The Rise of Gambit Esports in the CIS Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Scene
The CIS Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene is known for its talented veterans and prestigious names. Despite the depth of talent and opportunities in the scene, success has been hard to come by for most teams. However, Gambit Esports, formerly known as Gambit Gaming, took a different approach and made roster changes that paid off.
Sticking Together: A Winning Team
In the CIS scene, successful teams tend to hold onto their players longer than others. Teams like Virtus.pro and Na`Vi have been known to keep the same roster for extended periods. However, Gambit Esports decided to switch out two players following their top-eight finish at ESL One: Cologne 2016.
A Risky Undertaking
While it may have seemed like a reasonable move considering their past performances, the replacement of Ivan “spaze” Obrezhan, who showed great potential, with relatively unknown player Abay “Hobbit” Khasenov was a risky move. However, Gambit also managed to acquire the experienced and skilled player Danylo “Zeus” Teslenko.
A Surprise Victory
Despite initial doubts, Gambit proved themselves at DreamHack Winter 2016, defeating top teams like Cloud9 and Optic Gaming. Hobbit’s performance was crucial to their success, earning him the MVP of the tournament. This unexpected victory showed that Gambit was capable of more than people had initially thought.
A Contender in the Making
While Gambit may not be expected to win the upcoming ELEAGUE Major, they have the potential to surprise casual fans and lower-ranked teams. With their unique mix of experienced players and talented newcomers, Gambit could cause some upsets and make it into the top-eight.
CIS Counter-Strike, Gambit Esports, roster changes, success, veterans, talent, DreamHack Winter, surprising victory, ELEAGUE Major.