With only a few short weeks to the ESL Extreme Masters World Championships, everyone is scrambling to get ready. One such person is Michal 'Carmac' Blicharz, the man behind IEM Season IV. Michal has a long history in E-Sports, having been an E-Sports journalist for such notable organizations...
With only a few short weeks to the ESL Extreme Masters World Championships, everyone is scrambling to get ready. One such person is Michal 'Carmac' Blicharz, the man behind IEM Season IV.
Michal has a long history in E-Sports, having been an E-Sports journalist for such notable organizations as, esreality, GGL and SK-Gaming. He has proved time and time again that he has the communities best interests at heart, and it is only fitting that last year, the ESL picked him up to run this season of the ESL Extreme Masters.
Cameron 'fams' Carson caught up with Michal to talk a little bit about the impending IEM World Championships, his work behind the scenes, WoW as an E-Sport, Quake Live and its inception into the Extreme Masters, and more!
Pictures in this article provided by Julia Christophers of the ESL
Some readers might not know what it is you do exactly, can you explain to us your role within Turtle Entertainment?
I am the Product Manager for the ESL Extreme Masters, which means that I oversee and direct everything that goes on at our company regarding my product. I make sure that all departments have got their work done well and in sync with the others. I'm responsible for the creative and strategic decisions regarding the ESL Extreme Masters.
What are you most looking forward to seeing at the ESL Extreme Masters World Championship Finals?
Every time you ask me about the most important event of the season, I will always say that you need to expect it to be ESL's best event ever. Any other attitude than this just doesn't make sense for me as an organiser. We're working towards achieving this.
We're going to have the most talented players in the world, an entire CeBIT hall just for us, the best commentators in esports and a very large prize purse... It's a very important event for Counter-Strike, but for Quake Live and World of Warcraft it's even more so - it's the ultimate global competition for those games. There's a lot to look forward to. It really is time to get excited.
Throughout the various competitions (Global challenges, Regional Championship Finals, etc.) were there any surprises on the competition side of things?
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the fact that AGAiN have failed to qualify for the World Championship. The Polish guys finished second behind FnaticMSI in Season III and are expected to place at least top 5 at every event. MYM not following up on their great performance at the Global Challenge in Dubai was also disappointing, although not as surprising.
I know you are a very strong supporter of Quake Live, and you were the one who was pushing for it to be a title in the ESL Extreme Masters. Are you happy with the result, and how the competition has been going so far?
How could I not be happy? Quake Live delivers very dramatic matches and amazing entertainment. We've built a unique relationship with id Software - they've supported us with big things like running LAN tournaments and smaller ones (but not less important) such as congratulating our winners on www.quakelive.com banners. With their help we've made sure that everyone that plays Quake Live knows the faces of our champions.
Is there anything special we should look out for at this year's World Championship Finals, event wise?
It will be more impressive and closer to perfect than ever before. Live visitors to the show will see the most impressive ESL stage to date, a ton of great esports action and many other attractions. The Counter-Strike tournament will span over five days, which is something we have not done before and should have a very positive impact on the show.
This is your first year at this position with the ESL, how stressful has the past year been for you?
Almost not stressful at all. We have an extremely competent and experienced crew. I was amazed at how well they handle all the issues at events.
The only things that added stress were those beyond our control. For example, we found out that Cooller's visa to the UAE did not go through in time one or two days before he was due to arrive at the Global Challenge in Dubai. I spent five hours at the airport bouncing from booth to booth trying to find a way to get Cooller there. The whole situation took place during a holiday in Dubai so getting anything done was even more difficult, borderline impossible.
But we made it... After talking to I don't know how many different people we found out that Cooller can visit Dubai for three days on a transit visa. The problem was that most final destinations Cooller would also need a visa to... In the end Mousesports got him a new plane ticket from Moscow to Bangkok through Dubai. Getting Cooller to Dubai required some serious James Bond stuff and was extremely stressful.
Other than that, there was really nothing that would rattle me.
Can you offer up any predictions for who will win at each game?
As the event's manager it's my duty to say that I would like the best teams and players to win... But to hell with it. In World of Warcraft I think that Button Bashers, the defending champions, are a heavy contender for top 3. Team Dignitas also. I expect Europeans and Koreans in the top three. In Quake Live it really is a tossup between Cypher, rapha, Av3k and Cooller and will come down to who is a bit luckier or who wants it more. Counter-Strike will be very tight and difficult to predict, but I think the defending champions FnaticMSI should make at least to the final.
Is there anything missing that you would have liked to have had in the ESL Extreme Masters, such as a game, or an extra event?
I think we got the very best out of our budget this season. Of course we could have had one major event every month, but that is just not realistic. We got everything that was realistic for us.
It might be a little ways away but, do we know what next year is going to offer us? Maybe SCII, with the Beta just announced, it is on many people's minds.
We're not ready to talk about next season. The World Championship has got our undivided attention. But if StarCraft 2 is as good an esports game as everyone expects it to be, then we will have absolutely no choice but to include it in the ESL Extreme Masters.
A lot of people dislike WoW as an E-Sport due to the RNG, and the patches dominating it. After working with the game from an event organizers point of view, has your perception of the game changed from when you first encountered it? Do you think it should be an IEM game, or are there better replacements out there?
If I didn't think World of Warcraft is a good enough game, it wouldn't have stayed in Season IV in the first place. You can like a game or hate a game, but there's nothing wrong with a game if there are throngs of people that love to play it and compete in it - it really is as simple as that. WoW has its own challenges compared to Counter-Strike or Quake Live but it's nothing we couldn't handle. As for replacements - we'll have to wait and see if there's something out there that's better for the ESL Extreme Masters than World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike or Quake Live.
What has been your most memorable moment thus far in the ESL Extreme Masters?
Every event we had delivered several of those really special moments, so it's really difficult to pick one. Button Bashers keeping up their domination in WoW was impressive, underdogs stepping up to defeat heavy favourites: Mousesports beating FnaticMSI in CS and DaHanG beating rapha in Quake Live to win their respective Continental Championships. Maybe Cooller forgetting for a moment that he was playing for $3,500 and offering Av3k a replay of the first map in the European Championship semi final? It made me stop and think if I've ever seen such a gesture of sportsmanship in a major esports event before.
Can you tell us a little bit about how the World Championships will be organized in terms of how spectators at the event, and at home, can watch their favourites play?
As you probably know, CeBIT is a MAJOR trade show with 30 large halls or so. The ESL Extreme Masters will occupy one of them entirely with the stage, tournament area and ESL's free gaming area where you can try out the latest games. Live visitors will be our most privileged spectators because they will be able to enjoy the live atmosphere of an esports spectacle on stage, but they will also be able to watch all the matches from behind the players backs in the tournament area.
Of course we will want to transmit the event's atmosphere to the viewers on ESL TV. We're getting the best commentators for that. I can't stress it enough: we want to make this event the best event we've ever done.
You have been in E-Sports for quite some time, what advice would you give to kids who wish to do something similar to what you do now?
Always give everything your best shot. More than that if you have to. Don't expect to get things - fight for them, earn them. There are many people in esports who would like to have a paid job but won't work before they get paid. They should be there wanting to achieve and build something in the first place and if they're good enough they'll eventually start getting paid. I was working full time for ESReality for four years without asking for anything in return before I got my first dollar for working in esports.
Why is the World Championship at CeBIT, what makes that event so special?
The FA Cup in football always has its final at Wembley, we always hold the ESL Extreme Masters World Championship at CeBIT. It's a tradition already and it adds to the value and the magic of the event. On top of that, CeBIT is the largest trade show of its kind in Europe. It's an awesome venue in general both for esports events and esports spectators and it attracts a lot of international mainstream media, which is also very important.
You also do a few interviews, etc. is it different now that you are with TE, or are you allowed the same amount of freedom as before?
No, of course not, but it is self-imposed. I represent much more than myself now, so I have an obligation not to make an ass out of myself ;-)
What can we expect from you at the World Championships? Who should we expect to take you on in one of your world famous interviews?
A certain player named f0rest promised to give me an interview at CeBIT - that will definitely be a first!
Do you have any say on what rules and regulations get imposed onto the titles used? If you were to change any for any game, what would they be?
If you mean the tournament rules, then I took the power to veto something and get it changed away from myself. I think the referee department has to be completely free from business pressures. At the core, this is a sporting project and it has to stay absolutely pure to remain legitimate.
Does Turtle Entertainment/ESL look at other events such as the WCG as competition for their own event(s) or is the atmosphere at TE/ESL more supportive towards other event/leagues?
We're fully aware that teams and players need more than one, two or three tournaments a year. The more tournaments the better for esports. As for the competition, I personally welcome it. I think it makes us stronger.
A few events try and do really flashy and gimmicky things like the WCG having skate ramps on stage between matches, etc. what is the ESL's mentality when they are creating an event? Do you guys try and do things big and flashy? Or would you say you try and keep to the core of E-Sports, putting the focus on the gamers and the games?
The first thing that we do is take care of the core of our business, which is esports players and esports fans. We can worry about eye-candy later on.
You may have noticed, the European Championship ran four days instead of the usual and accepted three days. All this is done for the fans to make sure that they don't need to miss a single decisive game in the competition. Can we do it always? No, but this is the direction we want to go. I would sacrifice a ramp and a concert every time if that allowed me to show every single playoffs match in my tournament.
Do you have any last words, or maybe hints or announcements for all of the E-Sports fans out there?
If you like our events, get your friends to watch them with you! eSports needs more fans out there.
I am the Product Manager for the ESL Extreme Masters, which means that I oversee and direct everything that goes on at our company regarding my product. I make sure that all departments have got their work done well and in sync with the others. I'm responsible for the creative and strategic decisions regarding the ESL Extreme Masters.
What are you most looking forward to seeing at the ESL Extreme Masters World Championship Finals?
Every time you ask me about the most important event of the season, I will always say that you need to expect it to be ESL's best event ever. Any other attitude than this just doesn't make sense for me as an organiser. We're working towards achieving this.
We're going to have the most talented players in the world, an entire CeBIT hall just for us, the best commentators in esports and a very large prize purse... It's a very important event for Counter-Strike, but for Quake Live and World of Warcraft it's even more so - it's the ultimate global competition for those games. There's a lot to look forward to. It really is time to get excited.
Carmac heading to IEM NA Championship Finals |
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the fact that AGAiN have failed to qualify for the World Championship. The Polish guys finished second behind FnaticMSI in Season III and are expected to place at least top 5 at every event. MYM not following up on their great performance at the Global Challenge in Dubai was also disappointing, although not as surprising.
I know you are a very strong supporter of Quake Live, and you were the one who was pushing for it to be a title in the ESL Extreme Masters. Are you happy with the result, and how the competition has been going so far?
How could I not be happy? Quake Live delivers very dramatic matches and amazing entertainment. We've built a unique relationship with id Software - they've supported us with big things like running LAN tournaments and smaller ones (but not less important) such as congratulating our winners on www.quakelive.com banners. With their help we've made sure that everyone that plays Quake Live knows the faces of our champions.
Is there anything special we should look out for at this year's World Championship Finals, event wise?
It will be more impressive and closer to perfect than ever before. Live visitors to the show will see the most impressive ESL stage to date, a ton of great esports action and many other attractions. The Counter-Strike tournament will span over five days, which is something we have not done before and should have a very positive impact on the show.
This is your first year at this position with the ESL, how stressful has the past year been for you?
Almost not stressful at all. We have an extremely competent and experienced crew. I was amazed at how well they handle all the issues at events.
The only things that added stress were those beyond our control. For example, we found out that Cooller's visa to the UAE did not go through in time one or two days before he was due to arrive at the Global Challenge in Dubai. I spent five hours at the airport bouncing from booth to booth trying to find a way to get Cooller there. The whole situation took place during a holiday in Dubai so getting anything done was even more difficult, borderline impossible.
But we made it... After talking to I don't know how many different people we found out that Cooller can visit Dubai for three days on a transit visa. The problem was that most final destinations Cooller would also need a visa to... In the end Mousesports got him a new plane ticket from Moscow to Bangkok through Dubai. Getting Cooller to Dubai required some serious James Bond stuff and was extremely stressful.
Other than that, there was really nothing that would rattle me.
Can you offer up any predictions for who will win at each game?
As the event's manager it's my duty to say that I would like the best teams and players to win... But to hell with it. In World of Warcraft I think that Button Bashers, the defending champions, are a heavy contender for top 3. Team Dignitas also. I expect Europeans and Koreans in the top three. In Quake Live it really is a tossup between Cypher, rapha, Av3k and Cooller and will come down to who is a bit luckier or who wants it more. Counter-Strike will be very tight and difficult to predict, but I think the defending champions FnaticMSI should make at least to the final.
Carmac and Strenx at IEM EU Championship Finals |
I think we got the very best out of our budget this season. Of course we could have had one major event every month, but that is just not realistic. We got everything that was realistic for us.
It might be a little ways away but, do we know what next year is going to offer us? Maybe SCII, with the Beta just announced, it is on many people's minds.
We're not ready to talk about next season. The World Championship has got our undivided attention. But if StarCraft 2 is as good an esports game as everyone expects it to be, then we will have absolutely no choice but to include it in the ESL Extreme Masters.
A lot of people dislike WoW as an E-Sport due to the RNG, and the patches dominating it. After working with the game from an event organizers point of view, has your perception of the game changed from when you first encountered it? Do you think it should be an IEM game, or are there better replacements out there?
If I didn't think World of Warcraft is a good enough game, it wouldn't have stayed in Season IV in the first place. You can like a game or hate a game, but there's nothing wrong with a game if there are throngs of people that love to play it and compete in it - it really is as simple as that. WoW has its own challenges compared to Counter-Strike or Quake Live but it's nothing we couldn't handle. As for replacements - we'll have to wait and see if there's something out there that's better for the ESL Extreme Masters than World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike or Quake Live.
What has been your most memorable moment thus far in the ESL Extreme Masters?
Every event we had delivered several of those really special moments, so it's really difficult to pick one. Button Bashers keeping up their domination in WoW was impressive, underdogs stepping up to defeat heavy favourites: Mousesports beating FnaticMSI in CS and DaHanG beating rapha in Quake Live to win their respective Continental Championships. Maybe Cooller forgetting for a moment that he was playing for $3,500 and offering Av3k a replay of the first map in the European Championship semi final? It made me stop and think if I've ever seen such a gesture of sportsmanship in a major esports event before.
Can you tell us a little bit about how the World Championships will be organized in terms of how spectators at the event, and at home, can watch their favourites play?
As you probably know, CeBIT is a MAJOR trade show with 30 large halls or so. The ESL Extreme Masters will occupy one of them entirely with the stage, tournament area and ESL's free gaming area where you can try out the latest games. Live visitors will be our most privileged spectators because they will be able to enjoy the live atmosphere of an esports spectacle on stage, but they will also be able to watch all the matches from behind the players backs in the tournament area.
Of course we will want to transmit the event's atmosphere to the viewers on ESL TV. We're getting the best commentators for that. I can't stress it enough: we want to make this event the best event we've ever done.
You have been in E-Sports for quite some time, what advice would you give to kids who wish to do something similar to what you do now?
Always give everything your best shot. More than that if you have to. Don't expect to get things - fight for them, earn them. There are many people in esports who would like to have a paid job but won't work before they get paid. They should be there wanting to achieve and build something in the first place and if they're good enough they'll eventually start getting paid. I was working full time for ESReality for four years without asking for anything in return before I got my first dollar for working in esports.
Carmac and James at IEM EU Championship Finals |
The FA Cup in football always has its final at Wembley, we always hold the ESL Extreme Masters World Championship at CeBIT. It's a tradition already and it adds to the value and the magic of the event. On top of that, CeBIT is the largest trade show of its kind in Europe. It's an awesome venue in general both for esports events and esports spectators and it attracts a lot of international mainstream media, which is also very important.
You also do a few interviews, etc. is it different now that you are with TE, or are you allowed the same amount of freedom as before?
No, of course not, but it is self-imposed. I represent much more than myself now, so I have an obligation not to make an ass out of myself ;-)
What can we expect from you at the World Championships? Who should we expect to take you on in one of your world famous interviews?
A certain player named f0rest promised to give me an interview at CeBIT - that will definitely be a first!
Do you have any say on what rules and regulations get imposed onto the titles used? If you were to change any for any game, what would they be?
If you mean the tournament rules, then I took the power to veto something and get it changed away from myself. I think the referee department has to be completely free from business pressures. At the core, this is a sporting project and it has to stay absolutely pure to remain legitimate.
Does Turtle Entertainment/ESL look at other events such as the WCG as competition for their own event(s) or is the atmosphere at TE/ESL more supportive towards other event/leagues?
We're fully aware that teams and players need more than one, two or three tournaments a year. The more tournaments the better for esports. As for the competition, I personally welcome it. I think it makes us stronger.
A few events try and do really flashy and gimmicky things like the WCG having skate ramps on stage between matches, etc. what is the ESL's mentality when they are creating an event? Do you guys try and do things big and flashy? Or would you say you try and keep to the core of E-Sports, putting the focus on the gamers and the games?
The first thing that we do is take care of the core of our business, which is esports players and esports fans. We can worry about eye-candy later on.
You may have noticed, the European Championship ran four days instead of the usual and accepted three days. All this is done for the fans to make sure that they don't need to miss a single decisive game in the competition. Can we do it always? No, but this is the direction we want to go. I would sacrifice a ramp and a concert every time if that allowed me to show every single playoffs match in my tournament.
Do you have any last words, or maybe hints or announcements for all of the E-Sports fans out there?
If you like our events, get your friends to watch them with you! eSports needs more fans out there.
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