HLTV Confirmed S03E25 - half-year recap with guest Bleh

Follow the show: ➡️https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed Timestamps: BO$$ Talk with Nomad 2:27 - What is Better Collective and what is the deal about? 3:40 - Does it mean HLTV will have more resources to develop? 5:38 - “They didn’t buy because they wanted to change something.” - Nomad 8:45 - “We’re 100% in control of this company” - Nomad addressing the concerns 9:42 - Is expanding to more games on the table? 12:33 - What’s coming up for HLTV? 14:13 - Will there be an open API for HLTV? 15:30 - Nomad addressing concerns of the potential removal of the forums 17:00 - Is a unified ranking possible? 19:19 - Nomad vs. Twitch chat 24:32 - Final words from Nomad Recent news 25:45 - swag quits competitive CS:GO 28:32 - "Keeping them banned serves as a reminder" - SPUNJ 30:07 - Gen.G win DH Anaheim 37:15 - Minor change in AWP Good, Bad, and Ugly 40:40 - Ugly: The crowd less spectacle 42:46 - How it was watching the event without viewers? 50:00 - Ugly: what more can ZywOo do? 54:00 - Striker: “Vitality never had a second star to ZyWoo” 59:00 - Good: The Na’Vi we have all been waiting for? 1:12:31 - Good: fnatic are rust-resistant 1:16:00 - Good: G2 and FaZe finding form 1:22:22 - Discussing the teams in the race for top-5 1:31:35 - Bad: mousesports stumble at the key event 1:35:00 - Bad: worrying signs for Astralis, Liquid and EG? Playtime 1:39:00 - Discussing the bracket for the Europe Minor Closed Qualifier 1:42:40 - FLASHPOINT Global Qualifier projections 1:47:00 - The long-term impact of coronavirus on CS Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt https://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorg https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS https://twitter.com/SPUNJ https://twitter.com/nomadhltvorg

3 Mars 20201h 53min

➡️ Get notified about the show: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Join the discussion and watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🎧 Listen to audio podcast (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv Timestamps: 1:10 - Introducing NBK 1:57 - Is Counter-Strike now different to what it used to be? 5:10 - What is the time frame for a team to succeed? 7:22 - NBK- explains how three big discussions after ICE developed OG 9:15 - NBK- plays down the "international team communication issues" theory 11:55 - A few rules of OG approaching the game 13:55 - What is NBK’s view on in-game leadership issue? 17:10 - The reasons behind poor performance of Astralis and other teams at BLAST 19:00 - OG’s agenda for the first half of the year 20:50 - Aleksib’s role in the team Recent news 25:42 - “Crowd cheating” measures from Katowice 31:38 - “Fuck yeah!” - NBK on whether there should be info contamination by audience 35:35 - Complexity and GamerLegion fail Minor Qualifier 42:15 - c0ntact in talks with AcilioN? 45:44 - EPL, FLASHPOINT schedule and format - what is better DreamHack Open Anaheim 56:37 - Who is most desperate for the DreamHack Anaheim win? 1:06:18 - Which squad is going to win and who will be the best long-term? Smarter than Twitch chat 1:08:25 - NBK vs. the Twitch chat IEM Katowice 1:16:30 - NBK on why he thinks IEM Katowice is a great event 1:19:10 - Will mouz win the event and become the world #1 team? 1:23:17 - Are EG and Liquid still in the trophy discussion? 1:30:20 - Which top 10 team will flop? 1:36:00 - Dark horses to make playoffs 1:42:15 - Who will make top-6? Playtime 1:51:40 - Should player contracts be public? 1:55:00 - NBK shares his own perspective 1:59:00 - What could be improved in the transfer practices? 2:04:30 - The last few words from NBK

22 Feb 20202h 6min

➡️ https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Join the discussion and watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🎧 Listen to audio podcast (Spotify, iTunes, Google): https://anchor.fm/hltv Timestamps: 1:17 - Introducing Fifflaren 1:57 - Being a coach located in the US while the team is in Europe - how it is? 3:25 - How life has changed after Fifflaren’s retirement and how he ended up becoming Dignitas’ coach 8:13 - The story behind the old NiP roster reunion 15:59 - Fifflaren’s take on what has changed in the game since he left 17:43 - Dignitas’s results so far 22:05 - What are Fifflaren’s expectations from Dignitas 23:55 - Why hallzerk is going to work as team’s fifth? 28:00 - Will Fifflaren stay with the organization or the team if they happen to part ways? 29:27 - What it means being a coach and general manager at the same time? FLASHPOINT 32:21 - Fifflaren’s first impression on FLASHPOINT 37:34 - “No one is making money” - Fifflaren on the issue of leagues’ financial sustainability 44:02 - “Everyone is trying to work out what’s the best model is” - SPUNJ 50:25 - How the concept of a $100,000 fine for being out of the top will affect the scene? 58:56 - Will the team owned league solve the issues the current tournaments have? 1:02:00 - The issues of the content quality 1:06:40 - SPUNJ responds to the community outcry 1:09:49 - Explaining the FLASHPOINT format 1:15:30 - Sharing opinions on the format 1:20:17 - Ex6tenZ, SmithZz retire 1:27:35 - mithR, Jumpy joins North 1:34:20 - Virtus.pro looking at n0rb3r7 1:40:00 - Good: Awakening of the Juggernaut 1:45:25 - Good: The Na’Vi we’ve been waiting for? 1:54:40 - Bad: Astralis in slumber 2:02:00 - Ugly: Vitality without peak ZywOo 2:14:50 - Talking about IEM Melbourne 2020 2:19:00 - Fifflaren on the dealing with toughness of schedule

12 Feb 20202h 31min

Connect with us: @HLTVconfirmed Timestamps: 1:10 - Introducing Carmac 1:54 - Carmac sharing his history 3:20 - Explaining the EPL format 5:50 - Carmac on the reasons behind the changes in the format 8:09 - Are the changes caused by the "B Site"? 10:31 - Carmac talks about the business side of making a league 17:13 - What is the way ESL makes CS:GO events profitable? 24:16 - "If we had a complete monopoly ... , we would probably be, in relative terms, bathing in money" - Carmac 25:52 - When was the decision on the current format made? 28:41 - Why the changes in EPL happened with short notice comparing with Pro Tour? 31:25 - Carmac on the published graphic with teams and the negotiations rumors 35:07 - How the Member Teams are decided? 41:40 - How many teams will be partnered? 44:14 - How being a Member Team affects team's ESL ranking? 48:43 - Carmac's view on the Valve's Major ranking events 51:49 - Are the newly scheduled tournaments going to affect ESL events? 53:04 - What ESL is preparing for the Rio Major? 57:00 - How fast the tickets got sold? 58:00 - The last few words from Carmac and from the panel 1:00:18 - Introducing apEX 1:01:00 - Was removal of NBK tough decision to make? 1:02:20 - What was the biggest takeaway for apEX about 2019? 1:03:25 - Was there a clash in Vitality about a loss on the last Major? 1:04:56 - apEX talks about the motivation behind running own YouTube channel 1:06:10 - How important personal brand should be for young players? 1:07:47 - The goals of Vitality for the first months of 2020 1:10:15 - Who has the most potential to improve as fire power in the team? 1:11:30 - apEX on Dignitas being inspired by Vitality 1:12:22 - Why it's not possible to play a single role in CS:GO anymore? 1:15:38 - apEX's thoughts on the Major changes Recent news 1:17:57 - apEX shares his opinion on the map update 1:19:40 - Are the changes positive? 1:21:50 - "From my personal view, at least, it's not changing much" - apEX on practicing on the updated maps 1:22:30 - "I'm confused why Valve are giving T's more things to do" - Striker 1:25:30 - "I think for me Mirage is T-sided map" - apEX 1:27:50 - apEX's view on Krieg and the overall gun situation in the game 1:29:18 - apEX on the economy changes 1:30:57 - Heretics invited to EU Minor Closed Qualifier 1:33:40 - Discussing the participants of EU Minor Closed Qualifier 1:36:02 - BIG, Dignitas run the Open Qualifier gauntlet 1:41:50 - ENCE's failure at ICE Challenge 2020 1:46:20 - "Objectively, [ENCE] were already on the downturn" - Professeur 1:49:55 - Reviewing Sergej's stats 1:53:37 - NBK-'s debut with OG 1:56:43 - NBK- calling the CT sides - can it be the issue? 1:59:33 - What is the highest peak of OG we will see? 2:04:01 - Is FaZe a contender at BLAST Premier? 2:07:47 - Vitality's group of death at BLAST 2:11:00 - Is it important to have a lot of official matches before going to bigger tournaments? 2:12:37 - Closing thoughtso lose a single map in his group? 1:12:37 - Closing thoughts

4 Feb 20202h 14min

Follow the show on Twitter for updates: @HLTVconfirmed The discussion about CS:GO leagues continues with guest Auguste "Semmler" Massonnat, a spokesperson for B Site, with topics ranging from the business side of things (revenue share, sustainability, inflation) to how it will affect the Counter-Strike played and the viewers. The podcasts' panel also talks about ESL's PR blunder while downsizing Pro League, and looks at which teams are affected. Wrapping up the HLTV Confirmed episode is talk about the recently finished DreamHack Open Leipzig and the upcoming BLAST Premier group stage. Timestamps 1:25 - Introducing Semmler 2:05 - Semmler on his return to CS:GO 2:57 - The difference between working on Overwatch League and CS:GO events 4:29 - What Overwatch League experienced gave to Semmler? 5:50 - Did Semmler always want to come back to CS:GO? 7:24 - What role in the broadcast Semmler is going to pursue? 9:56 - Semmler’s opinion on the changes that happened in the game 13:42 - Striker explains BLAST’s format 14:28 - How absence of mousesports and fnatic will affect BLAST Premier Spring 15:53 - Will BLAST set the tone for the season? 17:34 - SPUNJ shares some insights on the BLAST scheduling 18:58 - How important is BLAST in the 2020 schedule? 21:18 - Will the single organizer prevail in CS:GO? 25:30 - Discussing Group A of BLAST 27:14 - “I’m calling this right now: nawwk should be the primary AWP of NiP” - Striker 30:04 - Can MIBR return to the CS:GO elite? 33:33 - What does Semmler becoming the spokesperson for B Site mean? 37:50 - Semmler comments on lack of information about B Site 42:42 - How B Site is going to make money? 44:46 - Will the teams be able to return their massive investments for participating in B Site? 47:48 - How the teams who bought the franchise and who qualified will coexist within the model? 52:01 - What happens if B Site won’t get top teams right away? 55:55 - Do leagues in CS:GO work at all? 1:06:24 - What is known about B Site’s format now 1:08:48 - Few last questions for Semmler 1:13:02 - SPUNJ vs. Twitch chat 1:22:45 - Striker explains ESL Pro League drama 1:25:17 - ESL is trying to make the format more profitable. Is it good or bad? 1:29:20 - SPUNJ gives insight on the Oceanic teams 1:32:41 - Uncertainty with EPL Relegation system 1:36:02 - Announcing invited teams that are not confirmed - good or bad? 1:42:44 - Discussing the released list of the teams 1:48:22 - ESL’s apology - does it help? 1:54:04 - What power does CSPPA have? 1:59:58 - Prof: "CSPPA as an entity should watch out for this" 2:01:30 - SPUNJ: "We are already doing too much for players" 2:05:10 - Another full-on SPUNJ rant 2:14:40 - Good, Bad, Ugly: DreamHack Leipzig 2:14:50 - Good: BIG triumph with the new lineup 2:19:50 - Bad: No Danes in the final 2:26:57 - Ugly: Virtus.pro keep flunking

28 Jan 20202h 35min

Follow the show on Twitter and give us feedback twitter.com/hltvconfirmed Timestamps Hotseat with YNk 1:26 — Welcoming YNk 2:09 — Plans for 2020 3:32 — The effect of victory at BLAST Pro Series 2019 and reflection on other results of the last year 5:14 — YNk on the consistency issues of FaZe 7:42 — What should we expect from broky? 9:32 — How the team change changed coldzera’s role and play style 11:57 — How CS:GO has changed in the last few years 14:38 — CS:GO at the moment: what is the number one issue? 16:23 — Sponsors’ hesitance about entering the CS:GO events sponsorship market Recent News 18:20 — NiP ‘13 reunion confirmed under Dignitas 20:19 — SPUNJ desperately trying to get insight from YNk on the new Dignitas roster performance 21:28 — Pointing out the negatives of the new Dignitas roster 26:52 — nawwk to NiP as second AWP 28:52 — YNk talks about nawwk as a player and NiP’s decision to get him 31:03 — MSL returns to North 34:20 — Complexity in EU Minor after all 36:50 — Na’Vi can’t get anyone League warfare 39:57 — The clash of ESL, Plan B, and BLAST 40:50 — How did BLAST get away without clashes? 45:45 — SPUNJ: "BLAST's message is always 'Let's make this work' " 47:55 — YNk: "mouz is not one of the teams that has an insane following if they don't have results, unlike MIBR, Cloud9, even FaZe" 51:10 — Which teams are in B-site? 53:40 — SPUNJ on ELEAGUE and B-site similarities 57:00 — YNk: "There is not enough information on either of the leagues" 58:42 — Professeur: "The top 30-40 teams have no idea what to play for in 2020" 59:40 — ESL Pro League change from 40 to 24 teams 1:01:00 — ENCE pulling out of MDL to be invited to Pro League 1:02:10 — Is ESL winning the League War? 1:07:40 — Is CS:GO going to be better in 2020? 1:12:16 — YNk vs. the Twitch chat The Major changes 1:19:25 — The changes in the Major qualifier system 1:19:30 — Striker explains the changes in essence 1:21:01 — No more guaranteed spots at the next Major for Top-8. Is it positive? 1:22:12 — Tight event schedule for the next season 1:27:05 — YNk: “You spend the year with three weeks off total. This is insane!” 1:29:42 — The questions to the new Major qualifying events. 1:38:29 — The reasons behind Valve’s decision making on the Major changes Fantasy 1:46:46 — Fantasy: what is on the line at DH Leipzig? 1:55:50 — Fantasy updates The last questions 1:57:24 — Dealing with big players in MIBR and FaZe as coach 1:59:20 — Revelations of YNk from switching to coaching after being an analyst 2:01:42 — Would YNk consider going back to the desk if things don’t work out at coaching?

24 Jan 20202h 3min

In-game leader of one of the most improved CS:GO teams in 2019, forZe Jerry, joined the HLTV Confirmed podcast to talk about his quest for breaking out of tier 3, the most iconic moments of CIS Counter-Strike, and the upcoming AWPers of the CIS region. The episode was recorded before the report about Na`Vi looking to replace GuardiaN. Timestamps: 0:03:25 Joining first team as DMG in 2016 0:07:20 How is it possible to get from DMG to a Major in such a short time? 0:09:50 Finalizing forZe roster with FL1T, xsepower, facecrack and almazer 0:15:10 (CIS) IGLs that influenced Jerry 0:21:10 Goals for 2020? Recent news: 00:25:00 CR4ZY agree on team sale 00:29:30 smooya joins CHAOS 00:33:02 TYLOO add xeta 00:35:32 TSM to build around WARDELL 00:39:30 Envy changes 00:41:02 Bulding the best Polish team 00:44:44 Jerry vs. Twitch chat 00:52:10 The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Katowice and Leipzig qualifiers Cloud9, FaZe, MAD Lions qualify Complexity, ENCE can't make it through lack of streams 00:57:15 Jerry explains xsepower's surgery 01:18:30 Historic CIS CS:GO moments 01:20:10 Importance of Vega's win over NiP 01:32:00 Jerry: "CIS people think they are better than everyone" 01:34:00 ordering the best from 1-3 01:36:00 Why are CIS players getting kicked from FPL? 01:39:30 NaVi Junior vs Gambit Youngsters 01:45:00 How do xsepower, jame, iDISBALANCE, sh1ro, Gospadarov match up 01:50:45 Jerry's thoughts on the idea putting him on Na`Vi instead of GuardiaN

17 Jan 20201h 55min

Chet "ImAPet" Singh joins the HLTV Confirmed podcast to discuss the Top 20 players of 2019, the worst rebrands and roster changes, as well as his path as a coach from CLG, OpTic, NRG to EG. ➡️https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed 📺 Join the discussion and watch live: https://twitch.tv/HLTVorg 🎧 Listen to audio podcast: https://anchor.fm/hltv HLTV Confirmed is a CS:GO talk show featuring Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin, and Milan "Striker" Švejda, with guest appearances from community members such as GeT_RiGhT, Maniac, Pimp, YNk, STYKO, smooya, seang@res, and more. The show is based around interviews, breakdowns, analysis, and discussions about the esports and casual side of Counter-Strike. Timestamps: 2:40 Evil Geniuses on break until February 3:50 Why "ImAPet"? 6:50 ImAPet: "I think I was trash at what I was doing back in CLG" 10:00 Keys to NRG/EG success in 2019? 14:40 Contrasting working with daps and stanislaw 19:00 Getting recognition as a coach 23:30 ImAPet: "We are going to beat mouz this year" Roster changes 25:50 BIG adding k1to and syrsoN 27:40 Sprout add dycha and oskar 31:10 Cloud9 picking up ATK 34:08 NEO to ARCY 34:40 SPUNJ's idea for a WWE-style veteran league (better than B site?) 36:10 david "big p" p outplaying Heretics 40:00 Who's on LDLC? 41:25 NaTo, HS to Nordavind 43:15 Hatz is agreat addition to Renegades 45:00 ImAPet: "Renegades (ex-grayhound) are the EG of Australia" 45:30 pita shouldn't taking the fall for NiP? 50:00 Top3 worst things of 2019 51:40 Striker doesn't know what a Blue Shell is 53:40 BLAST LA experience for players 54:50 iBUYPOWER Masters 55:15 Charleroi singing and sniper cam 56:20 zews leaving Liquid before their best year 59:00 Sports mode introduction 1:01:00 G2's blunders 1:07:00 Picking the best three 1:08:30 "AUG meta was fine" 1:10:40 Twich chat vs. ImAPet 1:18:30 ImAPet: "2020 is going to be better scheduling wise, but still not ideal" 1:21:00 Who is going to win the next Major? 1:24:10 If Astralis get upset, which team is going to snake their way to a Major win? 1:28:30 Who is going to be the dark horse of next year? 1:32:20 Everyone except ImAPet feels an EG-Liquid shuffle 1:34:00 Are ENCE going to change? ZOREE was an option for OG? 1:37:05 What maps are going to be changed? 1:43:35 Why are rebrands happening? 1:50:00 Complexity wasn't that bad 1:59:50 Ranking them from best to worst 2:03:29 Top 20 list announcements 2:06:00 Striker: KSCERATO IS NOT IN THE TOP 20 2:11:05 Prof being tilted by people not understanding how the list is made 2:14:30 EliGE could outplace s1mple this year 2:17:00 ImAPet's issues with the current economy 2:27:21 What would we do to make the economy better? 2:29:55 SPUNJ's closing life tips Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HLTVconfirmed https://twitter.com/LukasWiinholt https://twitter.com/StrikerHLTVorg https://twitter.com/Professeur_CS https://twitter.com/SPUNJ https://twitter.com/devilwalkcsgod

10 Jan 20202h 30min