A significant move was made within the North American women’s Counter-Strike scene in the leadup to the ESL Impact Season 3 Finals. Roughly two months after the CLG Red brand was dissolved, its CS roster found a new home in the form of FlyQuest.
In signing this roster for the Season 3 Finals, FlyQuest formally announced their entry to CS, and despite starting their debut with a loss to 9 Pandas Fearless in the Group Stage, the team rebounded by defeating their fellow NA opponent Shimmer 2-0 to fight for a chance to advance to the Playoffs in the competition.
Following FlyQuest Red’s second series of the Season 3 Finals, BLIX spoke with Coline ‘Kaoday’ Le Floc’h on the team’s performance against Shimmer, how she integrated within the team, and much more.
Pedro Romero, BLIX: The first day of the Impact League Finals is done. You guys managed to stay alive in this competition against Shimmer. It was a contest in which the opponent displayed plenty of fight and difficulties for your team. How much of a challenge did Shimmer show you after playing them?
Coline “Kaoday” Le Floc’h: I think they were the team that knows us the most. I believe we are the kind of team that they should beat when they come to LAN. I still believe we are our obvious enemies. On our side, we had a lot of nerves going on. It’s pretty different on LAN compared to online [events], but they were already changing, so it’s been nice facing them.
BLIX: The matchup happened in a way that allowed two NA teams to face each other. We’ve seen this format on a few occasions throughout the duration of ESL Impact. What do you think of the format? Do you feel it’s fine for teams from the same region to face each other again?
Kaoday: I think it’s a bit weird because it’s like a risk where both teams of the same region [can end up] being eliminated from the groups. It’s a big risk but I also think it’s 50/50. Either both teams are eliminated or the best team of a given region goes through. I would prefer if there was one team from each region in both groups, but I’m not really complaining. I feel like sometimes it has to happen.
BLIX: A few months after last year’s ESL Impact event in Dallas, you joined the CLG Red roster from France. What has the process been like in terms of being integrated within the team while competing in NA?
Kaoday: It’s been really challenging. I kind of had to leave my whole life behind and had to learn how to play a whole new [version] of Counter-Strike because NA plays differently from EU. I also had to learn a new role because I was previously in-game leading. I’ve always been a secondary AWPer so I had to learn consistently on my side to be an AWPer you can rely on. Living in NA has been a wild experience. I had really good and bad [moments]. It took me a bit of time to make friends here. I felt a bit alone in the beginning because my English is not the best.
Two members of FlyQuest Red Posing (Image Credits: FlyQuest Red)BLIX: But you are improving in that aspect, right?
Kaoday: Yeah, I am improving and I have been improving with the team also. When they recruited me, they needed a second voice and a big voice [at that]. At first, I was a bit too much on my feedback and all that. I wouldn’t say I’m toxic but I’m for sure giving you a lot of criticism so I had to learn [that part]. It’s been nice but it’s been a challenge too. I feel we’ve made a lot of progress together but it took a bit of time. I had to adapt and they had to adapt to me in the team as well.
