Interviews
Interview: Giovanni “gio” Deniz – Professional CS:GO Coach
This interview with Gaming Net talked a little with the Brazilian Giovanni “gio” Deniz. He tells us a little about how he started in Counter Strike, the problems that are faced every day in the profession. In addition to Coach, gio is an analyst, narrator / commentator for Counter Strike Global Offensive.
Giovanni “gio” Deniz acting as Coach of CS:GO. (Image: GC Masters)
Giovanni is also a professor at Games Academy. Games Academy is an online teaching platform that seeks to help Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) players improve performance in Valve's game. Created by the Brazilian pro player Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, who currently defends MIBR, the platform offers classes by subscription.
How was your first contact with Counter Strike?
In 2001 ~ 2002 once a week my brother and I went to a Lan House here in the neighborhood to play Tibia. One day he went only with friends and I couldn't go, he came back cracked in Counter Strike. He introduced me, took me the other week to play and I never stopped playing.
You started your career in Counter Strike as a Player and today you are a Coach, tell us about your career in the game.
I even competed in smaller teams on Counter Strike 1.6, I didn't get to the professional level at the time because it was much more restricted than it is today. I played championships between 2009 and 2010, and then I came back in 2015 already at CS:GO. At CS:GO, as a better PC was needed to play, I ended up studying more than playing. I used my knowledge to act as a coach, trying to develop myself as a person and professional in the best possible way.
Not only the players, but the coaches also encounter some difficulties during their career, did any of these lead you to think about giving up this profession?
I think my biggest difficulty has always been financial … As I got “old” on the scene and without a financial structure behind it, life charged me a lot. I sold a company just before I dedicated myself to Counter Strike and I managed to pay off in time. When, through community analysis, I managed to make a salary, since the teams I worked at the time did not even pay a living allowance.
Much is said today about the work of psychology with eSports players. In situations within the game, can the Coach guide the players in order to control the emotion or something?
The coach only talks in the clubs, so the preparation is pre-game, when exchanging halfs and between maps. The work of psychologists and sports psychology is always done during training. The player needs to be used to the techniques of emotional control.
You as well as Coach are Analyst/Commentator/Narrator/Teacher, do you think that all these functions that you end up adding to each other?
Without a doubt! It also gets in the way of trying to produce content where I need to focus more on analytics or coaching. But I have been looking for a very strong balance in relation to this and it has been good!
You had a passage last year by the Brazilian team of W7M, what is your expectation for the Brazilian scenario for the next years?
I believe that the Counter Strike scene tends to grow in 2020 and 2021 with strength. But for that, not only do organizations depend on making this delivery, but players (in general) need to have more maturity. More professionalism and taking Counter Strike as a job. I think there is a little lack of that on the Brazilian scene. Comply with schedules, respect training, train properly, focus on evolving the collective and help the scene as a whole. We have a lot of arrogance on the professional scene and this is detrimental in the long run.
Finally, what was the most remarkable moment in your career in Counter Strike so far?
I believe that as a Coach, the XLG Cup final was an absurd career milestone. First face-to-face final played at a Comic Con. As caster and influencer, without a doubt ESL One Belo Horizonte. That event was surreal in many ways. I did the narration that opened Mineirinho, I narrated SK's first victory on the Stage, I received an extraordinary affection from the audience… It was the happiest moment I had working with Counter Strike, without a doubt!
If you want to check out Giovanni “gio” Deniz's social networks:
Facebook: fb.com/gio.fps
Twitter: @gio_fps
Instagram: instagram.com/gio.deniz
Youtube: youtube.com/giofps
Twitch: twitch.tv/gio_fps
E-mail: [email protected]
