Look Sports Media – Spanish Counter-Strike 2 team Iberian Soul will be making waves at EPIC.LAN 45, but not alone. Joining their ranks is the UK’s own Owen "smooya" Butterfield, adding a significant dose of star power to their lineup. The Spanish core, featuring Alejandro "mopoz" Fernández-Quejo, David "dav1g" Granado, Pere "sausol" Solsona, and Alejandro "alex" Masanet, completes this intriguing roster. This marks a significant return to the Kettering-based event for smooya, whose last appearance at EPIC.LAN 41 in February 2024 was marked by both success and controversy, including a fine for misconduct. looksports.media understands a previous informal ban has since lapsed, paving the way for his comeback.
Iberian Soul, unattached since KOI’s departure from the CS2 scene in January, will face stiff competition at EPIC.LAN 45, including teams like Alliance, Estatic, Inner Circle, Preasy, and Wild Lotus. However, their participation is even more significant due to recent developments. According to a report by Sheep Esports, the Iberian Soul roster is set to be acquired by French esports organization Gentle Mates, a move that adds another layer of intrigue to their EPIC.LAN campaign.
This acquisition marks Gentle Mates’ foray into Counter-Strike 2, a surprising move considering their background. The organization’s co-founders, former Call of Duty pros Corentin "Gotaga" Houssein and Kevin "Brawks" Georges, alongside prominent YouTuber Lucas "Squeezie" Hauchard, are no strangers to the competitive gaming scene. Their history with Team Vitality further underscores their ambition in this new venture. Interestingly, Gentle Mates will field an all-Spanish roster, save for the temporary addition of smooya, with the reported addition of Spanish AWPer Antonio "Martinez" Martinez from Argentinian organization 9z. This strategic decision, given the historical rivalry between France and Spain in esports, adds a compelling narrative to their entry into the CS2 scene.
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The Iberian Soul roster’s past struggles, having failed to qualify for S-tier tournaments like PGL Bucharest, PGL Astana, and IEM Dallas, adds weight to their EPIC.LAN performance. This tournament could be a crucial stepping stone for the team under their new banner, and smooya’s presence undoubtedly adds to the anticipation surrounding their matches. The gamble on Gentle Mates’ success in their first CS2 venture is certainly one that esports betting sites are already taking into account.
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