Last year, most prestigious tournaments abandoned one after another Counter-Strike 1.6 -Games that the queen of e-sports was once considered and without which not a single world championship was complete. The classic version of everyone's beloved Contra for about ten years was present at all the most important tournaments and only in 2012 began to gradually disappear from sight.

► Paradox – the new CS: Go much more beautiful CS 1.6, but the people play much less in it than in the “classic” version.

Noticing the fall of the audience interest in the graphically obsolete game, some of the organizers were replaced by CS 1.6 on the fresh brainchild Valve – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, And some even, forgetting about the FPS genre, focused on the now popular moba League of Legends.

► Who knows, perhaps after a few years someone will call these guys the legends of these guys ..

But our today's story is not about them and not about at all League of Legends , And about the Norwegian CS team Eolithic.

The same video

At the beginning of the two thousandth, the Internet in our area has not yet been so widespread, and its quality and speed left much to be desired. Demolitions of games and videos about the best European teams of those years were rare, and not everyone could download them.

► One of the best Counter-Strike videos over the past ten years!

But among the videos that almost everyone watched, there was a selection of the best gaming moments of the Eolithic team, from the Norwegian muvimakeor Espen Syueberg ( Zaknafein ). The atmospheric eighteen -minute video, which saw the light of October 10, 2003, was one of the first videos about Counter-STRIKE , which I saw myself.

I remember that someone brought him on a blank to one of the local computer clubs, and soon at the computer where it was launched, onlookers from all over the club crowded. The song of the Dutch group played Within Temptation (Ice Queen), we saw the Norwegian flag with unknown nicknames on it (and immediately argued whose banner it was, since no one read the text in the introduction). So we learned about Eolithic.

► Eolithic training on the eve of important championships.

I think I will not be mistaken if I say that this video played a huge role in the recognition and popularity of the team at a time when it has already stopped existing for several months. It's time to tell how the team was born, and remember its most vivid victories and defeats. Let's go!

The origin of the star

The team with a memorable and slightly mystical name Eolithic arose in North Norway in mid -September 2002. The backbone of the first composition was formed from the best shooters of the country, who previously advocated Spacebar (team of the local computer club of the same name).

► Love cold wind and constant cold? Move to live in Oslo!

In the first composition were the following players: Halvar Delhi ( Knoxville ), Lars Olaisen ( Naikon ), Jonas bro ( Luke ), Knut-Magnus Hovden ( Damien ) and Andre Jerkas ( NVY ). However, the latter did not linger in the team, and the quartet played much more games with Ola Moum ( Element ). We talked a little about the latter in our article about history Mousesports.

[[Bullet]] Knut-Magnus Hovden (Damien)-a player standing at the source of Eolithic.

The first test for strength was the prestigious CPL OSLO 2002. By and large, this tournament was not a full -fledged championship, but only one of several stops Cyberathlete Professional League , which did not prevent the organizers from gathering a very serious composition of participants.

Two compositions arrived in the Norwegian capital then MTW (German and Swedish), as well as Mousesports , Finns Ocrana , French Goodgame , Swedes Matrix and other strong groups of those years. It seemed that the barely created team would be very difficult to break through to the prize places, but the "eolics" simply broke all the rivals. I especially remember games against Mousesports in the final of the upper grid and against neighbors from Sweden in the face MTW.se (Scream, Fillur, Brunk, AHL and Fisker). The last two MTW players, by the way, will go to the most star composition in a year or two SK Gaming for the entire existence of their CS unit.

From that final on de_nuke, however, like from other games of the tournament, demos have been preserved (records that can be watched through CS itself). It was on their basis that the first video was made about the team – Eolithic Oslo by Storm.

► Now this video cannot be called beautiful, but back in 2002 it was considered almost a masterpiece.

We beat all the neighbors!

As you know, it is not customary to change the victorious composition, but Eolithic , not seeing the prospects in some of their players, they decided to expel Luke And NVY. And if the farewell to the latter was quite logical, then why the Norwegians did not please Yonas Bron very well played in Oslo ( Luke ), not clear. Together with them, he went under the noise and element – talented tactical leader in the game and a very complex person outside Counter-STRIKE.

[[Bullet]] Norwegian of Korean origin Jorgen Johansen (xeqtr).

Norwegians Jorgen Johanceus were called to replace the departed players ( Xeqtr ) and Alexander Bilenberg ( Dark ), which then consisted in the ranks of the united composition SK.SCA (Scandinavia). So the five Dark, Xeqtr, Naikon, Damien and Knoxville – the most legendary and, if you want, the “classic” composition of Eolithic. In the yard was November 2002, and the best team of Norway (or even all of Europe) was in his prime ..

The gaze of the players were addressed to the next stages of the series CPL , And in order to win the ticket there, it was necessary to take first place for the qualifying in Finland. Not wanting to hold a special tournament, the organizers of the CPL decided to play their quotas in the regional tournament Mindtreklan , where all the strongest teams of Northern Europe went.

[[Bullet]] few people know that before joining the SK Gaming, Crister Erickson defended MTW colors.SE and Team9.

There Xeqtr ’A and the company were already waiting for old acquaintances from MTW.se And the great SK Gaming , which our heroes have not yet met. All viewers expected a stubborn and colorful struggle on de_dust2 – a map that contributes to this like no other. I remember that the young Swede Emil Kristensen distinguished himself in that game ( Heaton ), who killed all rivals on point b. However, that episode was a rare success of SK, and they lost the match with a devastating score of 4:13.

But Schroet Kommando did not fly out of the championship – on the contrary, they could even get the right to revenge, it was only necessary to defeat MTW.se. The latter were not going to give up without a fight, because they also wanted to take revenge Eolithic For offensive defeat in Oslo. The match of the two best teams of Sweden was held in an equal struggle and ended with the victory of MTW, and SK left the tournament without getting to the treasured finale.

► The best fragments of the Mindtrek Lan 2002 championship

With thoughts about revenge MTW.se chose de_nuke – a map that they recently played at the Norwegian stop to CPL 2002. Fisker And the company could not believe that someone was playing better than them, and again received a sonorous bargain-13: 9 in favor Eolithic , And they take gold at their second championship to a row.

American Dream

Having won two prestigious European championships, the main characters in our narrative finally went to Dallas, where he passed CPL Winter 2002. Any European team dreamed of taking first place there, because in America there were a dozen strong teams in Counter-STRIKE , The average level of the game was not inferior to the European.

[[Bullet]] Americans Team 3D – WCG 2005 champions and one of the two strongest US teams of recent years.

The main rivals of Eolithic in Dallas were SK , Gol , Team9 , as well as the strongest teams of the United States Team 3D And ZEX. With the latter Damien and the company met in the second round of the upper grid (the first were easily beaten by Singaporers GBR ). That match was played on de_train and was remembered by a very intense struggle. The teams took turns won the rounds, and when the score was 11:11, the final jerk was a success to the owners of the championship. ZEX won with a score of 13:11 and unexpectedly for everyone sent the Norwegians to the lower part of the grid.

Below the winners CPL OSLO 2002 The first few rounds came across very weak teams. So, Eolithic rolled up the Americans from Exs (13: 4), Singaporets from Titans (13: 4) and the next Americans from DOP (13: 5). The first serious opponent came across in the sixth round of the lower grid. The Swedish team Team9 (Spawn, Scream, AHL, FISKER, FILUR) combined four former players MTW.se and very promising Abdi Mohammed ( Spawn ).

► CPL logo-once the most prestigious e-sports league in the world. Now she does not conduct anything special and exists rather on paper.

The first half of the match on de_cbble (perhaps the most “imbalanced” map) ended with a score of 7: 5 in favor of the Norwegians. However, such a result is difficult to call positive, because after the loss of “pistols” everything could turn upside down. And so it happened – the Swedes gathered the will into a fist and, changing the side, won 8: 4 (General account 13:11).

This defeat crossed out our heroes from the list of applicants for the championship, and Eolithic forced to be content with the match for seventh place. Disappointed and deprived of the incentive, they lost the little -known American team Riot Squad , Enturing an disappointing eighth place.

"You are here, and he is there"

The Winter Championship in Dallas has become a starting point for most teams, and many five, without showing a good result in the United States, went to radical changes in the compositions. Norwegians were in no hurry to change the awl to soap and wanted to wait Eurocup , which was about to begin in Rotterdam.

► One of the few team photos of Eolithic good quality.

A few days before the start of the games Damien And the company finally found the sponsor-it became the company E.Sports United , promising children to pay for trips to European championships. To the former name Eolithic The abbreviation ESU (Esu Eolithic*) was added.

Sniffing gunpowder in Dallas Norwegians rivals in Eurocup seemed "light bots". Not Finns Ocrana.ATI , not German compositions MTW and A-Losers could not oppose anything to our star five. The finale is against MTW I was more like a walk in the park than for the game of two equal teams. The gold of the tournament in Rotterdam was the third major victory of the five in some few months.

[[Bullet]] Ola Mom (Element) – perhaps the most talented player in CS for the entire existence of the game. It is a pity that by virtue of his character, he did not fully reveal his potential.

The beginning of 2003 was marked by running players from the team to the team. First from Eolithic to Gameonline Knut-Magnus Khovden left ( Damien ) who really wanted to play with Element ’Om. However, a few days later they both unexpectedly returned, but no longer found the departed to the Austrian Quake 2 -team Infernum Dark’a.

It seemed that the changes ended on this, but it wasn’t there-Dark’s quickly bored Quake , And he asked back. At first he was accepted as a sixth player, but soon he replaced Damien’a and became the main. So the five Knoxville, Naikon, Xeqtr, Dark and Element formed – the last composition Eolithic , which will act before the disbandment of the team.

French silver

The first major tournament in the new year for Eolithic the French championship was supposed to be Clickarena. The Norwegian five went there with a new sponsor – relations with E.Sports United were suspended, and the obligations to support the team were taken by the guys from the Swedish computer center Gameonline.

► Lars Olaisen (Naikon) received the nickname "Sam" for a striking resemblance to the character of the film "Lord of the Rings" Samvaiz Gamji.

The team flew by the group stage without noticing, but in the playoffs Eolithic I had to meet with SK, and twice. In the second round of the upper grid, the team found out relationships on de_train, and in the main time the winner was not revealed (12:12). All rounds of overtime remained for the Norwegians, and SK According to the good old tradition, we went to the lower grid.

By defeating eternal competitors, Xeqtr And the company already seemed to see itself champions and underestimated the next opponent – the new composition of the Swedish team Team9 (Vesslan, Luccheze, Luciano, Quick, Luke). Two teams again met on de_cbble (in Dallas they also played this card), and the “nine” gnawed at her victory again (13:11). The Norwegian tried in that meeting Luke , previously performed in one of the first compositions Eolithic.

► although Eolithic was famous for the coordinated team game, the main star of the team has always been Element.

The Norwegians who fell into the final of the Luzers (lower mesh) were waiting for the meeting With SK Gaming , Now on de_inferno. Having won the coin, Eolithic began to defend and lost the first half with a score of 5: 7. But after the shift of the parties, the Norwegians took the eight rounds they needed in the attack and won with the total score 13:10. SK again fell at hand Eolithic , And even the few who still continued to consider them the best team of the planet turned away from the Swedes ..

But the heroes of our narrative, the SK problems took care of the least, because they had a final against the offenders from them ahead Team9. On the first map de_TRain, both fives could not find out who is stronger for a very long time. It took a few overtime for Eolithic to finish off the opponent and won with a score of 19:16. But it was too early to rejoice, because this victory only compared the score in the final series and the Norwegians still had to win DE_DUST2.

► XEQTR was famous for the scientific approach to inventing game strategies.

Starting in defense, the Swedes on the move won the most important pistol round and took the side to victory with a score of 7: 5. All key rounds of the second side also remained for Team9, and the second team of Sweden revenge on the Norwegians for compatriots from SK. Thus, Team9 went thirty thousand euros, and Eolithic I https://coral-gb-casino.co.uk/ had to be content with ten.

The last days of Eolithic

By and large, the French championship was the last major tournament for the original Norwegian team. After it, Eolithic still managed to win the regional Scandinavian qualifying ESWC (were finally defeated there Team9 ) and several games within the prestigious online league ESL Invite.

[Bullet]] Element (extreme on the left) and its new SK Gaming team at one of the American CPL series tournaments.

June 13, 2003 The main star of the Ola Mumi team ( Element ) announced the transition to the camp of an irreconcilable enemy SK Gaming. He explained his decision by the fact that he was tired of the competitive Counter-Strike and wants new sensations in another team. The four left without him for about ten days thought about her future, and as a result, star players decided to run away. So Element shorten the life of his first, but far from the last team.

Later Ola will play for mousesports, Mibr , 4Kings and other teams, but in each of them – only a few months. A few years later, part of the Eolithic players will reunite with each other in a successful Norwegian-American project Noa , But this is a completely different story ..

► Frag Movie the best gaming moments of Olya Moma (Element)

Of course, statistically, Eolithic was not the best team of the world, because the same SK won much more championships. However, out of the seven personal meetings of these teams, six remained for the Norwegians.

Bright star called Eolithic In the professional sky Counter-STRIKE shone a little over a year, but during this time the name of the Norwegian team became a household. Hundreds of thousands of children around the world dreamed of playing how Element or Xeqtr and signed by Eolithic in the "clanvars" against eternal rivals from the neighboring court.

► In Norway, a lot of places where you can retire and reflect on the future of your team. One of them is the world famous stone ledge Troll's language on Mount Skiergedal.

What was the secret of success Eolithic? Perhaps in their unique aggressive game, and perhaps in the fact that the Norwegians have significantly ahead of their time and entered the game a lot. It is possible that the secret of success in its fragility – the team lasted only a year with a little, and its fans did not have a chance to see how it cracks at the seams. The Eolithic team has gone at the Zenith of Glory.

List of the main achievements of the team:

-1st place CPL OSLO 2002

-1st place CB Eurocup VI

-1st place ESL Sweden Invite Cup

-1st place Mindtrek Lan

-1st place Nine.ESWC Lan Qualifyer

-2nd place Nordic Champions

-2nd place Clickarena 2003

-8th place CPL Winter 2002