DeKay’s Sources: Key members of CS:GO talent to miss StarLadder Berlin Major
EPICENTERThe highly anticipated StarLadder Berlin CS:GO Major is set to get underway with the New Challengers Stage on August 23, 2019. However, some of the most recognizable faces in Counter-Strike will be conspicuous only in their absence as a number of top tier casters and analysts appear to have been overlooked for the $1 million event.
Longtime members of the Counter-Strike talent pool Anders Blume, Jason “moses” O’Toole, and Duncan “Thorin” Shields are not expected to participate in StarLadder’s Major, according to multiple sources.
This will be the first Major since ESL One: Cologne 2015 without moses and will be the second and fifth Major in a row without Anders and Thorin respectively.
Thorin was back on the analyst desk for ESL One: Cologne 2019.
On July 16 Thorin tweeted, “It is entirely possible I never work at another CS:GO Major. Happy to have worked at six no matter.” Sources were able to confirm to Dexerto that Thorin would not only miss the Berlin Major, but was not even considered at any point in time during the selection process.
Thorin has worked seven events for StarLadder since early 2015, including three events in 2018 and one earlier this year. His last CS:GO Major was the ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta 2017.
At this point it’s entirely possible I never work another CS:GO major. Happy to have worked at six no matter.
— Thorin (@Thooorin) July 16, 2019
Anders and moses were considered as members of talent for the event but would have been there in a limited capacity, according to one source with knowledge of the situation.
It is unclear how much their participation at IEM Chicago had an effect on the decision making process by StarLadder, due to the conflict with their Minor schedule.
Anders missed the IEM Katowice Major earlier this year, making the Berlin Major his second missed Major in a row.
Anders and moses are a fan favorite duo.
While nothing is currently confirmed for the ever-popular casting duo of Henry ‘HenryG’ Greer and Matthew ‘Sadokist’ Trivett, signs would suggest that they will be attending the Major in some casting capacity.
With the New Challengers Stage of the Major set to begin on August 23rd, it is unclear at this time how much of the Minor talent will be retained for the Major.
The current on-camera talent lineup for the European and American Minor tournaments are as follows:
Casting Pairs
- Daniel “ddk” Kapadia
- James Bardolph
- Vince Hill
- Harry “JustHarry” Russell
- Hugo Byron
- Halvor “vENdetta” Gulestøl
Analysts
- Joona “natu” Leppänen
- Mathieu “Maniac” Quiquerez
- Mohan “launders” Govindasamy
- Robin “Fifflaren” Johansson
Hosts
- James Banks
- Alex “Machine” Richardson
Interviewer
- Sue “Smix” Lee