Counter-Points

Dive into this post-major Counter-Strike deep-dive with Thorin and Pimp as they break down why the new CS calendar finally feels like a real sports season, how the major as a year-ending event reshapes roster moves, and what player breaks should really look like in a modern, hyper-competitive scene.   The conversation then shifts into an all‑time greats debate: is Vitality’s 2025 run better than Astralis’s legendary 2018? They compare trophies, semi‑final streaks, Intel Grand Slam runs, and era difficulty, arguing that Vitality might have the highest “floor” of any CS team ever. They also praise apEX for actively chasing history, talk about the “wrestling villain” crowd dynamic, and dismantle lazy takes about “old CS being bad” by comparing how every era always plays at its own 100% level. They then discuss the donk vs ZywOo conversation. If you enjoy era debates, behind‑the‑scenes details, and real talk about what it takes to stay on top in CS, watch the full episode, drop a comment with your pick (Vitality 2025 or Astralis 2018), and subscribe for more high-level Counter-Strike analysis. Come join LFN hosts and fans for some fun competition in Mechabellum this holiday season! Play in our 2v2 tournament on December 20th to have a chance to win $500 in cash alongside in-game rewards. Use code “LastFreeNation” in Mechabellum to earn a special, holiday-themed in-game reward.Mechabellum on Steam: https://bit.ly/4oLm3Jg Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get ready for one of the most stacked CS2 Major playoffs of all time. In this episode of Counter-Points, Thorin and Pimp break down why this Major format with VRS seeding has actually worked, how it created a logical narrative through all three stages, and why the playoff bracket is almost the dream scenario for competitive Counter-Strike. They talk about how teams like FlyQuest naturally hit their ceiling, why this playoff field is statistically one of the strongest ever, and why there’s basically no way to get a “bad” semifinal with this bracket.  Come join LFN hosts and fans for some fun competition in Mechabellum this holiday season! Play in our 2v2 tournament on December 20th to have a chance to win $500 in cash alongside in-game rewards. Use code “LastFreeNation” in Mechabellum to earn a special, holiday-themed in-game reward.Mechabellum on Steam: https://bit.ly/4oLm3Jg  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NOTE: This episode was recorded before the Team Liquid vs Passion UA match. In this episode of Counter-Points, Thorin and Pimp break down the viral drama sparked by npl from B8 during the CS2 Major – and use it to dig into the messy relationship between pro players, analysts, fans, and unfair criticism. They discuss good vs. bad player/media interactions, including coaches and players who lie or wildly exaggerate (“worst analyst ever,” “doesn’t understand CS”) versus those who DM, provide real context, and actually influence how analysts talk about their teams. They then dive into the CS2 Major, discussing Team Liquid, Falcons, and FaZe in depth Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Pimp and Thorin break down why the opening stage of the Budapest CS2 Major felt like one of the worst major stages ever in terms of gameplay quality – despite the stakes, the storylines, and the new Valve ranking system (VRS) doing a decent job of seeding teams. Go to https://Kalshi.com and use promo code LFN. Make your first $100 worth of trades and you’ll automatically receive a $10 bonus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get ready for the ultimate CS2 Major preview! 🎯 In this episode of Counter-Points, Thorin and Pimp break down the top contenders, dark horses, and potential disappointments heading into the upcoming Major. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Counter-Points, we dive deep into the world of competitive CS2, breaking down the recent grand finals at IEM Chengdu, and the evolving meta in pro Counter-Strike. Pimp and Thorin discuss Vitality’s 3-0 loss to FURIA, explaining why the scoreline was deceptive, how key clutch moments like FallenNs 1v2 on Ancient shifted momentum, and why Vitality’s biggest opponent right now might be themselves.   The conversation highlights standout performances and roster changes — from molodoy’s transformative impact on FURIA, arguably making them major contenders, to comparisons with big-name transfers like ropz to Vitality. We explore the strengths, weaknesses, and psychological dynamics of top teams such as Falcons, Spirit, MOUZ, and NAVI, and why team composition and synergy often trump raw firepower in the current era. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us for another episode of Counter-Points as Pimp and Thorin dive deep into the worlds of esports, competitive drive, and the intersection of gaming with real-life challenges.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Counter-Points, we break down the current state of competitive Counter-Strike after ESL Pro League, exploring why the race to the next Major feels more open than ever. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we dive deep into FURIA’s surprising resurgence and the roster changes that shocked the Counter-Strike scene. Thorin and Pimp break down the additions of YEKINDAR and rookie AWPer molodoy, the transformation of FalleN from an AWPing in-game leader to a rifling support IGL, and how these moves revitalized the team despite initial skepticism. We explore molodoy’s breakout year, the tactical and leadership dynamics between FalleN and YEKINDAR, and why full buy-in from veterans like KSCERATO and yuurih has boosted performance  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Counter-Points, Thorin and Pimp break down one of the most surprising results in recent CS2 esports history — G2’s stunning victory over Vitality at the BLAST Premier Fall Final. We dive deep into how G2, led by coach sAw and IGL huNter-, built a winning formula without a traditional superstar, relying instead on a perfectly balanced roster featuring HeavyGod, matys, and malbsMD. From tactical innovations to key role adjustments, we analyze how G2 overcame pre-final predictions, mastered their T-sides, and shut down Vitality in a five-map thriller   We also explore the bigger Counter-Strike landscape — what G2’s rise means for the CS circuit, Vitality’s quest to regain their dominance, and how teams like Spirit, FaZe, Falcons, and TheMongolZ could shape the path to the next Major. Packed with expert insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and detailed breakdowns of team building, leadership shifts, and individual performances, this episode is essential for any Counter-Strike fan looking to understand the evolving CS2 esports meta. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On a new Counter-Points, Thorin and Pimp discuss Spirit adding tn1r, the state of Astralis, whether gla1ve is done with professional CS, logical landing spots for zont1x, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to a new series of Counter-Points! Thorin and Pimp discuss the donk vs ZywOo debate, MOUZ's performance at IEM Cologne, Team Spirit's reliance on donk, kyousuke's debut for Falcons, and more!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac discuss results from IEM Cologne, why SAW are being overrated, the electrifying FaZe win over Team Liquid, what Vitality need to do to win the event, what another title would mean for NAVI, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac discuss narratives around IEM Cologne and BLAST Fall Groups, why Team Spirit may be the best team in the world right now, a change that NAVI needs to consider, issues at FaZe, and more. Thank you to Mando for sponsoring this episode! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code POINTS at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac discuss massive roster moves at Team Liquid and G2, past clues that Twistzz intended to IGL eventually, why NiKo made the correct decision to not IGL for G2, the rumored Cloud9 roster, the competitive mentality for ZywOo and other French players, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac are joined by caster Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill to discuss the state of Counter-strike esports, roster moves at G2, why Team Spirit could be the best team in the world, the potential for superstar players to play with each other on the same team, ZywOo continuing to choke, whether NAVI made a mistake in keeping their lineup together, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac discuss cadiaN's departure from Team Liquid, sh1ro's strong performances being overshadowed by donk, the dynamics of Team Spirit, a point on Vitality from the latest episode of Snake and Banter with Richard Lewis, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac discuss recent showings from Vitality, Team Spirit, and G2, ZywOo falling in yet another big final, donk getting cooked at IEM Dallas, Stewie2k's performance as a stand-in, potential paths forward for G2, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac discuss ESL Pro League Grand Finals between MOUZ and Vitality, the skill that s1mple has always used that ZywOo needs to pick up on, Vitality's chances at winning the Shanghai Major, hype around the current Astralis lineup, blameF joining Fnatic, pro and community takes on dev1ce , and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thorin and Maniac discuss results from ESL Pro League, a roster rumor that degster will replace nicodoz on HEROIC, narratives surrounding "toxic" and "nice players, hallzerk and Complexity's recent performances, expectations for MOUZ at this event, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.