Matt “MattCD” Lenard and Legacy Esports: A Conversation
I spoke with Matt “MattCD” Lenard at the ZEN League Offline Qualifier, where his team, Legacy Esports, narrowly missed out on qualifying after a close series loss to Immunity. However, they did secure a spot in the upcoming CGPL season, where they will face off against some of Australia’s top sides.
The Conversation on Cheating in Esports
One of the major talking points in the esports scene right now is the issue of cheating. What are MattCD’s thoughts on cheating at different levels of amateur and professional play in Australia?
MattCD: “Cheating will always exist, and it doesn’t seem to be resolved in the way you would expect. There have been cases where people were banned for cheating even when they weren’t cheating, and then they were later unbanned. This makes people hesitant to ban those who everyone believes are cheating.”
Reflections on the ZEN League Offline Qualifier
At the ZEN League Offline Qualifier, Dark Sided caused an upset by defeating Avant Garde to secure a place in the league. What does MattCD think of the competition at the event?
“I think all the teams here are strong. Everyone has come prepared because the ZEN League is a significant event, and it will feature many Asian teams. It’s great to see everyone ready for this big event in Australia.”
Smaller Teams that Deserve Recognition
Aside from the teams at ZEN League and the big names that qualified for CGPL 10, which smaller teams does MattCD believe deserve more praise?
“The first team that comes to mind is Dark Sided, even though they are already here. They started as pug players and now they are winning LANs. It shows that there is a lot of talent in Australia.”
Did Legacy Esports prepare extensively for the ZEN League Offline Qualifier?
“We had a week-long boot camp in Melbourne, initially expecting that the ZEN League would be played there. However, the location was changed to Sydney.”
As part of the event, there were supposed to be Asian teams playing on the second day. How would Legacy Esports have prepared for these international teams?
“The most important thing is to play to your own strengths. Instead of adapting to other teams’ strengths, we focus on our own style of play, which is crucial for us.”
Legacy Esports’ Strengths and Philosophy
What are Legacy Esports’ biggest strengths as a team, and what is their overall philosophy?
“Our biggest asset is how well we work together; teamwork is our primary focus. In terms of philosophy, we have a loose playstyle. We don’t rush things, but we also aren’t heavily reliant on strategies. We prefer to adapt and force other teams to make mistakes before capitalizing on them.”
MattCD’s Individual Strengths and Playing Style
As a player, what are MattCD’s biggest strengths?
“My versatility is probably my biggest asset. I can use an AWP or a rifle, which benefits our team. For example, on Dust II, it’s advantageous to have two strong AWPers on different sides of the map in case things go wrong, and it’s also effective for shutting down the opposition.”
Do most other teams in the Australian scene play with a loose style like Legacy Esports or are they more focused on strategies?
“I think a lot of teams in Australia are very aim-based. Renegades and Winterfox, for instance, didn’t rely heavily on strategies when they first went to America. This was mainly because they were the best teams in Australia and didn’t face much competition. However, when they moved to the American scene, they struggled initially but eventually improved by becoming more teamwork-oriented and strategy-focused.”
Domestic Success vs. International Challenges
If a top Australian team has the choice, is it better for them to stay in the domestic scene and dominate or take the risk of moving overseas, potentially facing financial setbacks?
“It would be much better for them to go overseas. There are more opportunities and events to improve in other regions. In Australia, there is an oversaturation of online tournaments. In America or Europe, the events are mainly LANs, which always provide a better competitive environment.”
Thanks to Matt and Team Legacy for taking the time to do this interview. You can find Matt on Twitter here and watch Legacy Esports in action at CGPL Season 10 and the ZEN League.
The interview was conducted by Max Melit at the ZEN League Offline Qualifier. Max can be found on Twitter @max_melit or contacted via email: [email protected]
Image Credits: ESL Australia