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So the story is out: Pandemic has picked up a new CS1.6 team.  But who are the players behind the story?  This preview will examine each of the players of the new lineup, giving a brief history as well as their expected role in the team.

Dustin "dizzaman" Dilyerd

Dustin is no newcomer to high level CS, but he is just beginning to break out as a top player in the U.S.  He has been around the LAN circuit in his region and beyond, and will be hungry to prove himself.  He is currently shaping up to be one of the team’s primary rifle-users and will look to gain valuable experience in the coming days ahead.

Notable Past Teams:
Ruins
eMg
34
x6

Notable Tournament Placings:
4th, ESEA I LAN Finals
5th, Winter CPL 2007
5th-8th, Kode5 USA Finals
7th, x3o Winter Finals
9th, WSVG Louisville 2006
16th-24th, WSVG Louisville 2007


Alex "millipede" Abbott

Like Dustin, Alex is no slouch when it comes to major LANs in the USA as well as online leagues.  But like Dustin he has yet to break out as a nationally known top player and will be yearning to do so in this season of ESEA-invite.  With the chance to play for Pandemic, he and Dustin, long former teammates, should have the chance to get some more LAN experience under their belt and hopefully win some qualifiers so that they can attend international LANs.  Alex will be most likely be rifling for Pandemic as well as assisting with in-game thinking.

Notable Past Teams:
Ruins
eMg
Team 34
Blight

Notable Tournament Placings;
13th-16th, WSVG
5th-8th, CPL Winter 07
7th, x3o Grand Finals
7th-8th, LG Kode5 USA Finals
4th, ESEA-Invite LAN Finals

Travis "tuBBy" Bechtol

Tubby, like his long-time teammate Mason, has been a part of Texas powerhouses since day 1 of Counter-Strike, most notably the MNM lineups that we have seen attend almost every LAN in the regional circuit as well as national US LANs.  But what made him nationally recognized recently was his role as a stand-in for Evil Geniuses, where he and the team won the WCG USA qualifier and went to compete with the world’s best at WCG 2009.  TuBBy brings the homegrown as well as the international experience to the team, and possesses a deadly awp.

Notable Past Teams:
EG
d2x
MNM
iDemise

Notable Tournament Placings:
1st, WCG USA 2009
8th-16th, WCG 2009

Mason "mason" Dickens

Mason has had a long and storied history with our beloved game, from his days of old school cheat suspicion to his ringing for the Brazilian team g3x at one CPL.  There is no doubt that he has proven himself to be a top LAN player, and he is the brother of none other than Matt “Warden” Dickens of coL and EG fame.  Mason will bring a lot of LAN experience to the team as well as a deadly rifle.

Notable Past Teams:
F^
zEx
DiE
WEW
iDemise
TAU
mNm

Notable Tournament Placings:

13th-16th, CPL Summer 2004
9th-12th , CPL Winter 2004
13th-16th, WSVG CPL Summer 06
17th-24th, CPL Winter 06
5th-8th, CPL Winter 07

Mikey "method" So

Mikey “method” So really needs no introduction, being rated as one of the best players of all time by many different organizations.  But he is more of an “old school” player so his history may need a bit of clarification for some players newer to the game.  The clarification is this: he is a legend.  I personally remember his early days on a west coast team named –si- all the way to his glory days in NoA where they placed first at the biggest tournament at the time, the CPL.  Method is a unique and dangerous player with unparalleled rifle skills and he is arguably one of the pioneers of the more aggressive west coast style.  The question is: after all that he’s accomplished, does he still have the hunger to win, or is it that he can’t help but feel “over” the game?  Regardless of the answer, he is the player to watch for Pandemic.

Notable Past Teams:
GX
NoA
Team3D
coL

Notable Tournament Placings:
7th, CPL Summer 2002
5th, Winter CPL 2002
6th, ESWC 2003
1st, Winter CPL 2004
4th, ESWC 2006
2nd, WSVG Grand Finals

I hope you enjoyed this preview of Team Pandemic, and if you’re anything like me you’ll be rooting for them as they brave their way through this coming season of ESEA-Invite!  Stay tuned to www.WinOut.net for coverage of CEVO, pro content, and more!

Photos Courtesy of: www.teampandemic.com and www.esportsea.com