"Everyone Finished Counter-Strike" - MAJ3R on IGLing, Aurora & NAVI Rivalry | All About CS Ep. 69

In Episode 69 of the All About Counter-Strike Podcast, James Banks and Devilwalk are joined by Engin 'MAJ3R' Küpeli, the in-game leader for Aurora. Broadcasting straight from their bootcamp in Germany ahead of the Cologne Major, MAJ3R shares deep insights into the evolution of Counter-Strike from the Space Soldiers era to today, the struggles of performing at Majors, and how he manages the emotions of his team. We also dive into the hilarious reality of leading in a second language with a French accent, the truth behind XANTARES' old-school wired mouse, and why MAJ3R's daughter secretly wants him to lose! Plus, an emotional message from a legendary French CS figure to cap it off. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts – https://allaboutcs.gg Discuss the episode on our Discord – https://allaboutcs.gg/discord 00:00:00 Intro & Welcome MAJ3R 00:01:25 Balancing Fatherhood & Pro CS 00:02:49 The Space Soldiers Grind vs Current Meta 00:07:48 Legacy and Getting Credit in the CS Scene 00:11:22 Overcoming Mental Blocks at Majors 00:19:57 Bringing in a Mental Coach for Aurora 00:22:45 soulfly's Impact and New Roles 00:24:35 Aurora's Year: Gatekeepers of Tier 1 00:34:00 MAJ3R's French Accent in Turkish & IGL Communication 00:43:08 Anubis and the Map Veto Mind Games 00:46:17 The Rivalry and Struggle Against NAVI 00:51:25 Bootcamp Routine: 6 Scrims, No Breaks! 00:56:47 XANTARES' Health Issues and Dedication 01:04:14 Why Valve Rejected MAJ3R's Sticker Signature 01:06:03 Pre-game Rituals and Superstitions 01:09:07 MAJ3R's Favorite and Most Painful Matches 01:14:55 The Hardest Responsibility of an IGL 01:17:35 BO1 vs BO3 at Majors 01:24:30 Family Support and MAJ3R's Esports Journey 01:28:44 The Future of CS: Kids Starting Younger 01:34:20 A Special Message from ozstrik3r 01:37:21 The Emotional Toll of Being Away from Family 01:42:01 Final Words & Outro