Chapter 451

"Nice, welcome back!"

This phrase has already flooded the CS: GO community; too many famous professional players have expressed their welcome for Xu Beifang's return.

This exaggerated scene caused quite a sensation among the new fan base.

The online era caused many professional players to lose their passion, but its impact on the popularity of CS: GO was enormous. The CS: GO tournament system developed very well during this stage, and many newcomers entered the CS scene one after another.

Xu Beifang had been in seclusion for several years. Although some people had heard his name, it wasn't until Xu Beifang returned that they realized just how influential the ID "Nice" really was.

And Xu Beifang, who was at the center of the attention, had been living a very comfortable life recently.

As expected, he still loved CS.

After the entire roster for the primary COL team was finalized, he began to return to his former professional life.

He would wake up every morning for a run, then have breakfast, and begin his daily warm-up to adapt to the version changes brought by CS2.

Then in the afternoon, if there were practice matches, he would help other teams test their roster strength during the transfer period, and also take the opportunity to integrate the new lineup.

He also tried to step into the role of "Commander."

For him, this role transition was actually quite significant.

After all, he was once just a star player with a lot of say, which is different from being a true Commander.

This transition came with quite a few problems.

First, they needed to adapt to each other's communication, the frequency of communication during matches, and the different habits of each player's playstyle; they spent a lot of time adjusting.

The training process was always tedious, but fortunately, with Danking and Coach Xiaoxiao there, the overall atmosphere was relatively relaxed.

However, the communication issues were resolved quite quickly. After all, they mainly used English to communicate. NIKO, JKS, and Elige were quite proficient in English. Danking's communication was a bit bumpy for the first few days, but as he entered the environment, he improved very quickly.

In the first week, they only practiced some simple default playstyles and didn't really touch upon difficult tactical pushes.

And after the first week ended, Xu Beifang proactively proposed holding a "Round Table Conference."

In this meeting, everyone spoke their minds, discussed their feelings about the week's training, and also pointed out the problems they saw.

Inside the COL conference room, Elige rubbed his bald head and looked at Xu Beifang, "Your experience from two previous TOP1s is truly rich; you can even have this kind of session?"

Tie Dan was also very moved; this kind of time where one could speak freely was quite rare in a team.

At the very least, when he was at Tyloo before, this situation rarely happened.

This was the collision brought about by different team environments.

"Then let's see how this 'Round Table Conference' goes. If the results are good, we can make it a fixed monthly session," Xu Beifang smiled.

There are always differences when people get along. Sometimes, proactively speaking out and communicating—even if it leads to a heated argument—is better than keeping it bottled up inside until it grows thorns.

"It seems everyone doesn't know what to say, so I'll start with the first topic," Coach Xiaoxiao said, holding a small notebook, and stated the content he had prepared, "In the first week, we mostly focused on communication and integration, so let's talk about our views on teammate communication first."

NIKO spoke up first: "I'll go first. I think JKS, your communication could be a bit more frequent. Sometimes you are indeed too silent. You can give some information at certain points, even if you don't know the opponent's information, just talk more."

He didn't quite know how to describe it, so he scratched his head, "Just talking more is fine."

Xu Beifang nodded: "JKS, it is indeed your problem. I also need your information here to support me."

"You should be able to understand that even the world's strongest Commander can't command four teammates without microphones. I need your information feedback to decide which side to attack."

Although a Lurker doesn't need to communicate too frequently, they still need to provide feedback. However, JKS often went silent while playing.

Although he would occasionally get kills, there was too little sound, which made the front line feel uncomfortable.

"Is it that serious?" JKS took a sip of water to hide his embarrassment, "Then I'll give more information to the front line later."

His personality wasn't very active to begin with, and having just joined several new teammates, he wasn't quite used to it yet.

But hearing both old teammates say so, he planned to change it later.

At this time, Elige also raised his hand: "I also have something I want to say."

Xu Beifang nodded, signaling him to speak directly.

"It's about Danking. The communication could be more concise. Sometimes there's too much ineffective communication, which instead affects the transmission of information."

Danking was originally curious about what Elige was saying, but his face turned awkward upon hearing this.

He could actually understand the reason: his English level wasn't very good, and combined with the habits he had from staying at Tyloo for a long time, the information density of his communication wasn't high enough.

"Then I'll change it too," the pink-haired goblin said embarrassedly.

Xu Beifang pondered for a while and then said, "You just need to adjust a little bit. Don't be afraid to speak. Elige and JKS have relatively introverted personalities, so the rhythm of communication still needs to be driven by the three of us. So you just need to keep the communication concise; don't be afraid to speak because of this."

As for the communication between Xu Beifang, Elige, and NIKO, there was no problem at all.

No matter what, the three of them were once existences who led teams to dominate on the field, so there wouldn't be any major problems with communication.

Those who truly had communication problems were like smooya, who became a T4-level player early on.

After Coach Xiaoxiao saw that this topic was over, he continued, "The second topic concerns the right to speak within the team and the freedom of different players. This is a very important issue!"

The coach's expression was very serious.

Although he had always appeared with an entertaining image on the professional stage, he still had his own understanding of professionalism and competition.

If the right to speak isn't handled well, the team's subsequent direction might be very miserable.

His gaze couldn't help but look at NIKO. When NIKO was at Faze, there had been several situations due to the issue of the right to speak.

Xu Beifang looked at NIKO and JKS: "Actually, what the coach wants to say is also very simple. For the upcoming matches, do we plan to rely on the G2 model to play as a whole?" He turned to look at Elige, "Or is it like the old Liquid, where I just give a general instruction and then let you play freely, relying on our tacit understanding and structure to play?"

These two different command styles would definitely lead to different results.

The G2 style has relatively large restrictions on players, following more of a path where players serve the whole, focusing on excellent tactics.

And the peak Liquid style was to maximize the individual ability of the players, giving each player more space.

Everyone in the room pondered for a long time; this concerned their future playstyle system and was a very important matter.

Elige: "Let's go with the G2 style."

NIKO: "Let's play the Liquid style."

After consideration, Elige and NIKO gave opposite answers.

They looked at each other in surprise.

The coach finally smiled: "What's the situation? Neither of you approves of your old team's operating style?"

Ji Ge looked at NIKO and smiled helplessly: "The 2019 Liquid playstyle was indeed very good, but the most important member at the time was actually stewie2K. With that guy swimming around like a catfish throughout the game, we had information and resources to fully utilize, and only then could this system have room to play."

"Besides, even at the peak of that system, wasn't it still blown up by our Commander?"

Speaking of this, Ji Ge was full of resentment. After all, since mid-2019, Liquid had never beaten Vitality.

Their heads had been hammered to pieces.

Coach Xiaoxiao turned to look at NIKO again.

NIKO also said simply and clearly: "I don't want a lot of resources; I just feel that the G2 playstyle isn't very feasible, otherwise we wouldn't have played so painfully."

"That kind of playstyle has too high a requirement for the Commander's state during the match."

The idea of players serving the whole means the Commander's right to speak is very high, basically relying on their instructions to do things.

There are too many tactical deployments, and once the path isn't right, it's very easy to lose the game.

For example, if an attack reaches an area defended by 3 opponents, winning completely depends on the players' state.

He believes that tactics should be a glimmer of light in a predicament, not a normalized action of an attack.

Both ideas were denied, and the room fell into a brief silence.

Xu Beifang tapped the table with his index finger and then said hesitantly: "I do have an idea."

NIKO raised an eyebrow: "Just say it."

Everyone else looked at him too.

Xu Beifang smiled: "The right to speak within the team must be confirmed, otherwise, if we really enter a match later and reach a high-quality game, it might become chaotic."

Several people nodded in empathy.

Whether in matches or on the ladder, they had all encountered times when there were differences of opinion in the middle of a round. Everyone's understanding of the game is definitely different, but the information they receive starts from what is in front of them, so they make completely different operations.

Sometimes it might just be a difference in positioning that can lose a good game.

At such times, having a Commander give orders, and others being able to put down what they are doing and follow the Commander's orders, is quite important.

"So my idea is that when there is a real difference of opinion, everyone should follow my instructions."

"But if it's all like this, then it's actually similar to G2's local serving the whole, but you are all the world's most outstanding players, and putting you all into a framework is a bit of a pity."

Hearing this, Danking rubbed his head embarrassedly.

Xu Beifang didn't pay attention to Danking's action but explained his subsequent thoughts, "As for the defensive side, we have discussed it before, mainly based on my ideas, and then NIKO and I will drive the rhythm; the two of us will have relatively high freedom."

"As for the offensive side, on the basis of the default, I have thought of a synchronized attack playstyle."

NIKO frowned: "Synchronized attack?"

He was a bit surprised, not because the term was new; in fact, the term was too common.

From the CS: GO era to the current CS2, many tactics follow a path of one main attack direction + one flank; this belongs to a synchronized attack.

But he felt Xu Beifang's idea wouldn't be that simple; after all, this guy might be a famous grinder.

Xu Beifang didn't keep them in suspense, took the coach's laptop, and opened the tactical drill software.

He randomly opened a Mirage map and placed the most basic 212 formation on the CT side.

Immediately after, he placed their positions one after another.

"Our individual ability is stronger than first-tier teams, there is no doubt about this."

There are three TOP5-level riflemen in the team, and JKS is also TOP19; this individual ability is truly much stronger than most first-tier teams.

"So my idea is that we can very proactively try to break through, trying to break through from several angles." Xu Beifang set their positions in the map software at Archway, B2 Floor, and A1 respectively.

"For example, if we are in this lineup now, after the early information collection is completed, I can give a three-angle synchronization message, and then we can simultaneously start pushing and trying from three angles."

"For example, if I try to be killed at A1, but NIKO pushes up at Archway and gets the first kill, then they will definitely have actions in the B area, and JKS, you might be able to steal a kill."

NIKO rubbed his chin: "I kind of understand what you mean, creating more pressure on the map, letting the opponent reveal flaws, even if it's just at the cost of a trade."

NIKO is actually very smart; he couldn't become an excellent Commander just because he couldn't balance individual performance and commanding the overall situation; he is a single-core thinking animal.

Elige was relatively pessimistic: "But if we attack at the same time, and we don't hold the front line in that wave, wouldn't this point be impossible to play directly?"

He had already imagined the scene where one person fell from all three angles; that way, it would be 2V5 not long after the start, and it would be completely impossible to play.

"Or if one is just killed on the front line, and the head count is traded back, that would also be a bit counterproductive."

He could actually understand this tactic; Xu Beifang gave them a lot of free space and scattered the entire team's personnel; this is Xu Beifang's belief in their individual ability.

But with the overall strength scattered, it is also difficult to kill the opponent in one wave.

"That's actually not a big problem. On the offensive side, trading people is profitable, and in my vision, this synchronization also needs to have some time intervals, so that the one walking alone can seize the opportunity."

On the first-tier stage, those real old-timers, even if the front line is in full swing, will still cautiously hold the positions they should be watching, so this type of attack method requires a time difference to make this type of 'old-timer' think there is no one behind them.

"That's actually possible," Danking's eyes lit up, "This can completely bring out our players' abilities. Even if the first wave of synchronized attack doesn't go well, and both sides have a trade of numbers, we can still rely on the clutch to play later."

"The clutch ability of several of us is also quite good!"

Xu Beifang, NIKO, Elige, JKS, plus himself, are all top-notch in clutch ability; none of them are those stupid gunners.

Dragging the opponent into a mid-term confrontation can completely utilize their individual abilities.

"And this is in a situation that isn't very smooth. With Beifang, this World's Number One Sniper, in a smooth situation, it might be like this," Danking said excitedly, "For example, Archway moves first, NIKO seizes the opportunity to kill one first, and then the opponent pulls out and trades NIKO, and I help NIKO trade back."

"Beifang and Ji Ge push out from A1 and kill the person in the A area, JKS seizes the opponent's retake timing from B2 Floor, kills one, and at the same time confirms the position of the last person, directly entering a 4-on-1 scene."

Danking's imagination made the others in the room start to fantasize.

NIKO took a breath: "Seems not bad, huh."

JKS smiled: "Seems we don't have other choices. After all, Beifang is the Commander, and we can't play according to the resource-filled playstyle of Vitality."

Elige also showed his signature fake smile on his face: "I think we can try it."

Xu Beifang bumped fists with them: "Then it's settled. Next, we will move in this direction during training."

"What if I don't play according to this method?" NIKO winked at Xu Beifang, joking.

Xu Beifang chuckled, then rolled up his sleeves nonchalantly: "I will convince people with reason."

NIKO's smile froze instantly.

Convince people with reason? You mean physical reason, right!

The others were also having a great time.

At this time, JKS asked: "The direction of training is basically determined, so what is the situation with the subsequent matches? We should need to play quite a few qualifiers."

He had put all his thoughts into training and integration these days and hadn't paid attention to the match schedule.

Xu Beifang chuckled upon hearing this.

"The next match is IEM Chengdu Station, we have no pressure to qualify."

NIKO frowned: "That's not right, the few of them were transferred to the second team, we shouldn't have any major tournament spots anymore."

According to the current CS: GO tournament rules, for most tournaments, if more than three players are changed, the points will be cleared.

IEM is even more so, which means for the IEM Chengdu Station match, they can't be directly invited by the tournament group officially through points.

Xu Beifang nodded: "That's right."

"Then why is there no pressure?" JKS asked strangely.

The gold content of the IEM series matches is still quite high, and because there are not many qualifying spots, it is still very difficult to kill out of the European region, this shark pool.

They are also in a state of integration during the off-season, so it wouldn't be strange even if they died in the shark pool.

Xu Beifang got up and patted JKS on the shoulder: "Mainly because of the three of us."

He pointed to Danking again.

"Danking and I are both from Huaxia, considered players in the Asian region, and you, this guy, are from Oceania. According to the tournament rules of the vacation agency, now we have to participate in the region according to nationality."

"That is to say, the current COL can only participate in the qualifiers for the joint Asian and Oceanian region."

Danking's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this: "Could it be."

Xu Beifang nodded: "We are now participating in the IEM Chengdu Asian and Oceanian qualifiers online, do you think the pressure is high for us?"

Danking lay back excitedly: "Holy crap, isn't that a home-field advantage!"

"IEM Chengdu should have two local regional spots, presumably given to Tyloo and LVG, which means our opponents are actually on the Australian team side."

JKS nodded: "That's indeed not much pressure."

Today's Australian teams can only be said to be quite weak, otherwise he wouldn't have been unemployed at home waiting for an opportunity.

"So for the upcoming qualifiers, let's just use the match as practice."

Danking rubbed his hands expectantly upon hearing this. He originally thought he would need a long time to play various online qualifiers.

Didn't expect to return to the country to start playing soon.

He imagined in his mind that when the time comes, he would use his sniper rifle to blow up donk, and the whole audience would shout "Danking!" "Danking!"

That would be too exciting!

In the Huya 123321 channel.

Ma Xixi had been playing PL for several rounds and really couldn't hold on, so he chose to change projects and transition to eating broadcast.

He was eating takeout and answering the questions of the bosses in the live broadcast room casually.

【Will Steel Helmet participate in the IEM Chengdu Station match?】

"That's for sure, this rare opportunity to compete with top players, although we are a streamer team, at least we have to show the style of a streamer team, okay," Ma Xixi smiled after saying this, "In case we beat them, then there will be fun to watch."

Steel Helmet is a streamer team led by MO and composed of several domestic CS: GO streamers.

Although it is a streamer team, they have always been ranked in the top 3 domestically, and have even won several maps against Tyloo, so they can still brag a lot when taken out.

Ma Xixi acts as the coach of Steel Helmet, responsible for massaging the players' shoulders, ordering food, and providing emotional value.

【Does Steel Helmet have hope of entering the main tournament this time in IEM Chengdu?】

"There is still hope. After all, Tyloo and LVG are both directly invited. If we can beat the Australian team, then we have a chance to enter the main tournament. At that time, let the brothers in the live broadcast room feel what is called face, okay."

"At that time, MO and the others will play on the stage, and I will wear a suit behind them holding a tactical notebook. If they encounter problems, I will call a timeout for them. It really can't be too handsome, okay," Ma Xixi chuckled, "This time IEM Chengdu, we won't be commentators, we will be coaches!"

【You really know how to think】

【Imagination is quite rich】

【If playing badly, call a timeout to praise the opponent, the opposite side will feel milk bubbling on the keyboard】

【Encounter problems and call a timeout, then discuss what to eat at night, right】

【This coach only knows how to order food】

【Ma Xixi is proficient in the taste of all takeouts around the venue and can accurately understand the players' dietary habits!】

【Xixi is too top-notch!】

【Xixi, with this height, won't be blocked by the e-sports chair, right】

Facing the questioning of the barrage bosses, Ma Xixi looked disdainful.

Laugh, laugh.

When the time comes, I'll let you see how handsome I am in a suit! Let you know what is called professional!

However, at this moment, he noticed a barrage flooding the screen.

【Xixi, do you know that Col is coming to the Asian region to play the qualifiers?】

"Col coming to Asia? How is that possible, they are a North American team..." Ma Xixi was stunned for a moment, "Wait, WGNLS! Xu Beifang, Tie Dan, JKS!"

"These three people in the COL team are from the Asian and Oceanian region, they must come to Asia to play the qualifiers."

He looked at the live broadcast room blankly: "Doesn't that mean we have to play Col?"

PS: Thought about it, if I write a tournament, it will indeed be too abrupt at the end. How about trying to live a second life and finish writing the Shanghai Major?

If so, I will have to start the daily 8K update mode.