NewsCS Academy

Academy rebuild deep dive with Whitey

Coach George "Whitey" White tells you a behind-the-scenes story about how the new ENCE Academy roster was assembled.

Read the original article about the renewed ENCE Academy roster here

A long tryout process

This roster took the longest to put together in the past three years, and rightly so. We wanted to ensure we were making the correct decisions when it came to team roles and shaping our new identity and playstyle.

We ran various tryout days with different approaches and multiple candidates to gather as much data as possible. It was a busy and tricky time for me, but it's something I genuinely enjoy, especially when it all comes together.

I want to take a moment to thank every trialist and the community for their patience during the tryout process. It wasn't easy, that's for sure, but we also discovered some extra talent to keep on our radar for the future.

There are seasons that change, and the sun eventually shines through — you could be that sun!

Thoughts about the new additions

Our very own Mario-Luigi partnership, Cliqq and Blick, with their similar nicknames and past experience playing together in MOUZ NXT. Trust me, the first few days trying to say both their names, then switching to first names, was a tongue twister to say the least.

Niki "Cliqq" Kinnunen was always on our radar, going back to when we first tried him out. From that point forward, it was a no-brainer to target him. He's young, Finnish-born, and mechanically gifted.

Brimir "Blick" Birgisson filled a gap we had identified in the support role, one that would allow more freedom for other players. During tryouts, we tested several mechanically gifted players, but something didn't quite feel right. We trialed Blick over multiple days, and he impressed me beyond belief with his professionalism and how well he understood and executed his role. He even made a major personal sacrifice by skipping a local LAN event with his friends (which he'd already committed to) so he could compete with us in the Elisa Qualifiers. That showed his commitment and belief in our program. I'm genuinely excited to work with him and help unlock his full potential.

One final note that really motivated me: I've always had great respect for other academy teams, especially MOUZ NXT and their success, including TOBIZ's recruiting. When I saw that variation of their roster, with Cliqq and Blick, fall early and go in a different direction, it gave me a purpose to provide them with another chance, under our wing, to prove what they're capable of.

Figuring out new roles

One thing I'll never forget in my time at ENCE Academy is a comment from Eemeli [Woomera]. I once was hesitant about making a decision that didn't seem “logical” or like the “norm” at the time, and he simply said, "I'm an unorthodox kind of guy." He then proceeded to teach me the importance of sometimes making these kinds of decisions, or at least to invest time in seeing how it goes.

After our Vaasa tournament, I knew we were entering a review/change period with contracts. I took the opportunity to go on long walks and have 1-on-1 conversations with players around the beautiful surroundings of Vaasa. These were some of the best, most emotional conversations I've had, and they helped guide us through a tough review period, grounded in truth and shared ambition, both as a program and as human beings.

I had long observed that Schwarz had a long-term vision and strong round-by-round analysis — qualities I believe are essential for an IGL or AWP. During our time with 2high, Schwarz was already leading most of our T-side on Nuke, and I noticed a remarkable level of insight and vision.

I initially considered trialing him as an AWPer, and after careful review, I saw even more potential, especially with his fearless, aggressive calling style. My aim is to help him balance that raw aggression with a more methodical approach. He's still young, and I believe he has massive potential, especially when he fully trusts in our process.

What made this move even easier was that Giorgi [Schwarz] WANTED to make the change. Funny enough, he came to me with the idea at the exact moment I was planning to suggest it. That's when I knew this "unorthodox" approach had become the right one.

As for other roles, we have made several adjustments following Ville "myltsi" Vilkman's promotion to the main roster.

Replacing a player like myltsi one-for-one and expecting immediate results is unrealistic. Instead, we adjusted teme's role, putting him in more aggressive, high-impact positions where he can apply what he has learned so far and pass on his experience to the younger players, all while unleashing his incredible mechanical skill.

Pairing teme's experience with Cliqq's raw mechanical aggression creates a powerful dynamic. With the proper development and time under the ENCE Academy structure, I believe both players will build their own paths and make a serious statement within the team and the organization.

Blick stepping into the support role also helps take pressure off millert, who no longer has to be the sole support presence. This change frees him up to unleash more of his individual potential for opening rounds and playing with confidence.

Schwarz and I are working hard on refining our identity and playstyle to make sure these role changes continue evolving in the right direction.