“Nisła Raków will soon cease to exist…” – State of the Underground #3

It’s been just under a month since we launched the “State of the Underground” series. As a reminder, content under this banner is published every Friday – or at least that’s the plan. The first participant in this project was Ta1nz. Each participant has the right to nominate the next person for an interview, to whom they ask a maximum of 5 questions. Each question from the nominator is worth 5 zł, which is then transferred to a charitable cause or causes at the start of the new month. And that’s exactly what we’re bringing you today.

In today’s feature, we’ll be focusing on Krux. Krux is best known for Nisła Raków, the club he founded. He had a stint where he was actively involved as a coach for the Hussars. Although the interview with him was published a few days ago, we’ve managed to extract a few interesting facts from Krux that you certainly didn’t know about. Thank you for accepting our invitation.

[R] Welcome back, KRUX – I suppose you don’t need to introduce yourself. To start with, perhaps you could tell us how your journey with Counter-Strike began?

My journey with Counter-Strike began around 2013. Although not everyone believes it, I played my first matches in CS:GO on an Xbox 360 — using a controller — and, to be honest, I didn’t do too badly at all. Later, I switched to an old laptop and started playing CS 1.6, mainly in deathrun mode on the ArenySkilla.pl servers. I spent over 6–7 years there, and over time I also played CS:GO on that network. I only stepped away from gaming when I got a new computer and felt the urge to grind my rank a bit — Faceit hadn’t really grabbed me that much back then.

[R] Currently, we have two ‘undergrounds’ in the underground — how strange that sounds… which project are you closer to?

I think it’s easy to work out which project I’m closer to. I’m currently an admin in the Red Underground, which is ta1nza’s project. To be honest, before I was asked to join, I had no idea that Discord ‘Undergrounds’ even existed. I only first heard about them when a tournament organised by one of these servers popped up on my Twitter feed.

I definitely feel closest to the Red Underground — I’ve been there since the very beginning of the project. I started out as a moderator, and today I serve as an administrator. Over that time, I’ve become very close to the team, and it’s simply and naturally become the place I identify with the most.

[R] From the perspective of a player and a coach, why do you think no alternative emerged after the ESL Polish Championship, and why do we effectively have no tournament in Poland that’s top-tier in terms of organisation?

To be honest, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single specific reason. It seems to me, however, that it might be linked to the large debts some organisations owe their squads, and to the general state of the Polish scene. Few people want to invest in organising major tournaments, given the current state of Polish teams and the level of interest they generate. On top of that, there’s the issue of how the community perceives them. Very often, Polish teams are dragged through the mud — even when they win solid online tournaments, there are still accusations of cheating, radars or other nonsense. In such an atmosphere, it’s hard to expect anyone to be willing to organise a Tier 1-level event in Poland.

[R] Is running ESEA-style leagues financially viable at all? Is there a better chance that an organisation will ‘spot’ a talented player?

It’s hard to say definitively whether the ESEA league pays off financially for smaller organisations, as I’ve never run a team competing in these leagues myself. However, looking at the example of ‘OLDBOYS’ — a team of streamers who bought an ESEA Pass and won both the Entry and Advanced leagues — in their case it was definitely a worthwhile investment.

There’s certainly also a chance that an organisation might ‘spot’ a talented player. If someone stands out individually from other players or teams, ESEA is one of the places where it’s easy to get noticed.

[R] If you had to choose between a well-organised tournament with, say, a prize pool of 1,000 PLN, and a less well-organised tournament with more uncertainties but a prize pool of, say, 3,000 PLN, which would you take part in?

I think I’d choose the tournament with a prize pool of 1,000 PLN without hesitation. If the event is organised to a high standard, I’d rather take part in something reliable than later wonder whether the organisers of the 3,000 PLN tournament will actually pay out the prizes at all (shout out to Omen Esports).

A good example is the “ewinners” league. The tournament itself was really interesting and enjoyable to watch for Polish viewers, but what happened afterwards regarding the prizes was a complete farce. We were supposed to receive 700 zł for first place, but one of the organisers — “Pogodniak” — ran off with all the cash, including the entry fees. In the end, Tranqinio had to cover the entire prize pool out of his own pocket. It was a similar story with the mousepads that were supposed to be sent out — the person responsible for them stopped replying, and some time ago simply left the tournament Discord. That’s why I prioritise the quality and reliability of the organisation, even at the cost of a smaller prize pool

[R] A few years ago, there weren’t as many amateur or semi-professional offline tournaments in the Polish underground scene, so I get the impression it was harder for players to gain LAN experience? Do you think this is one of the factors that could finally help Polish CS get back on its feet? Or is it already beyond saving?

Certainly, tournaments for smaller teams are a place where they can prove themselves and showcase their skills against stronger opponents. It’s natural that there were fewer such events a few years ago — the underground CS scene has simply developed over the years and looks completely different today.

I believe that if a team emerges that works really hard, regularly takes part in offline tournaments, leagues and various initiatives, then Polish CS has a chance to finally ‘get back on its feet’. The value of these LAN experiences cannot be overstated — they build mental resilience and self-confidence, and allow players to overcome barriers that aren’t visible online. I think there are high hopes for the TNC squad. I don’t think there’s a single person in the underground scene today who hasn’t heard of this team. They’re a well-organised squad that works really hard towards their goal. The lads have huge potential — I know Kamos, Esky and Benog personally and I know they’ve built a solid, well-functioning core. If anyone is going to pull this cart uphill, it’s teams like this.

[R] Which tournament is the best organised, from your perspective?

I think the best-organised tournament, without a doubt, is the Galaxy Cup, organised by Szata and Axemis. The qualifiers are very well structured, the event attracts a lot of interest, and the organisation itself is of a really high standard. It all culminates in a LAN event for Polish teams, which further enhances the tournament’s prestige.

The extensive commentary team also deserves a mention, as it allows viewers to follow the competition in detail. Even in details such as the cameras at LAN events, the Galaxy Cup is far superior to other initiatives. At the moment, I can safely say that there is no tournament in the Polish underground scene that matches the standard of the Galaxy Cup.

[R] Who do you think will win the Major in Budapest?

In my opinion, FaZe will win the Major in Budapest. The team has significantly restored jcobbb’s form, and this has had a major impact on their overall performance. I think that in this form, they could really surprise the audience in Hungary and fight for the final victory.

[R] What’s the story behind the creation of Nisła Raków? Where did the idea for the name come from? I sense a bit of a nod to Rakow Częstochowa here, is that right?

The idea behind Nisła Raków had nothing to do with Rakow Częstochowa — we were actually inspired more by Wisła Kraków. We were chatting with the lads on Discord from ArenySkill and came up with the idea of setting up an esports team. At first, none of us had any idea for a name, so out of sheer desperation I started scouring the internet for inspiration. I came up with the idea of playfully reworking the names of Polish football teams, and that’s how the name Nisła Raków came about.

[R] Do you think Poland lacks a platform, an alternative to Faceit, that could step into Faceit’s shoes in Poland when it comes to contentious issues such as allegations of doping, etc., or do you think this is unnecessary… because we already have Faceit?

I don’t think a Polish alternative to Faceit is really necessary. Even if one were to be created, I doubt it would be very popular — the Polish CS community has simply got used to Faceit. At the moment, even platforms like Esportal or ChallengerMode don’t pose any real competition to Faceit.
I would much rather see the existing capabilities within Faceit itself developed further, e.g. the creation of a league for Polish players in the style of the FPLA, where competitors would compete within their ranking brackets for attractive prizes.

[R] Does running a project like ‘Nisla Raków’ take up a lot of time?

Running a project like Nisła Raków doesn’t take too much time, at least in my case, as I’m not a playing member and only deal with organisational matters. During matches, I hang out with the lads on Discord, support them, manage the team’s social media, and look for tournaments and leagues they could take part in. When one of the players gets a better offer, I look for a replacement for him.

The current Nisła Raków will soon cease to exist, as the lads and I are moving to a new organisation.

[R] What’s your favourite ‘underground’ match?

I don’t think I have one favourite ‘underground’ match, but there are five players I really rate.

1. The first of them is merdi — a brilliant igl with an interesting calling style. As a friend, he’s very nice, helpful and works hard to achieve his goals, not only in CS but also outside of it. When we first met in person, I wouldn’t have had a bad word to say about him — he looks a bit like Pudzian.
2. My second player is Snow (from Nisła), a former Five Man player who didn’t have a team and decided to put his trust in me. I’m very close to Mateusz; we’ve known each other for some time now, and I really like and respect him.
3. The third is Norbi3rt — the best anchor in Poland, very funny and conscientious, who plays on Faceit with huge commitment, trying to gain as much ELO as possible.
4. The fourth player is Awee, a true aim beast who dominates opponents on Faceit alongside Snow and Norbi3rt. He’s communicative and conscientious, which I really value.
5. I’d also add XXX to this list — despite not having much team experience, he reads the game brilliantly and calls freestyle tactics that very often work. He’s composed and calm, and his support helps us achieve high results.
6. Finally, I’d like to mention Shaak, who’s always ready to help us out when we need an extra player. I really appreciate him for that support.

(the order doesn’t matter, they’re all brilliant)

[R] If not Counter-Strike 2, what other game would you find yourself playing?

If it weren’t for CS2, I think I’d fit in well with Rocket League. I used to be really fascinated and hooked by that game. It might be similar with Valorant if I played it more, though at the moment I mainly play it when my best mates from real life want to have a go.

[R] Competition in the market drives up performance, but in some extreme cases, it’s better to have a monopoly. Do you think it’s good for the Underground scene that we currently have two projects just like Underground? Two media portals?

I think the presence of two projects like Underground is actually a good solution. Each has its own ideas and strives to implement them fully. As long as neither project gets in the other’s way or creates artificial drama, I see no reason why both cannot operate in parallel and develop the Polish underground scene.

Questions from Lukas

For every answer, we’ll add 5 zł to a pot, which we’ll donate to charity at the start of January 2026. KRUX answered 4 out of 5 possible questions. 20 zł has been added to the pot.

[L] Nisła Raków has been promoted to the ArrMy Masters League. You’ve got a knack for selecting players and putting together squads. How is Nisła training at the moment? Typical day-to-day training sessions, or rather just playing official matches and getting together at the ‘last minute’?

At the moment, Nisła doesn’t hold regular training sessions, but with the move to a new organisation, we’ll have to change that completely to meet the expectations of the CEO and the fans. As for match preparations, it’s not as though we operate at the ‘last minute’ — we always get together well in advance to discuss tactics, coordinate the team’s actions, and also talk to each other about how everyone is feeling and their well-being.

[L] Can you tell me and the readers why you’re so often targeted by Husarz? He’s often provoked you directly in chat or dragged you through the mud in conversations with others.

As for Husarz, to be honest—I don’t pay it much mind. He has occasionally provoked me or made negative comments in chat, but I don’t take it personally. Everyone has their own reasons for behaving a certain way online. I simply focus on my game, my team, and the people who actually matter to me.

[L] Someone running Horizon’s social media stated that the organisation no longer wants anything to do with the red UG (this information appeared on Horizon’s social media, of which Light is CEO). Despite this, Light, as the face of the organisation, continues to promote himself, for instance through self-promotion on the red Discord. What’s going on? Hypocrisy?

I find it hard to say definitively whether this is hypocrisy; I’m not entirely sure what’s going on myself. It seems to me, however, that this behaviour is rather odd — on the one hand, he says he wants nothing to do with our underground scene, yet on the other, there are posts promoting the organisation on the Red UG server.

[L] What do you think of today’s CS underground? Do you think anything can still be changed, and does such extreme toxicity bother you?

No reply

[L] A Negroni with Pegahem or a Soy Latte with Husarz?

I don’t drink alcohol or coffee.

[R] Thank you for your time, for the second time. Would you like to add anything yourself, or send your regards to anyone?

I’d definitely like to say hello to my parents and the whole of Nisła Raków.

Greetings to you, Merdi, Snow, Awee, Norbi3rt, XXX and Shaaku!!!

Thank you once again for taking part. As today’s participant has not yet submitted their nomination, you will find out who it is when the next instalment is published, featuring either the nominated person or the person starting a new series, which we can bring to life in accordance with the guidelines set out in the article ‘STATUS OF PROGRESS – Introduction’.

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