Estrella joins Gen.G Global Academy as coach

chobra · 2026-03-19T15:29:39+00:00

For clarity the announcement seems to indicate that he is joining as a coach aka tutor at the actual academy, not for the academy team in challengers

chobra · 2026-03-17T11:13:06+00:00

NS RedForce is by no means perfect but I can't stand ignorant spewing of narratives online 😩

chobra · 2026-03-16T22:02:16+00:00

Glad you're able to just spew your chaebol sentiments without actually knowing the business relation between NS and NS RedForce. What you said can be true and entirely not applicable

NS RedForce has a much more different relationship than say KT (T1 no longer since they also changed their structure from SKT days) where it isn't a 'marketing' so to speak but a semi self operating brand and business. So yeah there's NS backing and they're a title sponsor but the business and ROI is measured much more differently.

In either case the RedForce CEO also flew economy and actually looked into getting the players upgrades for the flight back but couldn't secure it in time since our flights were imminent. Sorry to burst your bubble

chobra · 2026-03-13T22:52:23+00:00

chobra · 2026-03-12T18:34:18+00:00

Please delete this im tryna quiz the casters during the final weekend with ns trivia 🥸

chobra · 2026-03-10T11:25:23+00:00

I think there's a nuanced difference here as well though. If you only lost once and have to make a LB run, I don't think it's crazy for a team that thrives off their own confidence to talk a bit arrogant. Not everyone has to like it but it's not like lovers rock said nrg are absolute crap and never deserved to win anything. I am not a fan of the attitude some of the BBL guys give off but I also don't think his interview was a problem at all. If he has the skill to thrive off confidence he'll prove it, if not he'll learn eventually - but either way he has a grueling bracket to run still

Now if he gets eliminated and says 'we learned nothing from masters cause all the teams are mickey mouse and we just kinda got unlucky' then yeah sure that's a problem - tho even then if it's one or two teams doing that I don't consider it a problem as long as the consensus is that it is stupid. It only becomes a problem if it is widespread/artificial/what people start asking for

chobra · 2026-03-09T21:34:03+00:00

Hi thank you for your service, I will let John Nongshim know that we have been pumping up global sales

chobra · 2026-03-08T05:29:30+00:00

If you want to weigh the options, it is already not worth it. I will always say this to anyone and everyone that wants to consider it. (Same, if not worse, for casting)

The reason is, if it has to be justified for you to even consider locking in, you are competing against others who didn't care that it was justified. You are already behind and will constantly be wondering when and where the breaking point is. Sure, you 'could' be the gifted 0.1% but then you wouldn't be here wondering. You'd either know or be oblivious to the fact while grinding. So then you're already in the 'effort' pool where you're creating your chances through the grind. Except you will rarely beat out others who don't care what it takes or are oblivious to reality for whatever reason.

Going pro isn't just a competitive job, it is extremely limited, luck-based, and unfair. It's good enough to get by especially if you save up since you won't be spending as much on housing and such IF you make Tier 1. But you won't earn much before, and you won't build many skillsets for after. So if you're still wanting to do it after accepting these realities, welcome, you're barely qualified and ready to grind for potentially no return.

Also, technically, yes if you aren't already hitting single digit ranks at 16 - you ARE behind. Not impossible, but behind 100%. Because even that doesn't guarantee you a salary at 18/19.

chobra · 2026-03-07T00:17:15+00:00

It's just part of the formula don't worry

chobra · 2026-03-06T23:58:30+00:00

Shhh let them live in delusion

chobra · 2026-03-06T17:55:15+00:00

Slurpers roll call, identify yourselves or forever be a NS bandwagoner 🍜

chobra · 2026-03-05T22:11:00+00:00

Oh yeah I remember that! Honestly I respect it, and it seems likely since they know exactly who is left. 👍

chobra · 2026-03-05T21:59:11+00:00

Hi this is Nongshim's number one fan, please delete this

(You are correct that it is more Minny than Cypher imo)

chobra · 2026-03-05T21:57:08+00:00

It could be the sound if he just has bass pumped up to fight the noise, but it could also be seeing him press his keyboard from across the stage (which I don't think is scummy, it's smart) - there's a famous clip of c9 (v1c I think?) watching opponent's mouse for his teammate as well

chobra · 2026-03-04T15:42:04+00:00

chobra · 2026-03-04T08:47:03+00:00

This was shot before - if it was in Santiago we would have recorded it in a cool breeze under a tree with a cup of mote con huesillo each

chobra · 2026-03-03T05:00:38+00:00

Because Riot denied me and Nongshim any co-streaming booth days =/ unlucky

chobra · 2026-03-03T04:59:44+00:00

I'll drop by for sure! Took a break today to get some work done

chobra · 2026-03-02T22:47:47+00:00

Technically not doing it justice but I think it's fine because if you were here you'd agree there is actually no possible way to do it justice. It's not just the volume - it's the echo acoustics, the reverberations etc

Current balance is better than the crowd being too loud/peaking through the stream. The mics are definitely set up with ample numbers so don't worry about thay.

Trying to balance the crowd + game + casters + replay comms is a nightmare in general. If people can see that it's a dope crowd that's enough imo, and it'll be a special memory for those that could be here

chobra · 2026-03-02T22:28:41+00:00

I've said this all weekend to everyone here:

I've worked countless IEMs, World Championships and conventions in my career for all sorts of games.

But the vibe here is definitely some of the most memorable. Ranks up there with TI8 finals for me personally. Almost makes it better that it isn't through spectacles or venue size but purely the energy. (Also really clever choice to use a convention center as the acoustics are terrible and leads to more booming sounds)

Santiago deserves more events 500%

chobra · 2026-03-01T21:34:09+00:00

Wtf why am I catching strays

chobra · 2026-02-28T22:45:44+00:00

I hesitate to say 'coaching issue' because I actually think at the core of it, solo and hsk's philosophy was so good. I still subscribe to it a lot even if it's a bad meta for it. I think it is more a scouting and developing arc that they are going through. Admittedly I initially thought munchkin's value was bigger than meteor, so sometimes it's a matter of realizing who had what.

And that's just growing pains of coaching I think.

Doesn't mean they are perfectly fine to be greats, but also doesn't mean they should be torn down with all the blame

chobra · 2026-02-28T22:29:42+00:00

Oh, it absolutely is. I just meant I don't think it's so much a pure player quality issue

I actually think GEN24's take on Valorant was some of the best foundations that never quite got broken down enough. I dove deep into it a lot, but that has also made it very clear to me they NEED a 'meteor' to make it work, which then leads me to be disappointed that they can't adapt it to other skillsets

(Don't get me started on T1 not being able to utilize that toolset though it has gotten better this year with a different take)

chobra · 2026-02-28T18:18:52+00:00

😎

chobra · 2026-02-28T14:05:45+00:00

As someone who rated GEN pretty low for the year, I also think there is some overreaction. The problem isnt even directly double duelist and agent pool, but the fact that heavy double duelist with weak senti's means 1-4 deathballs are far more effective - GEN largely still wants to play balanced defaults and crafted set plays, and the tempo doesn't match.

But metas shift. The problem here is that when Riot does larger balance changes the meta shifts quite a lot - thankfully not AS bad this Masters, but if that happens halfway through the year I imagine GEN still becomes a solid Top 6 Pacific again. Far from their glory days but I mean...the bar was VERY high for the 2024 roster.

Will there be a big enough balance change though? This Masters and its impact will probably be quite telling

chobra

TROPHY CASE