The New SK Gaming Interviewed: "Emilio will be calling, pita steps down from in-game leader role"

This article was originally published on GameSpot's sister site onGamers.com, which was dedicated to esports coverage.

OnGamers sat down with the new SK-Gaming, specifically talking to member Maikel "Eksem" Bill about exactly what kind of pressure and expectations the squad are facing in their new organization. Being picked up by SK, an organization which has one of the longest histories in the CS scene, the team also swapped out a member and changed an in-game leader.

You've just returned to SK as their new CS:GO line-up after they didn't touch CS:GO for a while. How did the move come about having you join them, especially considering there are more free-agent teams on the market?

Well first of all I can tell you that Property couldn't afford to have a CS:GO team. It's expensive in terms of LANs et cetera because you're five people obviously. Pita had contact with the SK Management since he left his last SK team so that's how it first started.

I really don't have an answer as to why SK just picked us, it might be because they know more people from our team so they just believe that we can grow as a team together and in the future be a really good and consistent line-up.

What will SK be able to offer to make you develop even faster than you initially did in team prOperty? Can we expect bootcamps, offline appearances around Europe and that kind of stuff, or are you starting mostly domestically?

Well first of all it's hard to compete on a high level in CS:GO without getting something for it. SK Gaming is a really big organisation that's able to help us in all the ways a CS:GO team wants help with. So basically we get everything we need, bootcamps, LANs, et cetera.

It's been a while since SK were at the level they were at in 1.6, especially in their projects in CS:S and CS:GO so far, what's the pressure and expectations like on you guys right now?

It's obvious there's pressure on our side to represent such a big organisation but we work as a team and try to help each other in a way so we handle the pressure. We all know that everyone will say "LOL how can they be SK-Gaming?" instead of "Awesome, SK-Gaming got a new team, let's see how it will go". But to be honest we don't really care about those who are looking down on us, we came to SK to be one of the best teams out there and it's only the beginning. Rome wasn't built in one day either.

You've had a change of players, swapping out xelos and spitfire and adding emilio. Why did you make that move and what does emilio bring that your previous line-up couldn't?

Well to be complete honest it wasn't really our choice that spitfire wanted to leave. When we agreed to join SK he didn't like the new contract and wanted to quit the team. We considered for a while and talked about new players and emilio came to mind.

In Sweden all the pros know each other so it's kind of easy to "choose" players. Emilio is a really good player, he has always been an in-game caller and today he's gonna start calling for our team (Pita stepping down from the position). So the people that ask me "Why emilio? He's not good?" I answer that he's really good and has been playing with the same line-up for years, so he couldn't really improve anything with them.

You're fighting for a highly contested position in Sweden having national teams like fnatic, ex-LGB, and NiP. Between these consistent, established teams, as a new team that's also had changes recently, how do you see yourself in the Swedish scene and how do you match up against the other Swedish teams?

To play against Swedish teams is really hard, because as I said in the last question, ALL the pro players know each other. I myself have always struggled against Swedish teams individually but we're a team so we have to compete against them together. In a while I think we are able to become a really top contender in Sweden, but first we will need some time to establish ourselves.

Should we be getting ready for some of the epic 1.6 rivalries, like the one between fnatic and SK, to continue now that you guys are back in CS:GO?

Of course! There's kind of a rivalry between me and SKYTTEN and some of the guys from fnatic from before. We don't hate each other but we're not best friends either. So the rivalry between us is 100% gonna be there ;)

You didn't manage to qualify online for DreamHack Summer, but what exactly did you take away from those first few officials under the SK banner and what are the fields that currently need improvement within the team?

Well we haven't actually practiced as much as we need to because my grandmother just got liver cancer and is not feeling good. So I haven't been the same guy/player in a while because I'm sad of that. I don't want to blame everything on that but it's factored in.

We didn't play our own game style against Reason. We tried to anti-strat them too much and when they didn't do what we thought they were going to, we just stood there looking completely awful. Then it's also a bo1 online, it's kind of random. I mean every team in the world is able to win against whoever you want in a bo1, its just luck with guesses what you're going to do in the rounds. But Reason played and guessed better than us in that match so I have to say Good Game Reason also.

Final words, shoutouts? Where can fans follow you and where you will be competing next?

Thank you!

I want to thank all the guys that believe in us and cheering for us to win. I will do everything in my power to make your thoughts right. I can also say that this is just the beginning. My haters wake me up, those who love me keep me going. Those who want to follow me can check me out on facebook!

pictures courtesy of: Maikel Bill, SK-Gaming, Fragbite.se