NIP signing fell through, I had the opportunity to coach [Team] Ancient. Although I believe THREAT is an excellent Swedish CS:GO coach, it was hard to accept not getting the NIP position. Coaching a Spanish team gave me valuable experience in the background of coaching. Eventually, I decided to try something new and joined Guild.
While I considered other offers in Counter-Strike, I felt it was time for a change after all these years. Guild and its dedicated team convinced me to take the leap. Sometimes, you just have to jump in and see where it takes you.
Adjusting to VALORANT and Preparing for Tournaments
As a relatively new coach, how have you adjusted to the transition from CS:GO to VALORANT and preparing the team for tournaments?
It’s been a fast transition for me. I’ve been working with the team since December, but there is still a lot for me to learn. Ranked play is different from practice, so I’m trying to quickly gain knowledge and provide valuable input.
After the Red Bull Home Ground tournament, we have the Champions Tour Challengers. Despite the short turnaround, I don’t want to use that as an excuse. I’ve been focusing on learning as much as possible about the game. There’s no denying that it’s a quick turnaround before the next tournament.
Coaching in VALORANT vs. CS:GO
In your opinion, what’s the biggest difference between coaching in VALORANT and coaching in CS:GO?
In VALORANT, there are many more factors to consider in each round. You have to analyze the enemies’ abilities, ultimates, and power abilities. In CS:GO, it’s usually easier to predict what the enemies will do based on the round type. Additionally, VALORANT is faster-paced, with the ability to switch strategies and rounds more quickly.
While the concept of planting the Spike and taking map control is similar, the dynamic nature of VALORANT makes it more challenging. There are fewer areas for mistakes, and you have to remain highly focused depending on your team and the enemy’s abilities.
Adapting to Frequent Meta Changes
Does the more frequent meta changes in VALORANT compared to CS:GO add to the challenges of coaching? How do you stay on top of it?
Riot is known for patching VALORANT frequently, which changes the game significantly. For example, the recent changes to Split have had a major impact on gameplay. Compared to CS:GO, where meta changes are rare, VALORANT requires constant monitoring of these changes to adapt strategies.
Having played a lot of League of Legends, I’m familiar with this fast-paced meta. Staying on top of the patches and adjusting strategies accordingly is crucial in a constantly evolving game like VALORANT.
Coaching Dynamics and Team Goals
Which player on the roster is the most coachable and responsive to your messages?
All the players, except for bonkar, come from a CS:GO background and have a good understanding of rotations and timings. They are receptive to my coaching. However, I don’t impose my history from CS:GO on them. I want to prove myself as a VALORANT coach first and build mutual trust and knowledge-sharing with the team.
Once I have the necessary knowledge, I will request their full attention. But for now, we’re all learning together and exchanging expertise.
Coaching during the Pandemic
How has the global pandemic affected your coaching methods, and what’s been the biggest change for you?
Living in Spain, which was heavily impacted by the pandemic, hasn’t changed my online coaching much. However, I do miss the in-person interaction during boot camps. It’s important to meet players face-to-face, which is currently difficult. Despite the challenges, we adapt and make the best of the situation.
Realistic Goals for Guild Esports
What are the realistic goals for Guild Esports in the VALORANT Champions Tour?
Our goal for the Red Bull Home Ground tournament is to warm up for the Challenger qualifiers. We don’t want to reveal our strategies right before the most crucial qualifier of the year. Home Ground will be a chance for me to assess the players’ performance under pressure. We aim to give our best in both Home Ground and Challengers, with the ultimate goal of winning.
Related keywords: Guild Esports, VALORANT, competitive, coach, team, roster, Champions Tour, CS:GO, pandemic, challenges, transitioning, adjustments, meta changes, coaching dynamics, team goals.