There’s a cause that increasingly more elite athletes are throwing themselves into Esports. Whether or not it’s retired NFL stars like Kenny Vaccaro or present premier league soccer gamers equivalent to Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, these athletes will not be simply paying video video games, however they’re changing into workforce house owners and managers who’re essential to their friends’ success. And, with severe prize cash up for grabs in leagues equivalent to BLAST Premier and others, profitable is a profitable enterprise. Matthieu Péché has labored because the workforce supervisor for Staff Vitality since 2019.
His squad focuses on on-line Counter Strike tournaments. CS is, for the uninitiated, a preferred sequence of first-person tactical shooter video games, however Péché brings his real-world sporting success into the combo for getting the very best out of his gamers. As a canoeist, the Frenchman earned bronze on the 2016 Olympic Video games and a world championship in 2017 in doubles races. Right here, Péché tells M&F how his work ethic and important values equivalent to respect, teamwork, and being bodily energetic are placing his workforce ranges above the remaining.
When did you first get enthusiastic about gaming?
Matthieu Péché: Though I’ve spent my whole profession in sport, I’ve at all times loved video video games. I joined Staff Vitality as Staff Supervisor of the Counter-Strike workforce in 2019. From there, I actually started to immerse myself on the earth of Esport efficiency. Though Counter Strike is among the most mature and superior scenes, there have been lots of methods and reflexes to place in place.
How would you describe your function as Counter-Strike 2 supervisor?
My function is to be the gatekeeper between my workforce and the remainder of the world. This implies making certain that gamers’ schedules are balanced and managed all the way down to the minute, to create the very best situations for them to carry out. For that, I attempt to put my expertise as a top-level sportsman to work each day to develop the workforce’s efficiency and well-being.
What are a number of the largest prizes that the workforce has received?
Because the creation of the worldwide roster of Staff Vitality on CS, the 12 months 2023 was one among triumph for the membership. Our workforce managed to win 5 main circuit trophies, together with the IEM Rio within the April, profitable $100,000 within the prize pool, the BLAST.television Main Paris within the Might, profitable $500k within the prize pool, the Gamers8 Saudi Arabia within the August, profitable $400,000 in prize pool, the BLAST Premier Fall Closing Copenhagen within the November, profitable $200,000 in prize pool, and the BLAST Premier World Closing Abu Dhabi within the December, all again in 2023, profitable $500k in prize pool.
How vital is it to carry an athletes mindset to gaming, given your personal expertise in sports activities?
As in conventional sport, gamers should carry out on a excessive degree so that they should be prepared and on time as a workforce. It means every particular person participant has to extend their very own degree after which sync with different workforce members to play as a unit. Throughout the entire preparation outdoors the sport, points which might be vital embody good well being, good sleep, good motion. I’m making an attempt to push them past the restrict to make them mirror on what they’re able to doing.
Does the workforce work remotely, or are the gamers altogether each day on the membership in Paris?
We practice and play remotely outdoors of tournaments and collectively throughout competitions or whereas boot-camping earlier than occasions. We journey collectively as a workforce for six months all year long roughly.
What sorts of guidelines or practices do you anticipate from the workforce?
I’ve a powerful work ethic and values equivalent to respect, teamwork, inclusion and perseverance. My workforce and I’ve a single purpose: to realize excellence.
Do you suppose that bodily health is important for being an amazing gamer?
Bodily health is the important thing for me. The mind is one factor, but it surely received’t be environment friendly with no good bodily situation. Every participant wants to search out his path and his routine and the bodily health to carry out.
How usually do some particular person gaming periods final?
Total, it’s 6-8 hours per day of sport coaching and apply. We additionally encourage gamers to incorporate fitness center coaching at the least just a few hours per week.
What sorts of workouts would you advocate for engaged on our reflexes to turn out to be extra superior players?
Tennis response ball drills earlier than a sport actually wakeup and take a look at the reflexes, just like the coaching in tennis and Formulation 1. We additionally incorporate a number of different workouts for reactivity and coordination equivalent to ping pong, soccer and different balls video games for warming up.
You talked about that some gaming periods are lengthy. Do you’re employed on stamina?
Any cardio exercise helps gamers to maintain up throughout lengthy video games however this additionally helps them to maintain their our bodies in form and address the demanding tempo of
competitions all around the world. Stamina is important all through play, all players within the workforce have 1000’s of hours of play on Counter Strike.
Thanks a lot on your time and better of luck in future tournaments! What are your hopes for the way forward for the workforce?
I’d prefer to see our workforce’s efforts rewarded on the upcoming tournaments within the second half of the 12 months. Up to now, we haven’t managed to go all the best way. Initially, I’d prefer to see them shine on the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, on the BLAST Premier Fall Teams Copenhagen in July, and in IEM Cologne in August.
You possibly can observe Staff Vitality’s progress on Instagram!