Interview photos by Jonathon Yau
Earlier this month it was announced that French Counter-Strike (CS) veterans kennyS and RpK would be attending Epic.LAN 41 in Kettering, with skins platform Tradeit. We caught up with the former pro players to discuss all things CS, UK esports and life after pro play.
How’s it going guys? Welcome to IEM Kettering!
kennyS: (Laughs) Thank you, we had a great day, we’re a bit tired now as it’s been a long day but we absolutely loved the atmosphere here at Epic.LAN. A lot of beers have been consumed, also from us, surprisingly.
RpK: We are enjoying the day, great atmosphere and it’s been really good.
It must be very different to some of the other events you’ve played at in the past.
kennyS: It looks like another UK event we’ve been to: Insomnia. We’ve familiar with these events, but more like 12 years ago (laughs).
“Considering Epic.LAN takes place three times a year and is always full, it’s a matter of time [before more UK players come through]. Thomas has done amazing things with Into the Breach, Cypher has had ups and downs, but there’s some potential.”
kennyS
Esports News UK’s Jamie Wootton last interviewed you, kennyS, six years ago, just before the Faceit London Major. You spoke about the importance of team chemistry. What do you think of the teams’ chemistry here at Epic.LAN, in your charity CS2 Showmatch at Epic 41 and in the open tournament?
kennyS: Within the people, for sure [there is chemistry]. That’s why the event is so enjoyable for everyone. And that interview you did before actually made quite a lot of noise. I remember saying that in the interview.
RpK: It’s really joyful, it’s really easy for people to come up to you and talk to you, and that’s something we enjoy. You can feel that atmosphere and everyone is enjoying the gathering here together.
Tell us what you’re doing here with Tradeit, you’ve done the charity showmatch, meet and greets and 1v1s on the Intel stand, right?
kennyS: I’ve been with Tradeit for quite a long time now. It’s the most loyal partnership I have and loyalty is something that I value a lot as a person in my life. So I’m really grateful to Tradeit for having me here and supporting me for such a long time. Thank you Tradeit and I hope our relationship will continue for a really long time, because they are the best marketplace in the world.
RpK: I was invited by Tradeit, I was familiar with them before that and I’m really grateful to be here, Tradeit have been amazing to us and thank you to them. They were really nice and organised, and it’s been pure joy, it’s always nice to discover nice people.
You’ve won IEMs, Pro Leagues and Majors, competing at the highest level, but could you do it on a cold, rainy night in Kettering?
kennyS: Oh yeah, absolutely, I’m pretty sure if we are making a team we would destroy everyone. I’ve seen my good friend smooya playing the event and get destroyed. Well, unfortunately he was lacking players like us, so I definitely think if we put in the effort we could win IEM Kettering.
Are you football fans, do you support PSG?
kennyS: Yeah, I support PSG for a very long time. And you’re right about the cold rainy away matches from home being hard to win in England, except at Anfield, which is the most overrated stadium in the world. So I apologise to any Liverpool fans, but your atmosphere is quite bad. They have atmosphere five minutes before the match, then it’s over.
Have you seen Liverpool vs PSG? Any French teams coming into the stadium.
As a French guy I apologise for what happened in the Champions League 2022 final though.
RpK: I don’t watch football, I’m happy for kennyS to handle the football questions!
What do you think about the standard of play here at Epic.LAN?
kennyS: I haven’t watched much, but I saw smooya losing, and I think he’s probably the best player competing here. And he lost. So I think there’s potential [from the other teams] here in the UK.
Considering Epic.LAN takes place three times a year and is always full, it’s a matter of time [before more UK players come through]. Thomas has done amazing things with Into the Breach, Cypher has had ups and downs, but there’s some potential.
RpK: I don’t have enough intel to give a proper answer. When I stopped competing in 2021, except for smooya there wasn’t much from the UK scene. But the UK had a little high with Into the Breach at the Paris Major 2023, and I think there’s potential, but I don’t have enough intel.
What’s your views on the current state of CS2?
kennyS: I had some criticism at the start of CS2 because, well, CSGO was the perfect game. That was a difficult gamble for Valve to release CS2 at such an early stage.
I think it’s improving, and it’s a matter of time before we get a game that’s as good as CSGO was.
Right now, we don’t have left-handed weapons, which sucks for me because I’m left-handed.
“I had some criticism at the start of CS2 because, well, CSGO was the perfect game. That was a difficult gamble for Valve to release CS2 at such an early stage. AWP has been quite uncomfortable to play with at some points. And right now, we don’t have left-handed weapons, which sucks for me because I’m left-handed. I think it’s improving, and it’s a matter of time before we get a game that’s as good as CSGO was.”
kennyS
Alex Byfield of the Reason Gaming CS team wanted to ask you what you think of AWPing in the game right now and if you’d like to see Valve change anything?
kennyS: AWP has been quite uncomfortable to play with at some points. Especially for me as an AWPer, with strengths in quick-scoping, close combat and flicking. I would hope to have an AWP that gets a little bit closer to what we had on CSGO.
There are some things that have changed that are amazing as well, like smokes, but yeah, there’s more to do and it seems to still be at an early stage to give a full opinion, so let’s just wait and see.
RpK: Compared to the time where I was playing 1.6 and Source, the game evolves really quickly and that’s a good thing. Maybe I’d like to see more rotation in the map pool. When it comes to the casual parts, having more personalisation in the skins could be good, but in general I think it’s going in the right direction and Valve is improving things quickly.
What are your aims over the next few years? More streaming, or could you see yourself doing other things, maybe translation?
kennyS: (Laughs) I want to develop my content. I’ve been working harder than ever right now to do that, to get bigger on YouTube, social media and on stream. I’ve been surfing a little bit on my name and just playing on stream, but I realised that I need – and want – something bigger.
It’s a different job and I cannot just rely on the achievements I’ve had [in the past] as a player, as great as they were. I need to achieve new things now with my content. My girlfriend has been helping me a lot with aspects of my career as a creator, so I’m ready now to move on.
RpK: I literally quit CS, I stream sometimes but it’s not my main focus. I have my car workshop where I change cars into supercars. I will compete as a drifter. So I’m still into competition but in a totally different industry.
Are you with Falcons as a content creator anymore, kennyS, because I couldn’t see them in your social media bios but I couldn’t see an announcement that you had left, either?
kennyS: Considering there was no announcement made, I can’t say anything.
Thanks for your time today. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
kennyS: Thank you to Tradeit for having us. I have a special relationship with them.
I have a strong opinion on the UK weather, I love the good weather and good food (laughs). But British people are really friendly and sociable, and I actually really enjoyed my day here at Epic.LAN, and I hope to come back at some point.
So thank you England and thank you Tradeit.
RpK: Thank you for the interview. Thanks Epic.LAN and thanks to the English people for the way they’ve been with us.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
