Poland’s underground esports scene has been buzzing for years, but it’s still missing one key element… A professional approach to players’ mental preparation. That’s exactly what we’re discussing with Sniki9991 – Hubert, a certified mental coach and psychology student. Sniki combines his experience as a former CS:GO player with knowledge of sports psychology. He helps players not only to develop their in-game skills, but also to effectively manage stress and build self-confidence. In the interview, he talks about his work with the underground scene, the most common problems in the amateur scene, and how the traits he picked up on the server help him today in his role as a mental coach. It is worth noting that this is not his first appearance in our pages. Some readers may recall an earlier retrospective interview with Hubert. Today’s feature was also produced in collaboration with the organisations Vandals Clan, Avalanche.gg and VoFoxen Esport, with whom he currently works.
[R] Hi Sniki9991, to start with, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi, I’m Hubert, known as Sniki9991. I’m a certified mental coach at Jakub B. Bączek’s academy and a psychology student.
[R] You’re a mental coach, but you used to be a CS:GO player. Can you recall any traits from your playing days that helped you become a mental coach?
I always tried to listen to others and help find solutions to problems. I also often acted as a mediator in disputes.
[R] What do you think is the most common ‘flaw’ among players in the Polish underground scene?
It’s hard to say, because every player is different. Most often I come across a lack of self-confidence and an inability to cope with stress.
[R] Avalanche.gg, VoFoxen Esport, Vandals Clan – are these all the teams you’re currently working with?
There’s one more organisation where I haven’t been officially announced yet. I can reveal that the squad has a Polish core.
[R] Why did you decide to support the Polish underground scene as a mental coach? Why did you choose this particular target?
I realised that my experience and knowledge of the game would help me better understand the players’ problems, but I don’t limit myself to esports alone and also work with representatives of other sports.
[R] You’ve been featured in articles on our site on numerous occasions, which means you’ve had your fair share of experience in the underground scene. Weren’t you tempted to add the skills of a typical CS2 coach to your mental coaching repertoire? After all, a good mental coach helps train CS2 teams, and you have quite a bit of experience as a player.
The role of a CS coach requires a great deal of hard work, which would prevent me from fulfilling my potential as a mental coach.
[R] You could say that you’re part of a certain group in the Polish underground scene that revolved around the UndergrounD eSport Cup tournament. A few people from that community are still active. Recently, the Autobus Brothers joined the active teams from that community. Have you tried to support the Autobus Brothers?
I try to work mainly with well-known underground organisations, as this will help me collaborate with increasingly better organisations in the future, but I’m not closing the door on lesser-known teams. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the lads and following their results; if they need my help, I’ll try to find time for them. I’ve always enjoyed working with Vexon on the server; I wish him every success in everything he does.
[R] If you were to take a mental look at the current state of Polish Counter-Strike, what is its biggest problem and how can it be solved?
I think people still don’t communicate enough with one another, because many conflicts and reshuffles could be avoided by clearly defining what is expected of each other.
[R] A coach in the Polish Underground is quite a common sight. A mental coach, however, is not so common; in fact, there’s a good chance you’re the only mental coach in our scene. Do you think your efforts will lead to more people like you emerging? Is this the direction the ‘Polish Underground’ should be heading in?
It’s very possible that I’ve found a niche where there aren’t many people involved in mental training. At the very top level of CS, sports psychologists are involved, because that’s where the details decide who becomes world champion. At lower levels, there’s less funding, so organisations mainly focus on financing the best players, but to fully utilise their potential, you need people who can help bring that potential to the fore.
[R] If we look at the teams you work with, most of them are our partners. Doesn’t your search for teams involve going to our website, clicking on the ‘Partners’ tab and sending a DM?
Superion works with the best in the underground scene, so the ‘Partners’ section can be helpful.
[R] If you were to compare the Polish amateur scene to what it was five years ago — what has changed? Don’t you get the impression that more money is being poured into the amateur scene now than five years ago, and that people are taking it more seriously?
Organisations look after the players more; previously, a paid server and tournament entry fees were all you could count on in many organisations. Now, organisations run bootcamps, provide the equipment needed to play, and manage social media.
[R] Would you like to add anything yourself, or say hello to anyone?
I’d like to invite anyone in Polish esports who wants to develop, whether individually or as part of a team, to collaborate with me. I’d like to say hello to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with, my girlfriend, and the whole of Superion.
Finally, we would like to thank Sniki9991 for taking the time to give this interview and share his experience. The conversation shows that mental resilience in esports competition is just as important as skill itself. Thanks to the work of coaches like Hubert, the Polish underground scene can gain not only better players, but also healthier and more self-aware teams. Sniki9991 proves that investing in players’ mental well-being is not a fad, but a real way to develop the scene and prepare for ever-greater challenges. So if you are a player, a team or an organisation that wants to unlock the full potential of your players… His experience and mental approach could prove to be one of the key elements on the road to success.
English 
Polish 