In an exclusive conversation with Thorin, Finnish esports professional Aleksi 'AleksiB' Virolainen reveals his unexpected journey from a high-ranking League of Legends player to a celebrated CS:GO leader.
Starting in the world of League of Legends, AleksiB achieved the impressive rank of Diamond I. However, limited opportunities in Finland's esports scene led him to reconsider his future. "There were no platforms for player scouting or organizations in Finland back then," he explained. This realization pushed him to leave LoL, believing a professional career in it was out of reach.
AleksiB's CS:GO career began to gain traction with his local team, which clinched second place and a 5,000 EUR prize at the Vectorama 2016 tournament in Oulu, losing to ENCE in the final. Post-tournament, AleksiB finished his studies and received an unexpected offer from ENCE. A mix-up at the initial meeting had the team mistaking him for his teammate, Riqu. "They were surprised when they saw it was actually me, not Riqu. We all had a good laugh about it, but they still wanted me on the team," he recounted.
Shortly after joining ENCE, AleksiB competed in the IeSF World Championship 2016, where they emerged victorious. Interestingly, this was one of the many tournaments where he was not the team leader, showcasing his versatility and team-oriented approach.
AleksiB's reflections provide a rare glimpse into the personal and professional shifts that define a pro gamer's career, illustrating how flexibility and seizing opportunities can lead to unexpected success in the esports arena.
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