Tarik ‘tarik’ Celik is known for his positive vibes and can-do attitude, but the former CS:GO Major winner appears to be going through a crisis of confidence under the MiBR banner.
The North American star has struggled to adapt to life with Made in Brazil since joining the roster in July of 2018, and their heartbreaking loss to Astralis in the Grand Final of ECS Season 6 seems to have hit him hardest of all.
“Fuck bro. So close but something is really missing,” the 22-year-old said on Twitter after the tournament. “ I never had this feeling on a team where I’m so helpless during our games :/ sucks but hopefully we get better. Congrats to Astralis, they played great.”
He went on to clarify that he feels powerless, stating: “It’s a feeling that I haven’t experienced on my previous teams before. Idk how to express this feeling, but anyway thank you all for the support.”
Just to clarify a bit about what I mean when I say helpless. It was more of a general statement. I think powerless is a better word. It’s a feeling that I haven’t experienced on my previous teams before. Idk how to express this feeling, but anyway thank you all for the support.
— tarik (@tarik) November 26, 2018
Jake ‘Stewie2K’ Yip was quick to offer some words of encouragement to his teammate, saying: “Be proud of how far we’ve improved in a new culture and experiencing a new philosophy of the game. Success comes through hard work and strength in mentality. Won’t be handed to us.”
The team’s in-game leader, Gabriel ‘FalleN’ Toledo, echoed those sentiments: “It’s not easy to change your game completely to play in a new environment. You are a different player here than the one your previously teams needed in the past. You are doing a good job. We are close”
Be proud of how far we’ve improved in a new culture and experiencing a new philosophy of the game. Success comes through hard work and strength in mentality. Won’t be handed to us :punch:
— Jake (@Stewie) November 26, 2018
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It’s not easy to change your game completely to play in a new environment. You are a different player here than the one your previously teams needed in the past. You are doing a good job. We are close :yes::skin-tone-2::ok_hand::skin-tone-2:
— Gabriel Toledo (@FalleNCS) November 26, 2018
Tarik captained Cloud9 to victory at the ELEAGUE Boston Major in January but the team’s results dropped off soon after and his partner in crime, Stewie, eventually decided to follow a new path with the Brazilian core of SK Gaming that eventually became MiBR.
Neither Cloud9 or MiBR found the success that they were hoping for as the season progressed and Tarik eventually followed Stewie to the Brazilian team, meaning the roster consisted of two US players and three Brazilians.
The changes in culture and philosophy within the team that Stewie mentions have often been mentioned by pundits and analysts who point towards scenarios where communication seems to be an issue within the team.
However, the improvements from the team in recent weeks and months have also been evident, and their 16-14, 22-20 loss to Astralis on November 25 couldn’t have been closer.
With a little more time, and a boost in confidence for the likes of tarik, MiBR could well be the team to dethrone the Danish powerhouse that has dominated the 2018 CS:GO season.