There’s a motive that an increasing number of elite athletes are throwing themselves into Esports. Whether it’s retired NFL stars like Kenny Vaccaro or present premier league soccer gamers akin to Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, these athletes will not be simply paying video video games, however they’re changing into workforce house owners and managers who’re essential to their friends’ success. And, with severe prize cash up for grabs in leagues akin to BLAST Premier and others, profitable is a profitable enterprise. Matthieu Péché has labored because the workforce supervisor for Team Vitality since 2019.
His squad focuses on on-line Counter Strike tournaments. CS is, for the uninitiated, a well-liked collection of first-person tactical shooter video games, however Péché brings his real-world sporting success into the combination for getting one of the best out of his gamers. As a canoeist, the Frenchman earned bronze on the 2016 Olympic Games and a world championship in 2017 in doubles races. Here, Péché tells M&F how his work ethic and important values akin to respect, teamwork, and being bodily lively are placing his workforce ranges above the remainder.
When did you first get enthusiastic about gaming?
Matthieu Péché: Even although I’ve spent my total profession in sport, I’ve all the time loved video video games. I joined Team Vitality as Team Manager of the Counter-Strike workforce in 2019. From there, I actually started to immerse myself on the earth of Esport efficiency. Even although Counter Strike is among the most mature and superior scenes, there have been plenty of methods and reflexes to place in place.
How would you describe your function as Counter-Strike 2 supervisor?
My function is to be the gatekeeper between my workforce and the remainder of the world. This means guaranteeing that gamers’ schedules are balanced and managed all the way down to the minute, to create one of the best circumstances for them to carry out. For that, I attempt to put my expertise as a top-level sportsman to work day by day to develop the workforce’s efficiency and well-being.
What are among the largest prizes that the workforce has received?
Since the creation of the worldwide roster of Team Vitality on CS, the yr 2023 was certainly one of triumph for the membership. Our workforce managed to win 5 main circuit trophies, together with the IEM Rio within the April, profitable $100,000 within the prize pool, the BLAST.television Major Paris within the May, profitable $500k within the prize pool, the Gamers8 Saudi Arabia within the August, profitable $400,000 in prize pool, the BLAST Premier Fall Final Copenhagen within the November, profitable $200,000 in prize pool, and the BLAST Premier World Final Abu Dhabi within the December, all again in 2023, profitable $500k in prize pool.
How essential is it to carry an athletes mindset to gaming, given your personal expertise in sports activities?
As in conventional sport, gamers need to carry out on a excessive degree in order that they should be prepared and on time as a workforce. It means every particular person participant has to extend their very own degree after which sync with different workforce members to play as a unit. During the entire preparation exterior the sport, facets which can be essential embody good well being, good sleep, good motion. I’m attempting to push them past the restrict to make them replicate on what they’re able to doing.
Does the workforce work remotely, or are the gamers altogether day by day on the membership in Paris?
We practice and play remotely exterior of tournaments and collectively throughout competitions or whereas boot-camping earlier than occasions. We journey collectively as a workforce for six months all year long roughly.
What sorts of guidelines or practices do you count on from the workforce?
I’ve a powerful work ethic and values akin to respect, teamwork, inclusion and perseverance. My workforce and I’ve a single purpose: to attain excellence.
Do you suppose that bodily health is important for being an awesome gamer?
Physical health is the important thing for me. The mind is one factor, however it received’t be environment friendly with no good bodily situation. Each participant wants to search out his path and his routine and the bodily health to carry out.
How usually do some particular person gaming classes final?
Overall, it’s 6-8 hours per day of sport coaching and follow. We additionally encourage gamers to incorporate health club coaching not less than just a few hours per week.
What sorts of workout routines would you advocate for engaged on our reflexes to turn out to be extra superior players?
Tennis response ball drills earlier than a sport actually wakeup and check the reflexes, just like the coaching in tennis and Formula 1. We additionally incorporate numerous different workout routines for reactivity and coordination akin to ping pong, soccer and different balls video games for warming up.
You talked about that some gaming classes are lengthy. Do you’re employed on stamina?
Any cardio exercise helps gamers to maintain up throughout lengthy video games however this additionally helps them to maintain their our bodies in form and deal with the demanding tempo of
competitions everywhere in the world. Stamina is important all through play, all players within the workforce have hundreds of hours of play on Counter Strike.
Thanks a lot in your time and better of luck in future tournaments! What are your hopes for the way forward for the workforce?
I’d wish to see our workforce’s efforts rewarded on the upcoming tournaments within the second half of the yr. So far, we haven’t managed to go all the best way. Initially, I’d wish to see them shine on the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, on the BLAST Premier Fall Groups Copenhagen in July, and in IEM Cologne in August.