The 2023 esports season of CS2 recently ended. Unexpected teams and players rose to prominence throughout the year, providing endless entertainment for Counter-Strike fans worldwide. Standouts include GamerLegion, along with players iM and NertZ, who made impressive debuts in the tier-1 scene.
Additionally, the year witnessed the continued excellence of broadcast talent. Unarguably, Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill is among the best casters currently, widely appreciated for his fantastic color commentary and playful humor.
” class=”promoted-img” loading=”lazy” width=”1440″ height=”220″ alt=”fortnite-promotional-banner” />
Discussion with SPUNJ regarding the CS2 Shanghai Major, preferred venue for 2024 events, and the broadcast evolution in ESL Pro League
Prior to the HLTV Award Show 2023, Sportskeeda Esports chatted with SPUNJ about various talking points related to the upcoming 2024 CS2 esports season. The Australian commentator offered in-depth thoughts on different subjects, such as HLTV Top 20 rankings and the present situation of specific rosters.
Q) How are things currently in Belgrade, and what are your thoughts ahead of the HLTV Award show?
SPUNJ: Despite not having met anyone yet and the chilling cold, I am quite eager. I bought some dress shoes today, as I only had sneakers and wanted to dress appropriately.
Q) How was 2023 for you, considering it marked the full comeback of CS esports to the in-person environment after the pandemic period?
SPUNJ: Really, the year was fantastic. Although the last few years weren’t as intense as the pre-pandemic period like 2019, I cherish every year where I can perform my job. We sometimes reminisce about the earlier days when we spent nearly 300 days per year away from home.
In comparison, current times are more relaxed. This has allowed for better planning and focus. It’s been nice to return to these environments, starting with Stockholm 2021, where we filled the arenas. It’s been enjoyable seeing everyone again and recapturing the old vibe.
Though the players aren’t aloof, they tend to stick with their groups, so there’s less casual interaction as before. This shift is both good and bad.
Q) Do you prefer events like ESL Pro League over others like IEMs and Majors given their more relaxed broadcast style?
SPUNJ: I find its place appropriate for such events, given its longevity. This year, it’s condensed to three weeks, which is nice. One crucial aspect of such long events is their progressive scaling. It’s important to save the more serious analysis for arena matches with higher stakes.
However, it’s also essential to acknowledge all teams, especially emerging ones from smaller regions, in their quest to becoming seasoned Counter-Strike professionals. Personally, I was one of the individuals pushing for the shift seen in the ESL Pro League, and I’m pleased with the outcome.
I’m uncertain if this trend will continue, but it was nice experiencing it for last year’s few seasons. One major goal was to involve more players in casual conversations about the game—an aspect I enjoyed as a past viewer.
This hasn’t quite taken off because players have increasing commitments, but hopefully, it’s feasible to include more casual interactions in the future.
Q: Spinx was unveiled as the fifth on the 2023 HLTV Top 20 list. Should he have been ranked higher than ropz and m0NESY?
SPUNJ: Even though I contract for HLTV—doing things like attending their award show in Belgrade or participating in the HLTV Confirmed podcast—I don’t actively participate in ranking players. I check the rankings and read the corresponding articles, forming a personal opinion about where to place the players.
I couldn’t absolutely rank the top 20 players from 2023. Though I could name the best player from that year and others who had significant impacts, I’m not the right person to definitively rank players.
Controversy arose over frozen’s placement and m0NESY being ranked above Spinx. I’m unable to comment on this particular scenario since they have vastly different roles—one is an AWPer, while the other is a rifler. I consider various factors in these situations, so unfortunately, I can’t provide a definitive answer to this question. I, like other fans, am simply following the list without getting too worked up.
Q: In your opinion, who was the standout player in 2023: Ropz or Spinx?
SPUNJ: Ropz was undoubtedly one of the top performers in CS2. However, looking at the entire year, Major wins are a crucial consideration. As Spinx won the Major last year, I’ll choose him based on that aspect alone.
Q: Can you identify a tier-1 team that could enhance their play by making a specific change? For instance, Cloud9 could potentially sign ArtFr0st to solve their AWPer issues.
SPUNJ: In the current scenario, teams like Vitality and FaZe are probably safe. Your example involving Cloud9 is more evident among the top 10. Watching a team that wants to compete for titles without an AWPer is difficult. Astralis can’t serve as an example either, as they already possess a potent roster for the year.
When discussing teams like NIP, we’re well out of the top-tier conversation. I’d be curious to see how Complexity would fare with oSee on the team instead of hallzerk. Such a substitution might not elevate them to the top, while in Cloud9’s case, replacing HObbit with an AWPer—mainly due to his age—would be a more promising idea.
The rest of the Cloud9 team possesses substantial experience, particularly the former NAVI members Boombl4, electronic, and Perfecto. It would also be intriguing to see—given the previous rumors—s1mple returning to NAVI by replacing iM and assuming the full-time rifler role. As an amusing suggestion, I’d say it would be exciting if jks went to G2 to replace nexa. *laughs*
Q) Is there a specific city outside Australia where you’d like to see a prominent event take place?
SPUNJ: The thought of expanding esports to other parts of the world—which could foster unique Counter-Strike communities—is appealing. Considering cities like Tokyo or Seoul, I wonder how much viewership a live event would garner. These cities, which I’ve previously visited, would provide amazing event locations. However, I’m unsure if they’d be suitable for large-scale Counter-Strike events or draw in enough fans.
It’s intriguing that we’ve never hosted a large event in Vancouver. Admission into Canada is almost as restrictive as Australia, which could potentially explain this. Moreover, it’s probably expensive. Despite these factors, I feel hosting an event in Vancouver would be an exciting prospect.
Q) The China RMR for the CS2 PGL Copenhagen Major 2024 attracted over 3000 registered teams. Is this indicative of successful viewer turnout for the Shanghai Major later this year?
SPUNJ: Being highly invested in promoting Counter-Strike in this part of the world, I’m eager for the Shanghai Major to be a hit to encourage more participation in China. However, interest in playing and watching are two different aspects, which has been a longstanding challenge for us to resolve.
With the Major attracting all the prominent names to Shanghai—a city I’ve had wonderful experiences in—the prospects for a successful event are high. Despite GMT+8 likely not being the preferred timezone for several people worldwide, if the event is successful and promotes China as an esports destination, it could lead to host more regional events featuring teams across Asia, Pan-Asia, and Oceania, which would be a critical development.
When America was flourishing, with Brazilian teams and I being based there as part of Renegades, it cultivated a distinct circuit. Reviving this in Asia—possibly using China as a hub for neighboring regions, as well as roping in Middle Eastern teams—would be a fantastic addition to Counter-Strike.
Q) What’s an audacious prediction you have for a player and a team entering 2024?
SPUNJ: Lots of excitement surround Team Spirit and donk—they’re expected to excel. I’m going to keep the Danes pleased by saying that I don’t concur with Astralis’ ranking of 19th in the world. I firmly believe it’s a team that will be among the top 10 this year.
Only time will tell whether they’ll vie for trophies, but they should be able to do so with their current roster. In fact, I see Astralis as a top 5 team for 2024. In line with this prediction, I’ll choose an Astralis player—Staehr.
Staehr showed tremendous potential while on Sprout. However, that hasn’t been replicated yet in Astralis. If Astralis is to thrive in the top 5, they’ll need Staehr to step up and showcase his ability that made him shine in Sprout—his stint with Astralis hasn’t been too inspiring so far.
Q) Any message for your Counter-Strike fans?
SPUNJ: If people appreciate my work, I’m grateful. I consider it a privilege to do my job, and I hope Counter-Strike fans continue to enjoy this incredible game.