f1redup: "I do believe that our players do not lack mechanically"

These are exciting times for the Indian Counter-Strike scene. The Indian CS:GO team will be heading to Riyadh next month to take part in the Asia Qualifiers for the IESF World Esports Championship 2023 and back at home, there are plenty of exciting tournaments lined up.

Amidst his busy schedule, Team India's CS:GO captain, Harsh 'f1redup' Jain, had a chat with Dust2.in , discussing everything about the region, his career so far and the road ahead.

Let's start at the very beginning, how did you get into Counter-Strike? How old were you when you played Counter-Strike for the first time?

My gaming journey began on a low end laptop, just for fun at a very young age. I started off with the Condition Zero version first and then moved CS 1.6.
Later I got to know about the newest version of Counter-strike which was Global Offensive. I downloaded it on my laptop and used to barely get 40-50 fps. I preferred playing only Dust II and Mirage like every other pugger and in fact I still have the clips of those days. When I was in college there were many gaming cafes around my area. At the age of 17 I decided not to play on such low specs just to see how it would feel to play on a decent PC. After our lectures, two of my friends and I started exploring around, visited many gaming cafes and finally got the one which was best suited for us. It was at a café called 'PHOENIX', which kicked off my CS:GO journey.

When was the first time you actually decided you will pursue CS as a career?

As a matter of fact, I never decided to pursue it, I just went with the flow and one thing led to another. I used to play this game just for fun and over time I developed this passion for it so I started learning the game further and worked on developing my skill sets considerably at a very fast pace.
I was and am very lucky to have so many positive people around me who appreciated and motivated me every time by saying things like 'you are made for this game' 'you have the skill sets and 'you should try competing in a proper team with a structure' etc. Eventually things started working out for me as a professional player. The teams I joined during that time frame all did pretty well and unexpectedly we got really good results which really helped me get recognition in the community.

How tough has it been being a professional esports athlete in India? You have been around for a while and even though things are looking bright now, it wasn't a few years ago. Tell us about some of the struggles you had to face?

A few years ago, the Indian esports scene was still emerging, and there were limited opportunities for players to compete at a professional level. The infrastructure, support systems, and tournaments were not as developed compared to other regions, which made it challenging for aspiring players to gain recognition and exposure. Without adequate resources and support, it was a task for me to focus solely on my professional growth and development.
It was tough but after the launch of PUBG mobile the esports scene in India boomed and took a very different and more positive route. People in India slowly started to understand what esports actually is and who is a professional esports athlete.

Being an esports athlete in India isn't an easy profession to break into. Even today a lot of people don't look at an esports athlete as a 'conventional athlete', what kind of changes would you suggest to change that mindset?

Educating and spreading awareness about esports amongst the general public can help dispel misconceptions and create a better understanding of the skills, dedication, and discipline required to excel in esports.
Collaborations and partnerships between esports organisations and traditional sports institutions can help bridge the gap between the two domains which in return will create more opportunities and support for aspiring esports athletes. I believe, a lot of time and collective efforts by the community will definitely be required to shift the public perception. By constantly creating awareness about the value of esports and what it has done for the youth as well as taking other regions which are excelling in the sport as an example, we can work towards fostering greater recognition and acceptance of esports athletes as conventional athletes in India.

There has been a lot of hype around Counter-Strike 2 worldwide, including in India. Do you think CS2 can make Counter-Strike the dominant esports title in India again?

It’s possible, because Counter Strike has a strong legacy as one of the most popular and influential esports titles globally, including in India.
The release of a highly anticipated sequel could generate excitement and attract both new and existing players to the franchise. If Counter-Strike 2 offers significant improvements and updates over its predecessor, it could potentially reinvigorate the Indian esports scene.
Several factors contribute to a game's success as a dominant esports title. These factors include gameplay mechanics, accessibility, community support, professional infrastructure, and a thriving competitive scene. Counter-Strike has historically ticked many of these boxes, and a well-executed sequel could build upon that foundation. It's worth noting that the esports landscape is highly competitive, with numerous established titles and emerging games vying for attention. The success of Counter-Strike 2 in India as a dominant esports title would depend on various factors such as the game's reception, the marketing efforts, support from tournament organizers and teams, and the community's overall interest and engagement.

With regards to the previous question and the hype around CS2, the Indian esports industry seems to be getting ready for a whole lot of Counter-Strike, A lot of organisations are investing in the game and there are some exciting tournaments and events also being planned. From an organisation’s point of view, what do you think are some of the changes organisations should make to support the athletes more ?

I am very glad and excited about the fact that, finally, there are going to be a host of Counter-Strike events and tournaments, which are planned for this year and will be held soon.
Seeing so much interest from various organisations in Counter Strike again, I feel very happy as they are investing to revive the scene in India.
From an organisation’s point of view, I don't think they have to do anything special. Overall, organisations already prioritise the holistic development and well-being of their athletes, providing them with the necessary resources, support, and opportunities to thrive in the competitive esports landscape.
I just want one thing from them, which is patience and the trust over the young players who are going to play as well as think about a proper long-term plan to support the athletes more effectively.

The Indian team is headed to Riyadh for the Asia Qualifiers for the IESF World Esports Championship 2023. After your strong performances in the South Asia Qualifiers, where do you think India lie, compared to the other teams in Asia and how far do you think Indian can go?

I believe, compared to the other Asian teams in the region, we are not that far behind.
I am pretty confident about the fact that we are going to have a stellar performance and give our best to qualify for the World Championship in Romania.

With regards to the Indian CS players, where do you think our players lie in comparison with the other countries in the region? What are some of the things our players should be focusing on to get amongst the best in the world?

I do believe that our players do not lack mechanically. In fact, mechanics are that one thing that can be improved really fast by putting in the work required. Where we do lack I feel, is mentally. I believe that having the right mindset and approach towards the game as well as your team is essential for a team or a player to thrive and really perform. Even if a player is mechanically gifted and his mind holds him back, he's not going to be able to give his 100% and it's necessary to have a clear head as well as calmness and composure in order to perform.
Our players should also develop the habit of getting over minute things from previous rounds or games quickly and have their full focus on the current game or round as dwelling over something that cannot be changed will only hinder the team's performance. One thing I believe in, is the fact that we are not that behind in terms of performance from the other regions but our mentality holds us back and I feel it's because the other regions have definitely achieved way more than ours but this should not hinder our confidence and if it does, fake it till you make it!

Quick - Fire Set

• Favourite version of Counter-Strike: Counter Strike: Global Offensive

• Favourite Map: Train/Overpass

• Favourite weapon: AWP/Zeus

• Favourite team: FaZe/Astralis

• Favourite player: ZywOo/Twistzz

• First CS version you played on: Condition Zero