{"id":1985113,"date":"2023-02-28T22:06:59","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T03:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platoaistream.com\/plato-data\/vertex-hazr-on-facing-old-squad-encore-i-definitely-went-into-that-game-with-nerves\/"},"modified":"2023-02-28T22:06:59","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T03:06:59","slug":"vertex-hazr-on-facing-old-squad-encore-i-definitely-went-into-that-game-with-nerves","status":"publish","type":"station","link":"https:\/\/platoaistream.com\/plato-data\/vertex-hazr-on-facing-old-squad-encore-i-definitely-went-into-that-game-with-nerves\/","title":{"rendered":"Vertex HaZR on facing old squad Encore: \u201cI definitely went into that game with nerves\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time flies when you\u2019re having fun. It\u2019s year number seven in professional Counter-Strike<\/em> for 21-year-old Jared \u201cHaZR\u201d O\u2019Bree<\/strong>, who reached new heights in 2022 on Encore.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

But as the off-season came to a close, HaZR made a move across to close rivals Vertex \u2014 breaking apart from a core he had spent the better part of three years with.<\/p>\n

And for added pressure, one of the Wolfpack\u2019s first matches of the season came against HaZR\u2019s old squad in one of the most important qualifiers in Oceania \u2014 the OCE Q for the BLAST Paris Major APAC RMR.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

\u201cI definitely went into that game with nerves,\u201d HaZR tells Snowball Esports<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t really had this feeling of playing against a team that you were just in for over three years. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt weird for sure, but it was much needed just to get that out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a swift loss for Vertex, with Encore stringing together the first eight rounds on their way to a 16-7 win, forcing the Wolfpack into the lower bracket \u2014 and a loss away from missing the Ulaanbaatar RMR.<\/p>\n

But Vertex weren\u2019t giving up that easily, rebounding against eLEMONators and booking a meet against fellow wolf-based organisation Antic Esports.<\/p>\n

Antic have been on the rise over the past 12 months, which included a top eight finish at ESL ANZ Champs and a top four finish at LPL Pro. They dispatched of their open bracket opponents with ease, and now against Vertex, they stepped up.<\/p>\n

Antic shocked Vertex on Vertigo \u2014 arguably the Wolfpack\u2019s strongest map \u2014 and it wasn\u2019t particularly close. Antic went 8-0 on their CT side, completely shutting out Vertex and leaving them a map loss away from elimination.<\/p>\n

It was a result HaZR was expecting as Vertex worked through a transition period with the squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Antic are sharp individuals and they\u2019ve been beating most teams around their level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

HaZR \u201cwon\u2019t be stopped\u201d in an effort to return to competition in Europe.
Photo: PGL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt will be good to see how they progress. [For us] we\u2019re still getting used to playing together as a squad so there\u2019s going to be maps like that for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vertex bounded back on Overpass 16-9, led by HaZR (25-13, 1.69 rating), with the squad ultimately emerging victorious on Inferno 16-8. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe did very well to come back into the second and third maps with clear minds,\u201d elaborated HaZR, who bounced back from the horror stat line on Vertigo to go +18 over the series.<\/p>\n

With the win, Vertex would reach the lower bracket qualifier \u2014 a rematch against his old squad in Encore.<\/p>\n

This time, Vertex were far more prepared; an 8-1 Vertigo T side, followed by another perfect T side on Mirage \u2014 and the Wolfpack booked their tickets to Mongolia.<\/p>\n

Christian \u201cADDICT\u201d Pendleton was by far and away the server\u2019s MVP, but Vertex captain Toby \u201cBRACE\u201d Barnes contributed heavily in the opening map win.<\/p>\n

BRACE has been a shining light for the Vertex outfit \u2014 and HaZR is revelling in playing under the experienced captain.<\/p>\n

\u201cToby does a lot for us, I like his vision for the team,\u201d HaZR said.<\/p>\n

With the short time I\u2019ve been with the team it feels like a very friendly environment and we\u2019re all moving towards a goal together. There is a good future ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

From a mental point of view, HaZR is in a different mindset to that of late 2022 after his return home from his European adventures. <\/p>\n

While experience in Counter-Strike\u2019s<\/em> superior region is an achievement unto itself, the Encore team arrived back in Australia with little to show in results.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter we bombed out of a couple qualifiers in a row I was really down mentally, I decided to take a little step back from the team and evaluate some things in life because I just wasn\u2019t happy,\u201d said HaZR.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think we really reached the level we thought we could.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe overall experience was great just being there for the first time but it definitely was sad [that] we didn\u2019t win much. I guess it kind of can be expected jumping into tier one CS for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The longer-than-expected off-season came about, and HaZR had received an offer from the Wolfpack. To him, this was the change he felt he needed to make.<\/p>\n

\u201cA little while after that I was thinking about coming back to the team when I got approached by Vertex and my gut was telling me it was the best option,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n

I\u2019d love to make the solo move [overseas] one day. I believe I\u2019m capable of making such a move. I\u2019ve got a lot of room to grow, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n

Jared \u2018HaZR\u2019 O\u2019Bree, Vertex<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Grayhound remain the sentinels to the crown of Oceanic CS:GO<\/em>, but even with their win and RMR qualification secured, Vertex don\u2019t look like a clear number two just yet.<\/p>\n

The squad are yet to face the \u2018Hounds this season, while 2022\u2019s clear runner-ups Rooster were forced to miss the RMR qualifier as they are preparing for their ESL Pro League campaign \u2014 their first international event.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s not including the rest of the Oceanic scene, who are eager for a piece of the pie.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of roster changes going on around the scene at the moment,\u201d said HaZR. \u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to see what teams become of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, a lot of the goals remain the same for 2023. I want to be qualifying for as many events as possible and just getting over to Europe in general. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have felt my form the past year hasn\u2019t been as good as it can be so I definitely want to get back up there as well. I do feel like I\u2019m already on the way though.\u201d<\/p>\n

From 2017 to now: HaZR\u2019s career rating year over year
Statistics courtesy HLTV.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The APAC RMR in Mongolia later in April will once more see two squads progress to a Major Challenger Stage \u2014 but this time, there\u2019s a twist.<\/p>\n

By popular demand, the event will see eight teams contest for Paris instead of four, and all eight can stake a claim for a spot at CS:GO\u2019s<\/em> next premier event.<\/p>\n

For Vertex and HaZR, every match from here will only feed their hunger to return overseas once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t really say a specific thing that we\u2019re working on really, as we\u2019re pretty much a new team,\u201d HaZR said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get stronger the more we play so we need as many official matches as we can get.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

The BLAST Paris Major APAC RMR begins April 4 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Keep up with HaZR<\/a> and Vertex\u2019s<\/a> Road to Paris on Twitter.<\/p>\n