I was the desk host for the last CSGO Major! In May 2023 I flew to Paris, France, to host the Blast TV Paris Major. It was an absolute honour to be part of one of the biggest global esports events which celebrate Counter-Strike. This was also the last Major for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which was pretty epic.
Photo by Michal Konkol for Blast TVI had set a goal at the start of 2023, something I’d not done in the past. That goal was to work as part of the broadcast team for a Counter-Strike Major. However, it was then announced that there would be only one CSGO Major for 2023 in May, as CS2 was waiting in the wings. I remember when I heard the news. I was in Sweden working on another job and I felt rather sad. I finally set a goal and now it needed to change.
Why did it need to change?
Photo by Michal Konkol for Blast TVDespite starting my career in CSGO, I hadn’t really had much of an opportunity to work on international events. At the start of 2022 I changed to a new agency and the DotX team were pushing me for more Counter-Strike work but it is a very busy title with a lot of incredible top tier talent. I really believed the dream was dead and I’d need to re-align for 2024. However, that all changed when Blast reached out and asked if I’d be interested in desk hosting the Blast TV Paris Major.
When I accepted the job offer I was well aware of what people would say when it was announced. I was ready for the “who is she” or “she doesn’t deserve this.” I knew it was coming but it still stung reading it. However, I felt really confident that if I did the job I knew I could do, I could do the event justice. I’ve loved Counter-Strike for years and I think that passion shines through in my work.
Photo by Stephanie Lindgren for Blast TVParis was an incredible experience for me. I got to work with some of the broadcast talent I have looked up to for years, I got to work with other broadcast talent I’ve met and worked with in the last year who I adore working with and I got to meet as well as tell the stories of the players I’ve watched compete on my screen for years. It really was a dream come true.
Photo by Michal Konkol for Blast TVI can only hope I did the last ever Major justice. I’m extremely grateful to Blast for taking a chance on me and I hope it paid off. I’m also thankful to the Counter-Strike fans. I know they doubted me when it was announced, but most gave me the benefit of the doubt and let my work do the talking. I hope that talking was loud enough for them.
Obviously I don’t know what the future holds but I can only hope I’ll have the opportunity to do more work in CSGO and then CS2. I really do love my job and the chance to tell these stories, so I’ll keep working at my craft in the hope that more opportunities become available.
