High profile analyst and coach of Counter Logic Gaming, Christopher “MonteCristo” Mykles, will step down from his role coaching the team. An announcement on the Counter Logic Gaming website calls the decision “mutual,” citing Mykles’ desire to continue fully pursuing his career as an analyst and commentator and Counter Logic Gaming’s need for a full-time on-site coach.
“As time went on it became increasingly clear that the organization requires an in-house coach and that I could not fulfill the needs of the players as long as I pursued my work in casting,” Mykles said in a statement on the team’s website.
“Since I am choosing my career as an analyst over a full-time position with CLG in 2015, I feel that it is necessary to step back from my role as coach immediately.”
Mykles coached the team remotely from Korea during the season, sitting in during scrim sessions through Skype and reviewing hours of video. Despite his full-time job as a commentator for OnGameNet in Korea, Mykles reportedly put 30 plus hours a week into Counter Logic Gaming. But it wasn’t enough.
The team suffered a disappointing end to their season. They skipped their final week of League Championship Series regular season obligations to fly to Korea and bootcamp with Mykles in person, hoping to up their level before the all-important playoffs that determined which three teams would make the Riot World Championships. But the playoffs were disastrous. Curse Gaming swept Counter Logic Gaming, and the team followed it up with 3-1 loss to Dignitas. The sixth place finish means the team needs to survive relegations to stay in the LCS.
The results sparked a massive controversy within the community as Mykles came under criticism led by Team SoloMid owner Andy “Reginald” Dinh for his apparent lack of effectiveness.
Mykles has offered his services during the lead up to the all-important relegation match on Tuesday, where Counter Logic Gaming will face Curse Academy for the right to stay in the LCS. But the team has decided to work with their in-house resources instead.
One of those resources is Christopher “Zuna” Buechter, former marksman for LCS team XDG Gaming, who is currently staying at the CLG house working with the team in preparation for their match against Curse Academy. It’s possible this match will serve as a trial for a future relationship with Buechter, but the team has not revealed anything official.
Whatever the case, it’s clear it was time for Counter Logic Gaming and Mykles to move on.
Just wanted to thank @ggCMonteCristo for all of his work despite it only being online a majority of the time .. great person and friend!
— Marcel Feldkamp (@CLG_dexter) September 5, 2014
@ggCMonteCristo Keep it up and make sure to ignore the hater. I know you gave it your all to help us and its time for people to know 🙂
— Marcel Feldkamp (@CLG_dexter) September 5, 2014
