Who made CSKA the champion in cyber football
The winner of the RFPL cyber football championship Andrei "Timon" Guriev in an interview with Match TV tells how he signed a contract with CSKA, names his biggest fee and recalls how he taught girls to play fifu.
- It all started in 2004, I played fifu on a shoga, and it was FIFA 98. Then, from the age of seven, when a computer appeared in the house, it was FIFA 2005, but I liked Pro Evolution 4 better. for the "Become a Legend" mode, which at that time was very beautifully designed. I created my own player - Andrey Guryev - and won the Champions League and the Golden Ball with him. What club did you play for? I don't remember, I think for Chelsea.
Gamer Andrey Guryev is known under the nickname "Timon". He is the reigning champion of Russia, winner of the 2016 Lawson Cup and winner of the first ever RFPL Cup in 2017. On April 3, Andrei will turn 19, and he received the best gift today, having won the RFPL cyber football championship in Kazan. As in the Cup final, in the matches for the title, CSKA's cyber football player defeated Ufa player Robert “Ufenok77” Fakhretdinov - 4: 2, 2: 1. For the victory in the tournament, the CSKA cyber football player received a prize certificate for 150 thousand rubles.
Match TV correspondent Yaroslav Kulemin spoke with Andrey before leaving for the championship.
- In February you won the first RFPL Cup. How difficult was it?
- This is, in principle, a difficult tournament, and I would not say that I approached it perfectly ready. After 4 games I had 4 points and there was a question about not leaving the group. You can say that I drove myself into a dead end - and then it went on a knurled one. In the playoffs, it was important to win the derby with Spartak, without which it was possible not to come home. And of the remaining games - with Anton Klenov ("KLENOFF" - "Match TV") and Robert ("Ufenok77") - the second rival was more principled, since it was not possible for a long time to win against Ufenok in tournaments.
- You said that Ufenok is the only one in Russia who approaches the game in a European way. What does it mean?
- In general, everything - from preparation to some trifles at the tournament. Even how to have breakfast right.
- And how should you have breakfast in order to endure everyone?
- Everyone has it differently. If the games start early, as it was on the second day of the Cup, then this is some kind of light breakfast - for example, fruits. During the tournament, you can eat banana, chocolate and water, but this is the maximum. What else is important besides food? Of course, you need to observe the regime and get enough sleep before the tournaments. Psychology is very important, Robert is good at it. In general, I think that the top 3 of the RFPL Cup is the top 8 ... Okay, the top 16 of the world.
In my opinion, fifa is now the first generation of professional players. Yes, in 2005 and in 2008 they also played. But as an e-sports discipline, fifa is being born only now. And it has its own vector of development. This has never happened before - 16 clubs took and organized a tournament. I don’t know what the Premier League has about this, but I heard about 4 tournaments a year. This is not very common, but not very small either - the format is ideal.
- Was your preparation for the RFPL cyber football championship different?
- I would not say that the preparation was perfect. I traveled to Ukraine on business, the results will be announced soon. I played fifu on Monday, Tuesday - specifically, to feel the rhythm. On the last day, I usually don't play in order to have fun at the tournament itself.
Andrei grew up in Nizhny Novgorod, but has been a CSKA fan since childhood. He first visited Moscow at the 2011 derby, where Akinfeev was injured. Then there were other derbies, and, of course, Timon went to all CSKA-Volga games. And at the beginning of 2017, he signed a contract with his favorite club as an e-sportsman. The official presentation was attended by the general director of the club, Roman Babaev, and Andrey managed to play with Fedor Chalov.
Then they played with Gordyushenko. I know that young guys love cyber football - Golovin, Pomazun. Vitinho and Mario Fernandez too. I heard about Ionov. Let's see if they can take some more time.
- Unlike Kefir, you are not so active in social networks. Why?
- Combining the game and social networks is real, Kefir, no matter what they say, it proves. He has a large audience, he set the bar to be the best all the time. But it is also a good achievement to be in the top 8 in Russia. If I were the people who criticize him, I would not make hasty conclusions. Words like "blown away" seem to me incorrect. I heard the same thing about the Zenit player ... But look at what situations we have to get out of! As for social networks, I think that I will soon have a YouTube career.
- Is this activity within the framework of cooperation with CSKA?
- More within yourself.
- How did it happen that you became a CSKA player?
- From the side of me and my agent, it lasted 3-4 months. At the World Championships in Paris, I played in a CSKA jacket, although at that moment I had my own team. I wanted to attract attention - there was some kind of connection with the representatives of the club even then. In Paris, I entered the top 4 of the world, after that we were invited to the official store of the club and presented with gifts.
And then there was a long pause - more specifically, they got down to business after the announcement of the RFPL Cup, then Roman Yuryevich Babaev joined in. It was funny to see two interviews later - in one Babaev says that everything happened rather quickly, and in two lines below I write: "The negotiations dragged on for a long time."
- Kefir is about the same with Spartak. The main question there was - fees or salaries.
- I do not want to disclose the details, after all, there are confidentiality clauses in the contract. But with us, too, everything was complicated precisely in terms of the contract - how, by how much. This was new to the clubs. Now they already understand what they have gotten themselves into, the views have shown that cyber football is “hype” and interesting.
- At the presentation, Babaev handed you a T-shirt with the seventh number - does that mean something?
- I played football in Nizhny, and since childhood I had the seventh number. When the team was given a new uniform, I always said that the seven was mine. I don't know why she is so significant - probably because of Carvalho. Plus, for some reason, Manchester comes to my mind, where bright personalities have always played under the seventh number. As a child, I was a player of just such a plan - which in the center of the field determines the direction of attacks.
- Did you part with big football without regrets?
- There was a difficult situation with my coach - I was not in Volga and not in Nizhny Novgorod, although we were considered one of the best in the region. The coach got very sick, and at the age of 16 I got a variant with Nizhny Novgorod. At first I really wanted, and then the desire died out. I don’t know if it’s connected with fifa or laziness. It's better to sit at home with a prefix and get pocket money. In addition, I strongly doubt that I would have ended up in CSKA as a professional player.
- “Sitting at home with a prefix and getting money” - many now feel hurt.
- I do not know, to each his own. Nobody's opinions bother me. It's fun, of course, to sit in the office and not enjoy your work ... But when you grow up, you try to do what you like. This is probably why I still play fifu.
- OK. What's the biggest esports royalty you've ever earned?
- 10 thousand euros at the Lawson Cup, it was just six months ago. I could not play at the previous Cup yet - I was under 18.
“You said you had an agent. How is it?
- He appeared before signing a contract with CSKA. I don't know if other Russian players have agents, it seems that Ufenko has something similar. You can say I have 2 agents: Yuri Soshinsky - cyber football, Andrey Grushin - football, they somehow share the rights.
This is an interesting, promising story: you don't really owe anyone, and if possible, they are looking for personal sponsors and a team for you. I think that in the future, young talents will be immediately picked up by agents.
- After you became a CSKA player, has something changed in your life?
- I can't say that something has changed globally, except that there are more trips to Moscow. And in the subway they began to recognize. Recently there was a case: I was walking in a hood, I don't even know how you could recognize me. And the guy ran up: "Timon, buddy!" We drove one station with him, talked.
- Have you spoken to Giner yet?
- No, but he conveyed congratulations to me.
- Real Madrid and Barcelona do not have an official player yet. Which of the giants would like to help more?
- In El Clasico, initially I was a little more sympathetic to Barça, well, in principle, I liked their style under Guardiola. I fell in love with tiki-taku so much that I use it in my game.
- Does the study interfere with playing?
- Actually, I am not studying now. I never had any particular problems, but then, when the choice arose - school, football or fifa, it was difficult. Over time, football disappeared, then education also disappeared.
- And how did the parents react to this?
- There are 3 people professionally engaged in fifa in Russia. Understandably, the attitude of the parents was difficult: “What are you doing? Why?". But somehow we united around our idea and believed in it. Parents even watch the broadcasts.
- They don't come to tournaments?
- For me - no, it usually happens with younger players. At first, parents want to know what their child is doing, so they come. But I know that father and son play in Ulyanovsk: they even fight together in 2v2 tournaments!
- You don't play 2 on 2?
- Only with friends and for fun. After the tournament, we can gather in someone's room and have fun. But I don't think this is a pro mode.
- You finished fourth at the World Championships in Paris. What do you remember besides the result?
- Organization - it was at the highest level. As in Ufa, by the way. Everything was on schedule, without delay. The tournament in Paris was held within the framework of the exhibition - Paris Games Week. Each of them has a good play area, a small recreation area. We then had a tour of Europe: Paris, Barcelona, Madrid ... Barcelona, by the way, was remembered more than Paris. Probably because in France I was not very successful in taking a walk - the games started early.
- What is a nightmare organization in esports?
- In 2015, I came to the Russian Cup in Kazan, where on the very first day there were 7 matches in the group. I usually want to start a little more calmly, especially after the planes, which I can hardly bear. Some tournaments ran until 4-5 am. A couple of times there was a situation when the final had to wait 3 hours. The first time there was a failure, but the second time I learned a lesson.
At the 2016 Russian Championship, the lights were turned off for an hour and a half. The playoffs were just beginning, the time is 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Nobody knew what was happening, but then the masters came and sorted it out. During this time we managed to go out to eat.
- Football "Spartak", when the lights were turned off in Grozny, managed to fight in the locker room.
- No, no, we are all friendly.
- And with Kefir, who plays for Spartak?
- I don't remember how we met before the quarterfinals in Ufa - probably we just smiled. We certainly do not have enmity - on the contrary, everyone shakes hands as a sign of respect. In any case, after the matches - before the games, some do not press.
- Kefir told how he once arranged a marathon, playing everything for 36 hours. Have you had such an experience?
- In the future, it would be interesting for some kind of broadcast. But I know from myself that after 3-4 hours the brain is already removed - you get tired both physically and mentally. One day I went into Weekend League mode and played from 10pm to 10am. While this is the maximum.
- Can you imagine yourself playing at age 35?
- Cyber football is like creativity. It either is, or at one moment it may not be. I see myself next to esports, maybe - next to football. It would be interesting to work in a club - when I am 35, coaches and analysts will probably already appear in fifa. It will be a whole industry - like now in Dota and CS.
- Do girls also treat cyber football as creativity?
- Not! This is a big problem. It is very difficult to say to girls: “Hi, I'm an esports player, are you?”, Because they have a strange attitude to it. But, fortunately, now in my life there is a person who understands and supports.
- That is, if you say: “I need to play here for 10 hours,” will it be perceived normally?
- The girl tries not to sit for a long time at the console. It can be said that it disrupts preparation. But I'm used to it!
- Have you met girls who are cool playing fifu?
- I even coached girls - just during the Lawson Cup. There were 5 models, it lasted 5 days for 3-4 hours, but, to be honest, nothing good came of it. Three did not show any interest at all - they did not immediately remember the buttons, some on the third or fourth day were confused about which gate to run to. But whoever wanted to - got used to it and played at a good level for themselves.
Text: Yaroslav Kulemin
Russian football clubs continue to sign esportsmen. This time the news came from the camp of the capital's "army".
“Today, perhaps the last transfer of CSKA to the winter window took place. Last but not least. I hope Andrey will return from the upcoming FIFA tournament with a victory,
which will become for us a good symbol for the resumption of the 2016/17 season ", - the general director of" army team " Roman Babaev.
Representation Andrey Guryev(nicknamed "Timon") was very reminiscent of the event in honor of a real football transfer, which CSKA does not indulge its fans this winter. CSKA General Director Roman Babaev handed over to Guryev a club jersey with the seventh number, the parties shook hands and parted to share their emotions about the deal.
The spirit of the times cannot be ignored, - Babaev explained. - We know how many people are now into e-sports. Progress does not stand still, therefore we cannot stand aside. Moreover, from such a tournament, in which almost all famous clubs of the country participate.
- Why Timon?
- Timon has been a fan of ours since childhood. This is not just a coincidence. I think this is a great start. If we pay attention to the European practice, this direction has been used there for a long time in terms of marketing and commerce.
We hope that we will be able to win. We haven’t had any Cyber Cups yet, although in Russia we won everything we could.
- What tasks do you set for Andrey at the upcoming competitions?
- We hope that we will be able to win. We haven't had any cyber cups yet, although in Russia they won everything they could. Probably the case when participation is perhaps more important than winning the first time. Although we will wish Andrey only the best results.
- How difficult were the negotiations with the esports player?
- We came to an agreement very quickly and easily. We just found out that there is such a well-known e-sportsman who is a fan of CSKA. We quickly contacted him and came to an agreement. Organizational issues were resolved without problems.
- What kind of support will Timon receive from CSKA?
- First of all, moral. But, of course, certain material support will also be provided. This applies to the costs associated with moving and living in different cities.
The new acquisition of the Russian football champions - the Russian FIFA-16 champion - is intended to popularize the red and blues in the relatively new eSports field. Timon, as representatives of the club said, will be announced by CSKA for the FIFA tournament, in which the esportsmen representing the majority will converge RFPL clubs... Andrei himself did not hide his positive emotions from the fact that he has now become a part of his favorite club since childhood.
I think that I am one of the top three favorites together with the player from Ufa, Robert Fakhretdinov, and Sergei Nikiforov from Spartak.
I am very glad to represent my native club, for which I have been rooting since childhood. CSKA is a part of my life. This is a great responsibility for me. I want to represent the club in the best possible way and win the upcoming tournament, ”Timon began.
Many readers have at least a rough idea of how clubs negotiate transfers with football players. What happens in the case of e-sportsmen?
- About the same, only without transfer windows. We talked with CSKA for a long time. Gradually, the conversation reached the main people of the club. We agreed on a contract that suited everyone. I am glad that everything was resolved that way.
- What was your task for the upcoming tournament?
- The task for CSKA is always the same - to be the first! I think my task is the same, and I will strive only for victory.
- Who will be your main competitor?
- I think that I am one of the top three favorites together with the player from Ufa Robert Fakhretdinov and the Spartak player Sergei Nikiforov.
- Philosophical question: why do you need it?
- This is useful, including for the club. Such a project is important from the point of view of promoting CSKA on the Internet. The world is developing, does not stand still, and the audience on the Internet is important for every club today. I hope that together with CSKA I will develop both my media part and the club part.
- How?
- Thanks to joint projects. Perhaps it will be videos on Youtube and social networks.
- Do you feel like a part of the club now, on a par with the players?
- In a sense, yes. Although I do not go out on the field with the players, I was able to take the seventh number for myself, like Zoran Tosic. It was nice to have some kind of challenge with him for the right to own the number. Maybe a penalty shootout ... In general, representing CSKA is a great honor for me. I'm glad it turned out that way.
Russian cyber athlete Andrey Guryev, known under the nickname "Timon", at the World Cup held in Paris, pleasantly surprised many Russian fans of the football simulator with his game. At the tournament, he took fourth place, but was generally satisfied with his result. We spoke with reigning champion Russia this year in cyber football (first place at ESWC Russia 2016) about the Paris tournament, the optimal age for cybersport and the relationship between traditional sports and computer sports.
- What are your impressions of the Electronic Sports World Cup in Paris and of the city itself?
- It was a great trip, it's a sin to complain. It turned out to accomplish a lot both in terms of play and in terms of recreation. This was the first time I was at such an event and felt that everything was organized on a really large scale: on the first day, we only had enough time to walk through all the stands and look at the fair (Festival "Paris Games Week". - Ed.) through the eyes of the viewer. In a word, I have good impressions.
- Are you satisfied with the result?
- I got into the group of death, as everyone said. In principle, this was indeed the case. We had a very even group, and everyone took points away from each other. Before the tournament, I set myself the task of getting out of the group. This was the main goal, and not fulfilling it would be a failure for me. Probably, if I had been told before the tournament that I would be in the top 4, I would have been delighted, but the appetite comes during the game. If after the semifinals I was not particularly upset, as I understood that the Frenchman was really stronger this time (Lucas "DaXe" Cuiyriye won against Andrey in two matches with an aggregate score of 5: 1. - Ed.),
I set myself the task of getting out of the group. This was the main goal, and not fulfilling it would be a failure for me.
then after playing for third place, there was a big annoyance. I wanted to take the bronze for myself, but it didn't work out.
- According to forecasts, the main favorites of the tournament were the players from Germany, but in the end the Frenchman Lucas "DaXe" Cuiyriye won. Is he really that good or did the Germans play differently?
- For the last three years, the trend has been different: German players are strong, but they don't make it to the first step of the podium. The Frenchman was among the favorites, the representatives of this country are strong in Lately... Lucas is a young 16-year-old guy, very promising, he was bet on in his team. Not in vain. He deserved this victory.
- Now there is a lot of talk about the age at which you can play at a professional level and when you need to end up with eSports. Your opinion?
- It's all very controversial. It is possible that in the coming years some adult uncle will appear and beat everyone. Conventionally, one of the best players in Uzbekistan is 36 years old. My opinion is that it depends more on desire, because it is unlikely that your reaction worsens so much after 25 years. There are a lot of good players at the age of 16-18 on our cyber scene lately. It is important for them to understand what they want to achieve, then they can be called cybersportsmen.
- Did you designate such a framework for yourself? Did you understand what you are striving for?
- I had a task to win the Russian championship, and I coped with it. For two years I did not succeed, I was always one step away from the title, but in the end I took what I dreamed of.
Lucas "DaXe" Cuiyriye is a promising young player, and the team staked on him. It was not for nothing that PSG signed it.
When you win such a tournament, you want to achieve more in order to write your name in history. I want to continue my path to success and will do my best for this. In general, I am not going to finish in the near future.
- How much do you train?
- Always different. I can play a couple of games a day, or I can play for 6-7 hours. Usually before tournaments I play every day for 5-6 hours, but I take a break the day before the competition. This has already become a habit, since I have to miss the game in order to play with pleasure later.
- Do you go in for sports?
- From the age of seven I have been playing football, now I continue to play. I often go out to play with friends, to run. They say it even turns out pretty well.
- Does the football experience help in the game?
- In general, I think that a person who has never played football cannot play FIFA at a good level. Here everything is connected: tactics, schemes, movement of players. You have to think in the game, understand when and what to change. This is where the football experience comes in.
- What do you need to do to become a professional player in this eSports discipline?
- It's hard to say, we usually have top players appearing quite suddenly. Once and some little-known guy won the tournament! This probably means that you can just show some results in online leagues and come to a major tournament. Although, probably, everyone can have their own path to esports.
- Which of the Russian players could you single out and why?
- We have a couple of top players. This is definitely Ufenok (Robert Fakhretdinov. - Ed.), he is stable, always at the top and already quite experienced. He has a lot to learn. By the way, he took the second place at ESWС in 2014 and the only one,
who approaches the game in a European way, or something: he always observes all the little things. In a word, well done.
There is also Anton Klenov. He has not yet shown himself in Europe, but he can do it. He clearly has talent and great potential, but, in my opinion, he should shake himself up a little, change his approach to the game. I don't want to teach anyone, but I believe in this guy.
- Now FIFA in esports is experiencing a rebirth. Real football clubs are interested in players, their own leagues appear. What happens to discipline?
- And it seems to me that this is just the first birth, despite the considerable age of the discipline. FIFA was supposed to blow up the esports market and now it is. Everything is absolutely clear here: football is the most popular sport in the world, and this game is clear to everyone. If in Dota 2 you need to delve into the rules and different nuances, then everything is clear - you need to score a goal and win.
What is happening now is only a small part of what lies ahead. Cyber football can be easily linked to real football. Imagine, before the games of real teams in the Premier League or the Champions League, virtual teams play first. In the same stadium. I think this is incredibly great. This is the future, and everything is heading towards it.
- Now there are rumors even about the creation of a cyber championship under the auspices of the Premier League. Do you think such a project is real? Would it capture the interest of an audience that hadn't followed esports before?
- Such a championship will definitely attract attention if it is organized correctly. This should be associated with real football, which is what some people are doing now.
Football is the most played game in the world, and FIFA is understood by everyone. If in Dota 2 you need to delve into different nuances, then you need to score a goal and win.
Everything is going on as usual, and in the near future, cyber football will be a huge event.
- So a bright future will come soon?
- There is an infusion of big money, everything will continue to develop only more strongly. I don’t know how it will be in 1-2 years, but in 3-4 years it will acquire a large-scale level, broadcasts on TV and much more. I really believe in it, and so far everything suggests that it will be so. I hope Electronic Arts keeps up with everyone else and eSports will do well too.
- Have you received any suggestions from football teams? What club would you like to play for?
- I'll leave it a secret for now, but in the near future there will be a big announcement. I've been rooting for CSKA all my life, so think about it! In Russia, apart from CSKA, I would not go anywhere, in Europe it would be interesting, but if you just dream it, it would probably be Chelsea - the team that I sympathize with in Europe.
Cybersport is gaining more and more popularity in Russia. The RFU has officially recognized such a discipline as cyber football. The creators of the FIFA simulator earn three times more than all Russian football clubs combined. Now CSKA, Spartak, Zenit, Lokomotiv and all other teams are signing cyber football stars, and the amounts in their contracts are growing at the rate of Bitcoin. In Russia, one of the top players in the simulator is Andrey Timon Guriev, who regularly wins national tournaments. In an interview with the weekly Football, Timon told about relations with CSKA, about training inFIFA and whether it's real to get rich by spending all your days at the joystick.
Channel onYouTube, CSKA
- Very important question. Which is correct: eSports player, eSports player or Fifer?
- Cyber football player.
- Why?
- The Fifers are those who have promoted blogs well: Kefir (former Spartak cyber football player - Ed.) And Stavr (Lokomotiv cyber football player - Ed.).
- O’Key, cyber football player. Video is the main source of income for those who develop their channel. There are not many videos on yours. Why is that?
- I constantly postponed this topic, because I am a lazy person. The very idea to create and develop a channel appeared quite a long time ago, but it began to be realized only a month and a half ago. I regret it a little, because if I started about six months ago, now there would be significantly more subscribers. To justify myself: I used to do more cybersport than YouTube, now I want something new, excitement, so I took up video. It's really interesting: shooting, making high-quality videos. Compare the level of playing on camera in the first videos and somewhere in the tenth - there is a difference, and a tangible one.
- Do you edit the video yourself?
- I have a friend who mounts well, so I asked him to do it. You see, editing one video, even the simplest one, takes a lot of time - 2-3 hours. I don’t want to waste minutes, it’s better to play one more time.
- Not so long ago you worked with CSKA. Does the club somehow help you in the development of the channel?
- Well, how they help: we made a couple of reposts on our page in social networks. Rather, they help in terms of organization: the management suggested filming videos at the VEB-Arena, such as with a crossbar challenge (participants are trying to hit the crossbar from a certain distance. - Ed.). I thought it was cool, why not.
- Games with Chernov and Chalov - was it all done with the help of the club?
- Nope. I wrote to the guys on Instagram. It would be interesting for them to play FIFA themselves. The only thing I wanted to insert later was a minute on Skype with Chalov, but he refused. Chernov, by the way, plays well, even the best among those with whom I played at CSKA.
- Who else from CSKA did you play with?
- With Vitinho. He was constantly joking, it is a pity that he did not speak English: the communication went through an interpreter. I also played with Gordyushenko. They say that Khosonov plays great.
- In general, how did you sign a contract with CSKA?
- It's a very strange story. It all started when Ufenok signed a contract with Ufa, Kefir signed a contract with Spartak. At that time, I did not sign anything with anyone, I played at a tournament in Paris and on its last day I played in a CSKA jersey. So the next day, an army shop came to me, they invited me to their place, talked, gave me a gift. Apparently, all this was brought to the attention of Roman Babaev, and we signed a contract.
I did not have a salary, I received very small bonuses for signing and winning. I had a two month contract. Now I would not conclude it. But at that time it was not bad. Because then my main victories began. And signing a contract with CSKA was a kick-ass hype.
— Stavr, together with Loko, went to the training camp and filmed content for the team.YouTube. Did you have such a theme for CSKA?
- Not. The army has GoodMax, he is in charge of YouTube.
— Whom did you meet from CSKA?
- Yes, with almost all: with many players, with Babaev. Unfortunately, it didn't work out with Giner. Evgeny Lennorovich is a tower at CSKA.
- Who is doing better now: eSports CSKA or ordinary?
- Cybersport, I see. But it is not entirely correct to compare these divisions. Because a different number of people are responsible for these projects.
In fact, regular CSKA is more popular now. You see, fans react very strangely to cyber football players. There are also people living in 2005 who think that you definitely need to work in a factory. Not everyone fully understands cyber football. Now the situation has stabilized. There used to be people who could say: “I work at a factory, but you suffer from nonsense and play”.
- You can answer them: "Try to play it yourself"
- Certainly. It's a personal choice. You could even become an engineer, even a football player, or even become a cyber football player. Therefore, I do not really understand the comments of some people.
- Why did you move toGambit (Ukrainian esports team - Ed.)?
- This is definitely a step forward! For example, I've traveled a lot over the past year: I've seen half of Europe. Plus, Gambit was an excellent negotiator, fulfilling everything promised. This team gives me the opportunity to progress and takes care of my comfort: they pay for tournaments and so on, give out daily allowances.
Andrey Recently “Timon” Guriev pleases its fans with bright victories at major tournaments. Now the cybersportsman is a representative of two large sports organizations Gambit eSports and PFC CSKA. Ahead of him is the European regional qualifiers, at which he will represent not only his teams, but also our country. We talked with the winner of the ROSGOSSTRAKH Championship of Russia and the owner of the OLYMPUS RFPL in cyber football about all this and this is what happened.
- In an interview with Welcome2018.com, you said: “With all your love for CSKA, it can happen that we will part if there is a misunderstanding between us. I will stop playing for the club, but I will not stop being a fan. " You said that you do not deny the possibility that you can part with CSKA, what could affect this?
- I love this club, but there are different factors. I should be satisfied with the conditions, attitude towards me, approach, development, interest of the management. There are a lot of nuances in the process that affect a holistic opinion.
- Do you think that e-football players must necessarily be fans of the clubs they play for, or is e-football the same kind of football where players are professionals and can play in a club without even rooting for it?
- There must be some kind of connection between the player and the club, in my case everything happened perfectly. I know my value now, but I know that from tournament to tournament I must confirm this value with my results. It will be difficult for the club to find a replacement for me, everyone understands this. We are committed to long-term cooperation. And so this is the business of each player. Someone is ready to go to any clubs, if only they pay as much as possible. On the one hand, this is correct, players must now earn money. But everyone knows that for me there are clubs in which my transition is impossible.
- What do you think, does your cyber football career suffer from the fact that you live in Russia and from the fact that you live in Nizhny Novgorod? Have you thought that if you lived in Moscow or even in Europe, your career would develop many times better?
- It is unlikely that it somehow affects me at all. I feel comfortable in Russia, including Nizhny Novgorod. I love this country. I don't really believe that our connection is much worse than in Europe.
- What do you think, maybe in cyber football, like in real football, it would be nice for the development of players to hold off-season camps in Europe, playing with Europeans (PSG, Shalke, Ajax, etc.) at bootcamps and participating in European local tournaments ?
- I would like to try. Perhaps in the near future it will be possible to visit such a bootcamp, but it’s hard to say whether this will be a strong point for me.
- You represent PFC CSKA and the eSports team Gambit eSports.Tell us more about Gambit eSports, how did it happen that you got into this team?
- As soon as the option with this organization appeared, I immediately forgot about everything and was focused only on it. Gambit eSports is one of the best teams in the CIS. It seems to me that this is correct, not all FCs know how to manage players, and entrusting this to organizations such as Gambit eSports is quite the right decision.
- Now 16 RFPL clubs have cyber football players in their rosters. Tell me, do you think it is possible that we will have high-profile e-football transfers in the near future?
- Certainly , in the future this will be traced. There is an increasing focus on eSports. Soon, big teams can lure away the strongest players ... For example, the Orenburg team flew out of the Premier League, and its representative Aruhito (Kirill Ordinartsev), who is in the TOP-4 at the moment, in any case should not be left without a club. Perhaps this will be one of the first transfers.
- How are your trainings going?
- These are mainly games with rivals. You need to try to mate with strong players to keep fit. And in general, you need to constantly practice so that your hands do not forget how to hold the controller (laughs). I sometimes have breaks of 3-4 days without FIFA, but this is the maximum.
- When you train a lot, what do you do in the pauses between games to relieve tension?
- I go about my business. I try not to think about the game at all, I think it helps.
- Do you often break gamepads?
- Before FIFA 17, I never broke, but this year one did break. Weekend league - she is! (Laughs).
- Do you review your games?
- Yes , I often watch and analyze my games. But, of course, it is difficult to note something, because even if you see that you have made a mistake somewhere, all the same, each game is new episodes, new situations. Probably, it is difficult to play the whole match without mistakes.
- Do you watch the games of your opponents?
- Yes. At the RFPL Cup, I was to play in the semifinals with Anton Klenov, and just after ¼ there was a break day that I spent to watch his games. I noted the moments through which I could win. In fact, it helped a lot.
- Many major tournaments last 8-10 hours. How to keep yourself in good shape all this time?
- Well I do not know. In between games, fresh air, water, chocolate, bananas help. By the way, I try not to eat during the tournament. If only a long break of 3-4 hours, then you can eat calmly and give the body a rest, but not an hour before the game.
- That is, we can say that cybersportsmen also have a kind of sports nutrition?
- You can say so. During the tournament I try not to eat any fatty foods. And if I play in the morning, then I don't overload myself for breakfast, I eat something light, such as fruit.
- Do you believe in omens? Do you have any special rituals?
- Yes, no special. Well, I always rinse my hands before matches, but this is to freshen my palms, so that I can hold the gamepad well.
- Obligatory attributes for you in LAN tournaments?
- Towel , water and your gamepad.
- Is it so important to play offline tournaments with your gamepad?
- Not so key point, but important. For example, in Zurich I was not allowed to play with my own people, but that didn’t stop me from winning. It's just, it's more pleasant to play on your gamepad when you already know all the roughness and grooves on it (smiles).
- At the RFPL Cup, you were not brought comfortable by swivel chairs. What else can distract from the gameplay?
- Response (delay in the game) - the most common when the monitors are not the right ones or the TVs are in general. Also, I do not like it when someone is standing nearby, distracting and interfering with their presence.
- On June 3rd you will go to Cardiff for the L.Ch. final. Which team will you sympathize with?
- To me , in principle, no difference. But I will give preference to Juventus. I sympathize with the game of Buffon, Dybala, Higuain this season.
- You haven't ruled out that you might get serious about YouTube. Should we expect a vlog after a trip to Wales?
- I doubt. I will just enjoy football. Even if I shoot, I will edit and post the material only in a couple of weeks. If you do this, then only actively. I have ideas on this, but not yet. Follow my social media networks, I will post there constantly.
- After the Champions League final you will go to the tournament in Zurich. Tell us about the tournament.
- These are the qualifying games for the FIWC regional qualifiers, which will be held in Munich. There will be a tournament on June 5th. Difficult selection. Eight participants and only one quota. But I look forward to winning!
It's clear. And now a little blitz. Ready?
- Day or night?
- Night. I am an owl, during the day I want to sleep.
- Favourite dish?
- There's no such thing.
- Game format: rating 85 or unique?
- PlayStation.
- Three favorite sports besides football
- Tennis , basketball and biathlon
- Well, the last question. What is your motto for life?
- He is not here. As a child, it must have been fun to take a motto and follow it, but now it's in the past.
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