Das Counter-Strike: Source-Team von fnatic löst sich aufgrund mangelnder Motivation auf und verabschiedet sich größtenteils in die Inaktivität. Der Stammgast auf den meisten Offline-Events darf auf fünf erfolgreiche Jahre zurückblicken. Ob die entstandene Lücke in naher Zukunft wieder aufgefüllt wird, lässt der Clan noch offen.
In letzter Zeit wurde es ziemlich ruhig rund um die fünf Niederländer von fnatic. Einzig ein Missglückter Start in der ESEA sorgte kurze Zeit für Gesprächsstoff. In einem emotionalen Statement äusserte sich Milan ‚xertion‘ Veeger erstmals über die aktuelle Situation im Team und verkündet gleichzeitig das Ende nach fünf erfolgreichen Jahren. Gleich vier Spielern fehle die Lust und Zeit ihr Hobby weiterhin so intensiv auszuleben wie bisher. Einzig Kaj ‚kajsk1ng‘ van Staalduinen bleibt dem eSport erhalten.
Das Team sorgte neben sportlichen Erfolgen vor allem für zahlreiche Wechsel. Im Jahre 2007 wurde fnatic auf das aufstrebende Team, welches unter anderem die i-Series 29 gewinnen konnte, aufmerksam. Das Team verweilte aber nicht lange bei den Briten und legte mehrere Zwischenhalte bei anderen Clans ein. Darunter 4Kings, LowLandLions und DeEindbazen, ehe man wieder zu fnatic zurückkehrte. Zuletzt feierte man dort den EPS Benelux-Sieg über Mesmerize.
Statement Milan „xertion“ Veeger (Spieler):
„I never thought it would be so hard to quit competitive gaming. What’s even harder is to give a statement about quitting competitive gaming. We’ve been struggling to get back on top after the CGS, but we refused to see that it’s just not the same without the original line-up in play. Also everyone is getting more and more obligations outside gaming. We just can’t bring up the time and effort to compete at the level we should any more. So it brings pain to say this, but after 5 years we have no choice but to bring it to an end. Some of you may ask yourself why I’m talking about ‚5 years‘. Well, you might not know it but most of us were already in the same CS:S team when it all began in 2005.
I’ll never forget when we went to our first international tournament (SLKS #10). We got second and even though it was a second place, we had the biggest smiles on our faces. After that we didn’t hesitate and used our prizemoney to go to i-Series 29. We won the tournament and after that everything went really fast.
I think we had a great run and we couldn’t have done it without fnatic. In the beginning of 2007 they noticed our talent and gave us an opportunity which we will never forget. It was tough to make this decision but we experienced so much that we have 5 fantastic years to look back at.
I want to thank our sponsors MSI(had a great time with the Dutch and the Polish crew), SteelSeries, SLAPPA, UGAME and Bigfoot Networks for all their support. Also thank our loyal fans for always believing in us even when we had a hard time believing in ourselves. Our apologies for the rather disappointing final year. Thanks to Kaj and wish him the best of luck. Keep an eye on that crazy stressmonster, he’s the next best CS:S player alive! Last but not least I want to thank Mark, Sandor, Luuk and Quint for being the best friends and team mates a dude could wish for.“
Statement Neil ‚kboy‘ Kirk (Manager fnatic):
„Today (as rumoured) we sadly officially announce that our Counter-Strike: Source team will be released after re-joining us back in October of last year. After spending a lot of time and effort enabling the guys to return to their true home (Fnatic) it would appear that due to a number of factors the team cannot give the time and dedication required to reach a top three finish in rankings and at events. It’s a sad day as the team have had a five year long run together with the majority of this in Fnatic and some fantastic results along the way, however commitments outside of gaming have simply overtaken and become a higher priority. Their results were sadly disappointing and this resulted in an even further lack of motivation as well as pressure. I want to personally wish each of them all the best for the future and hope things work out for them. The guys are a really nice set and clearly skilled, but for the time being this is the end of Einbbazen. Are Fnatic going to enter back into the CS:S scene once again – not sure?“
Ehemaliges Lineup fnatic:
Milan ‚xertion‚ Veeger
Sandor ‚proph‚ de Munck
Quint ‚Blaze‚ Spierenburg
Kaj ‚kajsk1ng‚ van Staalduinen
Mark ‚AirRaid‚ Koks
Milan ‚xertion‚ Veeger