All About Counter-Strike Podcast

Welcome to Episode 66 of the All About Counter-Strike Podcast with James Banks and Jonatan ‘Devilwalk’ Lundberg! Our special guest today is none other than G2’s HeavyGod. We discuss his career progression from Endpoint to Cloud9 to G2, the difficulties of changing roles and communicating in different languages, and the recent changes within the G2 roster with the addition of NertZ. HeavyGod also opens up about his personal practice routines, the mental fortitude required to stay consistent as a top-tier player, and his thoughts on G2’s preparations for the upcoming Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

In Episode 65 of the All About Counter-Strike Podcast, James Banks and Jonatan ‘Devilwalk’ Lundberg prepare you for the legendary IEM Cologne Major 2026! We go over the broadcast talent, discuss the Swiss format, and preview all 16 teams battling it out in Stage 1. We also debate Team Liquid’s recent struggles, reflect on the legacy of Cologne as the Cathedral of Counter-Strike, and share Devilwalk’s official Pick’ems. Who goes 3-0? Who goes 0-3? Tune in to find out! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Welcome back to episode 64 of All About Counter-Strike! This time, Banks and Devilwalk welcome M80’s in-game leader, Elias ‘s1n’ Stein. Join us as s1n takes us through his fascinating career path, starting from BIG Academy to his brief stint as BIG’s main roster IGL, and his eventual move to North America to join M80. Hear firsthand about the grueling tournament schedules, the mental toll of crucial qualifiers, the challenges of practicing in the NA region, and M80’s triumphant qualification for the IEM Cologne Major. Plus, we talk about the hilarious teammate dynamics, Swisher’s hidden Minesweeper talent, and s1n’s expectations going into his home soil Major. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

James Banks and Devilwalk are joined by BIG Clan’s Johannes ‘tabseN’ Wodarz for a special episode ahead of the Cologne Major. tabseN gets personal about his mental health struggles during BIG’s rebuilding phase, his unwavering loyalty to the German organization despite offers from heavyweights like FaZe and Liquid, and the shift from a German core to an international powerhouse. We also dive into BlameF’s incredible work ethic as an IGL, the pressure of grinding lower-tier tournaments, and the concerning state of match-fixing in the scene. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

The IEM Cologne Major is right around the corner, and we are kicking off our special run of episodes with none other than Yasin ‘xfl0ud’ Koç! Banks and Devilwalk sit down with the Turkish star to discuss his roller-coaster year with Heroic. From the shock of being benched to stepping back into a chaotic rebuild, xfl0ud holds nothing back. We dive into the team’s grueling schedule (11 events in 5 months!), the transition of yxngstxr to the AWP role, the impact of their new performance coach, and why they sometimes struggle against Tier 1 teams despite dominating Tier 2. To wrap things up, xfl0ud answers community questions, shares his Major Pick’ems, and explains why prime XANTARES is the only one who could stop donk. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

In Episode 61 of the All About Counter-Strike podcast, BanKs and Devilwalk cover the back-to-back CS events. From Parivision’s struggles to MIBR’s dominant form and insani’s record-breaking match, we break it all down. We also discuss the new CS2 sticker economy, test the market for a $515,000 Dragon Lore, and take fan questions regarding the Cologne Major and the origins of BanKs and Devilwalk’s friendship. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Episode 60 of the All About Counter-Strike Podcast is here, and Banks and Devilwalk have a lot to unpack! We’re breaking down everything that happened at PGL Astana, from the legendary “Anti-Raiders” forming human shields around talent, to Team Spirit lifting the trophy with a stand-in coach (is hally in trouble?). We expose The Mongols’ secret private chef and medic setup despite their lack of practice, discuss Aurora’s playoff choke, and review that insane Falcons vs. Furia match. We also dive into the latest CS news: ESL trying to hide their Pro League Season 25 move to Saudi Arabia, the truth behind kyxsan’s Falcons exit, and a hilarious rant about 100 Thieves’ tacky trophy picture. Plus, our predictions for the upcoming CAC event in Shanghai! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

In today’s episode: Devilwalk’s Career Move; BLAST Rivals Analysis; The Return of Cache; Roster News; PGL Astana and IEM Atlanta Predictions; And more! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

In today’s episode: Karrigan leaves FaZe, joins Falcons; Animgraph 2; MOUZ’s major overhaul; BLAST Rivals Preview; And more! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also in this episode: BC Game and s1mple’s Performance; Astralis and Tournament Reflections; karrigan to join Falcons. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also today: The Liquid Controversy; Chaos in Asia; The Role of HLTV NIP’s New Deal; IEM Rio Preview. Guest: Finn (@MischiefCS2) Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also today: More transfer news; ESL Playoffs changes for 2027; PGL Bucharest Preview; Answering your questions from Discord! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Today in the episode: EPL Season Review; The TO Arms Race; Roster Shuffles; Industry News; and more! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

From sharing a single family PC in Birmingham to becoming a Major Winner. In this episode, we sit down with mezii to chart his incredible journey through the ranks of Counter-Strike. We dive deep into the “Subtle Rise” of the UK’s greatest player: from the early days of lying to his dad about homework just to play officials, to the high-pressure reality of joining the world’s #1 team. mezii opens up about the “imposter syndrome” he faced at Vitality, the hilarious truth behind apEX’s “crash outs, and why he never gave up. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

A short one, where we are taking a look into DraculaN Season 5 and previewing EPL S23! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also today: 100 Thieves played their first tournament after CS2 return; ⁠Senzu⁠ saga; VP Roster Updates. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Plus: Top Teams Skipping IEM Atlanta PGL Cluj-Napoca Preview …and the knife giveaway winner announcement! Parts of the episode are relying predominantly on visuals, you can check them out on our YouTube channel Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Join us in Episode 49, where we gather all the news from Kraków, analyzing Stage 1 and Groups and predicting the Play-Offs! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

In this episode: Review of BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1; Preview of IEM Kraków 2026; More news; Answering your questions from our Discord! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Valve has revealed the future CS Major locations, including the first ever major in Argentina! We dive into Counter-Strike’s global expansion and what it means for the future of the game. We also recap BLAST Premier Bounty Season 1, including FaZe’s shocking loss to EYEBALLERS, which teams impressed us the most, and the online vs LAN debate. We also recap some of the recent roster moves and call ups, including B8 replacing headtr1ck, and some South America roster moves. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

In Episode 46 of All About Counter-Strike, we break down everything from the HLTV Awards fallout to the biggest storylines shaping Counter-Strike in 2026. Fresh off the HLTV Awards, we discuss why the event has become the gold standard for esports award shows, debate Donk vs ZywOo, and break down the biggest winners, snubs, and talking points from the night. We also dive deep into why CS roster mania has completely stalled — from inflated buyouts and poor ROI to why teams are afraid to make big moves. Plus, we cover Vitality’s dominance, Molodoy’s rise, Hall of Fame inductions, women’s CS milestones, and major roster changes across NiP, Fnatic, BIG, Astralis, and more. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Discussing the 2026 Start of the Year Roster-Mania! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Discussing the 2026 Start of the Year Roster-Mania! Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

We are back with Episode 44, again from our homes. Talking about our time in Budapest and some unexpected roster moves going on already! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Thanks to StarLadder for this special collaboration Join host James Banks for an exclusive roundtable discussion featuring three of the most electrifying young talents at the Major: Ilya “m0nesy” Osipov, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, and Danil “molodoy” Golubenko. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

The Grand Finals of the StarLadder Major in Budapest have concluded, and to close out the event, we bring you a very special final episode of All About Counter-Strike from the Major’s Grounds. In this episode, we break down the epic grand final showdown between Vitality and FaZe Clan. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Day 3 of the StarLadder Major in Budapest gave us some great semifinal action. We break down the matches with jL from NAVI and TACO discussing how being eliminated affects the players, how clutch FaZe were in their match, as well as favorite memories from Counter-Strike’s past. We also give predictions for the Vitality vs FaZe Grand Final! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Day 2 of the StarLadder Major in Budapest delivered more insane moments, and in this episode, we break it down with players from NAVI iM and makazze and content creators fl0m and GeT_RiGhT. The NAVI players talk through how they feel during their game agianst Furia, while fl0m & GeT_RiGhT give their prediction on who they think will make it to the finals of the StarLadder Major in Budapest. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Day 1 of the StarLadder Major in Budapest delivered huge moments, and in this episode we break it all down with CS legend TaZ. We recap Spirit’s impressive structure, G2’s struggles, Vitality’s dominance, and the MongolZ’ fight despite last-minute roster changes. TaZ also shares expert insight into team mentality, player development, and why chemistry still wins championships in CS2. We also look at what’s next for TaZ as he discusses his coaching future, lessons from G2, and how the current CS2 meta is evolving. To close out, we preview tomorrow’s massive matchups—MOUZ vs FaZe and FURIA vs NAVI—and analyze the key players, strategies, and X-factors that could decide each series. Stay tuned for daily coverage of the StarLadder Major and everything happening on and off the stage. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

With the Budapest Major playoffs just days away, we break down EVERYTHING from Stage 2 and Stage 3: shock eliminations, breakout rookies, underdog runs, and the state of every contender heading into the final stage of the Major. We’re also joined by an insane lineup of superstar guests: FalleN (FURIA), Aleksib (NAVI), ZywOo (Vitality), mzinho (The MongolZ) and tN1R (Spirit), where we broke down their teams’ performances, and what they expect going into the Playoffs stage. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

In this episode of the All About Counter-Strike podcast, we sit down with NAVI’s rising star AWPer, Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov, where he talks through his entire journey - from playing 1.6 Zombie Mode in Odesa to dominating the current CS2 Major stage. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

James Banks and Devilwalk breaking down all the chaos and action from Stage 2 of the StarLadder Major in Budapest! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

We reflect on his Major history, the evolution of the French CS era, the reality behind the grind, and what the future looks like for him now. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

All About StarLadder Budapest Major It’s our second episode here at the Budapest Major - we are joined by Jack (Manager of TYLOO), Xirreth (NAVI Performance Manager), Launders, Styko & Kimi (PARIVISION General Manager) to breakdown the Stage 1 performance from the teams. In addition, we’re also discussing and picking our favorites to get through Stage 2, into Stage 3 of Budapest Major. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

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All About StarLadder Budapest Major Today’s episode is a really special one. It’s our first Episode on site at the Budapest Major. We sit down with Eddie, Director of Esports at FaZe, Samme from Fnatic, and Robl, performance coach for NiP. We’re also joined by top analysts Maui, Tedd, and legendary commentators Hugo & Harry for a full breakdown of everything leading into the first stage of the Major. We’re ranking teams who are most likely to make the next stage, so there might be some good advice for your Pickems. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

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BanKs and Devilwalk return to break down all the action from the recent Hong Kong tournament, a wave of breaking roster news, and major organizational decisions affecting the Major! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also today: More Esports News; BLAST Rivals Preview; Your Questions answered! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also today: Rumors of 100 Thieves’ interest in the GamerLegion roster PGL’s announcement of 15 Tier 1 events for 2027 and 2028 Valve is rejecting many sticker designs Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also in the episode: IEM Chengdu 2025 Preview PGL Bucharest Group Stage Review OG Shuffles Pay-To-Enter Tournaments are here And more! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also today: CAC 2025 Review; PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 Preview; Rosters news; Answering your questions from Discord! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

And more today: Shuffles in teams; PGL tournament canceled. Is it ESL’s fault?; Previewing CAC 2025. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Plus in the episode: ESL Pro League Stage 1 Review and Main Event Preview CS2 Update FaZe Benches Rain And More! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Thanks to StarLadder for this special collaboration In this second special of “All About Counter-Strike,” our own James Banks sits down with two prominent in-game leaders, Johnny ‘JT’ Theodosiou of Passion UA and Christoffer ‘Chr1zN’ Storgaard of OG, for an in-depth discussion on the art of leading in professional Counter-Strike. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also in the episode: StarLadder StarSeries Recap Counter-Strike News & Discussion ESL Pro League Preview Q&A from the Discord And more! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Thanks to StarLadder for this special collaboration In this Special, James is joined by two IGLs from NAVI and Ninjas in Pajamas for a lengthy discussion about the essential traits of a top-tier IGL, the emotional toll of leadership, how to integrate rookie players into a top team and much more! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also in this episode: Wildcard controversy, Team Spirit roster change, Match-fixing allegations And much more! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also in this episode: New Devilwalkthrough Roster Moves And answering your questions from our Discord! Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

We are looking back at the EWC 2025, James joining us from the Riyadh right after the event! Also today: HLTV Rating 3.0 FaZe Clan changes BLAST London Preview Your questions answered Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Time for a peek behind the curtain! This is the part that usually ends up on the cutting room floor: our pre-show chat. Before we start recording, we catch up on everything that’s happened since the last episode, and we thought it would be fun to share it with you. Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg

Also today: – BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 2 Recap – s1mple’s Journey with BC.Game – Devilwalk Remembers Coaching Rush – EWC 2025 Preview Join our Discord Check us out at allaboutcs.gg