Today we have the pleasure of speaking to WisTu, captain and in-game leader of the Vandals Clan team. He is the one at the helm of the team, overseeing the tactical side of the game, the team spirit and the development of the whole squad. During our conversation, WisTu revealed to us what everyday life is like at Vandals Clan and how he copes with the pressure of leading the team. He also spoke about his passions outside the game, his future plans and his own vision for taking the team to the top. The editor’s questions are marked [R]. Enjoy the read!
[R] To start with, please introduce yourself – who are you, what do you do on a daily basis, and how did your journey with Counter-Strike begin?
Hi, I’m Wiktor, perhaps better known to the CS community as WisTu. On a day-to-day basis, I study and watch those red idiots from Manchester. My journey with Counter-Strike probably began just like most people’s, that is, thanks to Izak’s channel and Virtus’s victory in Katowice 2014.
[R] Do you remember the moment when you first thought you wanted to play more seriously, rather than just ‘for fun’?
As for the first time I realised it might be worth playing a bit more seriously, that was a bit over a year ago. The lads and I came up against “Lombard” in the qualifiers for some tournament on Faceit. If my memory serves me right, we were playing on Antivirus and got absolutely thrashed 13-2. I managed to rack up 88 ADR against them whilst still only being level 8 on Faceit, so I was pretty proud of myself. That’s when I started thinking that I could start training a bit more and perhaps approach the game a bit differently.
[R] You mentioned that you started with TT.Prawiczek and later Mysich Agents. How do you look back on that period – what did you take away most from those teams?
I think a lot of friendships with people I’m still in touch with today. A shout-out here to Żury and Mizerka, my two mates. Obviously, not all the memories were positive. Playing more seriously, however that might sound in amateur/semi-pro CS, does involve sacrifices. Some relationships had to fall apart, but I tried to learn from them and move on. I look back on that period quite fondly, as it was, after all, the early days of team CS, so I have very pleasant memories.
[R] Who from those days are you still in touch with today? Did any of your former teammates have a particular influence on your development as a player or a leader?
As I mentioned in the previous question – I’m still closest to both Żury and Mizer, with whom I occasionally chat or have a laugh about something on Twitter. Mizer was the first person who made me spend a lot more time on aim trainers to catch up with him. Żury taught me how to approach the game, not just ‘run and shoot’. The greatest credit certainly goes to Coach MTK, to whom I owe, in a sense, the fact that I am where I am today. He was, however, my first CS role model. I must also thank Szambi, who was the first person to show me that you can play this game tactically.
[R] How did the idea for your own project – Animal Planet, which later became Valiance and then the Vandals – come about?
The Animal Planet project came about because I was building an academy for a certain organisation. There, I was supposed to be in charge of a team less experienced than the main one, and we were to compete at lower levels than the top ones. Unfortunately, the situation in that organisation became so chaotic due to the poor management of the owners themselves and the coach, whom I had considered a friend. Sadly, he turned out to be the worst person I met during this esports adventure.
[R] What is the current Vandals Team line-up and what roles do the individual players fulfil?
As for the Vandals line-up, I fulfil the role of in-game leader and, incidentally, support, which prioritises the stats and freedom of play of others over my own. Csku is our anchor, Szczyk plays lurk, Keisy is our aimstar, and Cytryn is our sniper.
[R] You currently play as the in-game leader. What appeals to you most about this role, and what are the biggest challenges involved in leading the team?
The role of IGL comes with a great deal of responsibility when it comes to decision-making. You can win a round on your own, or lose it with a single decision. In my case, becoming IGL happened very unexpectedly. After weeks of testing various IGLs for the team, I got so frustrated that I decided I would take on the role myself. I’m a quick learner, and none of the IGLs we tested fit my vision for the team or that of the rest of the lads. As for the biggest challenges associated with this role, I could go on and on. First and foremost, the time commitment is much greater than for any other role. Sometimes individual progress takes a back seat. Also, balancing all the roles so that no one feels left out. The most important thing is taking responsibility for everything that happens during the match.
[R] Do you have a specific playstyle at Vandals – more tactical and controlled, or more aggressive and spontaneous?
It really depends on the map and how we feel on that particular map.
[R] What is your current situation in ESEA – what tier are you playing in, and what are your goals for this season?
Currently, after today’s match, we have a 6-3 record. Two matches were effectively lost because we were weaker than the opposing team. On one occasion, due to poor admin performance and technical issues, we played the match with four players for 9 out of 10 rounds. Our goals are definitely the playoffs and promotion to a higher league.
[R] Which online or LAN tournaments are you most looking forward to in the coming months? Is there a specific event you’re treating as your main goal?
At the moment, we’re focusing on ensuring that we give 100% in every tournament we take part in. We’re not looking too far ahead because we already have three tournaments lined up, and on top of that, the Army Masters is coming up soon.
[R] What does your daily training routine look like – how many hours do you spend on the server and how do you divide your time between aim, tactics and teamplay?
As for training time, it’s usually between 4 and 5 hours. When it comes to aim training, everyone does their own thing.
[R] As captain, do you feel you have to be not only a tactician but also the team’s psychologist – someone who motivates and unites the squad?
Striking a balance between being a player and a captain can be difficult, because in moments of weakness, as captain, it’s my job to keep the team’s spirits up. As a player, I also need to be firm to prevent people from doing their own thing, and I have to be able to use that firm hand when necessary.
[R] What are your personal goals for the coming year as a player and as a leader of the Vandals Team?
As for goals, we definitely all want to keep pushing forward as a team. To become a better version of ourselves day by day.
[R] Apart from CS, you mentioned that you’re interested in sport, particularly football – do you think these passions help you in esports competition?
I think that ever since I was a child, I’ve always been the sort of person who hated losing, loved competition and always wanted to be better than others. That’s why I think it’s a very important trait for any competitor, not just in esports but in sport in general. A love of competition is something you have to have if you want to achieve success.
[R] How do you view the current state of the Polish CS2 scene? Do you think we still have the potential to return to the European top?
I think we’re at a stage where purely Polish projects don’t stand a chance of reaching the top of esports. Of course, what I mean is that we won’t see a fully Polish team in Tier 1 any time soon. It’s hard for me to say what the reason is – whether it’s the work culture or the mentality – but in Polish esports, we’ve recently been seeing more of these great moments that don’t last very long.
[R] What advice would you give to young players who are just starting their journey in tournaments and dream of having their own team?
To be honest, it’s hard to say anything that won’t sound like a cliché; nothing is a sure-fire recipe for success. What I can advise, however, is perseverance and consistency, but with a dose of common sense. I believe that mental health is very important when it comes to not burning yourself out, so it’s worth looking after that too.
[R] Finally – thanks for the chat! Would you like to say hello to anyone, or suggest someone you’d like to see in the next interview?
Thanks a lot, it’s been a pleasure. I’d like to say hello to my teammates, both current and past. Definitely Kamil, the CEO of Vandals, who believed in us and provides us with great conditions so that we can focus on our work, and Okocs – so that he doesn’t get too comfortable in retirement, it would be great if you could get him for an interview so he can share a thing or two. Cheers!
Finally, we’d like to thank WisTu for accepting our invitation to this interview and for his time. We wish him the best of luck in his future gaming endeavours, success with the Vandals Clan, and continued growth both within the esports scene and beyond.
The player’s comments have been edited for style. The full context of the conversation remains intact and preserved in its original form.
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