Dangerous Information Eagles are as soon as once more within the prime 16 of a Main after cruising by way of the Challengers Stage of IEM Rio. Theirs is the kind of story that’s rising ever so uncommon within the CS:GO scene.
“They don’t seem to be a part of the circuit, they don’t seem to be there with the massive boys, however they’re taking part in like them.”
As Dangerous Information Eagles’ gamers leaped up from their seats and gathered for a gaggle huddle, joined by supervisor James Banks, after soundly beating GamerLegion within the third spherical of the IEM Rio Challengers Stage, Australian caster Chad ‘SPUNJ’ Burchill, just like the CS:GO scene at giant, was left in awe.
There may be an unmistakable, distinctive purity to an underdog story, and through the years there have been many such tales at CS:GO Majors, from Luminosity’s 2016 win in Columbus, to Cloud9’s 2018 victory in Boston (the place Quantum Bellator Fireplace additionally made a particularly unlikely run to the quarterfinals) after taking place 0-2 within the Legends Stage, to ENCE’s 2019 grand ultimate look in Katowice.
Most romantic underdog tales in esports are one-offs, unable to be maintained as a result of the particular set of circumstances that went into them are by no means seen once more. However that’s not the case of Dangerous Information Eagles, who’re persevering with in Rio de Janeiro the fascinating story that they started to write down in Antwerp, nearly seven months in the past.
There’s positively one thing particular concerning the Kosovar-Albanian workforce, the primary to succeed in a CS:GO Main with out the backing of a corporation since dAT’s ESL One Cologne 2014 look. Dangerous Information Eagles have gained many admirers within the scene not simply due to their in-your-face strategy — harking back to 2015 fnatic, in accordance with analyst Janko ‘YNk’ Paunović — but additionally due to their surprising success regardless of restricted sources.
The Dangerous Information Eagles tag was arrange in February 2022 after the gamers parted methods with BLINK following a breakdown in negotiations with the administration over contract renewals. A workforce made up of gamers who got here by way of the FACEIT Professional League — which explains their aggressive, pug fashion —, they overcame the chances after they certified for PGL Main Antwerp in Might and reached the Legends Stage, that includes the highest 16 sides on the planet.
That they had carried out sufficient, the gamers thought after they returned house, to safe the backing of a corporation that might enable them to take the following step of their growth. To seek out some stability of their private lives.
The truth, nevertheless, was very completely different.
With playing and sports activities betting unlawful in Kosovo and Albania, a lot of the typical suspects — betting corporations with deep pockets — had been out of the image. There have been conferences with potential worldwide sponsors, however talks broke down because the advertising price range for Balkan international locations is often very restricted.
A lot of esports organizations additionally got here knocking, however that, too, was a useless finish. Some clearly wished to benefit from the sticker cash that the workforce would earn sooner or later, whereas others, regardless of being properly meant, lacked the infrastructure that the gamers had been searching for.
Slightly than make a cope with the satan that will include a heavy worth or accept lower than what they’re value, the gamers determined to proceed their journey as Dangerous Information Eagles, utilizing sticker income and event winnings to assist themselves. The workforce has only one sponsor to assist alleviate the burden, Albanian digital retailer gjirafa50.
“For us as a workforce, wage will not be an important issue on this resolution however the employees that a corporation has and the way they may also help us develop out and in of the sport,” the workforce wrote in August. “One other actually vital issue is the chance to bootcamp often with out problem. This for us is the place visas are additionally crucial.”
Working it again
Between the Majors in Antwerp and Rio de Janeiro, Dangerous Information Eagles competed in a raft of on-line tournaments to pocket prize cash and stay related within the scene. There was additionally a small four-team LAN occasion in Prague, which they gained. “It’s been a very busy schedule, having all these tournaments, day-after-day a brand new event,” BNE participant Flatron ‘juanflatroo’ Halimi mentioned. “Attempting to organize for the whole lot, not catching a break, being exhausted on a regular basis.”
Such is the lifetime of a tier-two CS:GO workforce within the present panorama, the place ESL and BLAST maintain a decent grip on the scene with their franchise tournaments. The restricted spots for non-partner groups are determined by difficult multi-stage qualifying methods that resemble a seven-layer cake.
The CS:GO Majors, with their open qualifying system, supply the perfect probability for a workforce like Dangerous Information Eagles to compete on the worldwide stage. In order that they put all their concentrate on ensuring they had been in the absolute best form for the European RMR resulting in Rio. It was the end-all, be-all, for the workforce, and so they handed the take a look at by beating Everlasting Fireplace, Astralis and forZe within the RMR.
It appeared just like the workforce may lastly catch their breath, however then their participation on the occasion got here below risk attributable to visa points. In the long run, it took the well timed intervention of Kosovo’s Minister of Tradition, Youth and Sport, Hajrulla Çeku, for the workforce to beat one other hurdle.
Nothing has ever come straightforward for Dangerous Information Eagles, however that’s a part of their allure and one of many the explanation why many rejoiced as they booked a spot within the Legends Stage with a flawless 3-0 document following victories over 00 Nation, BIG, and GamerLegion.
Arduous work, consistency and persistence are the keys to Dangerous Information Eagles’ success, workforce coach Klesti ‘stikle-’ Kola says. James Banks, who helps the workforce freed from cost, informed Dexerto that he sees many similarities between their mindset and the laser focus displayed by the Luminosity/SK workforce after they had been on the rise in 2015 and 2016.
Dangerous Information Eagles have already equaled their end result from Antwerp (the place they went 3-2 within the Challenger Stage), and something that they get from the competitors now can be a bonus. They appeared like a strong unit within the Challengers Stage: each participant did their half (although Rigon ‘rigoN’ Gashi and Dionis ‘sinnopsyy’ Budeci had been a transparent step above the remaining), and the workforce displayed an exceptional CT facet (their 82.7% winrate was the best through the first two days of the occasion) that’s closely primarily based on instinct. stikle-’s job is looking for the appropriate steadiness between aggression and self-discipline, however for now, this fashion appears to be working. And the workforce’s confidence is unshakable. “We’re not carried out,” sinnopsyy mentioned after the victory towards GamerLegion.
No one anticipated a (comparatively) ragtag bunch of gamers with nearly no prior tier-one expertise and no monetary backing to make the highest 16 of a Main, and to do it not as soon as however twice is a exceptional feat. In a scene turbocharged by blood cash the place the hole between the elite and the remaining has by no means been wider, Dangerous Information Eagles are a superb reminder of the sweetness that may be present in open circuits and within the tales of underdogs.
“The best way I see our boys is as a passionate, devoted, and decided household,” Banks mentioned. “They’ve the starvation and drive, they know what they need to obtain, that is their dream and so they’ve sacrificed a lot to get right here. However they don’t seem to be carried out. We aren’t carried out!”