The CS:GO and the Esports scene in Peru is booming, and we thought it would be very interesting to ask Juan a few questions.

The growing CS:GO scene in Peru


_We had the chance to sit down (online, of course) with our partner in Peru, Juan. Juan has a massive network in Peru, and he now is leading the charge in setting up events all over Peru with big companies such as Claro and Logitech G behind him. The CS:GO and the Esports scene in Peru is booming, and we thought it would be very interesting to ask Juan a few questions._ 
​
### Juan aka BassKnockin
​
**Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in Esports and what your dreams are moving forward with Esports/CS:GO in Peru.**
​
I’m Juan Yepez known as Bass Knockin. I am a teacher and CS:GO caster. I got involved in Esports from I was 14 years old. I played CS:GO and Call of Duty back then, due to personal things I stopped playing, but still had the idea of returning to Esports someday. I started streaming a couple of years ago; different content from RPG games to adventure games and so on. 
​
One day I saw an add about a tournament called Lightspeed Cup by Logitech G. This tournament was looking for amateur casters to broadcast their  CS:GO games for some months in order to win some tools to become a better caster. I won and from that moment on my career as a caster started to grow. I participated as a caster for Claro in an event called MassGamers. In addition to this I kept working with Logitech G in different events. 
​
Nowadays, I help Logitech in tournament management and streaming. As to the dreams I have, the chance to have the opportunity to produce or broadcast a Major made in Peru and have the opportunity to interview top players and team managers from around the world. 


![Peru](/images/posts/peru-3.jpg)

### The development of the CS:GO scene in Peru. 
​
**How has the CS:GO scene developed in recent years and what trends are you experiencing?**
​
In Peru when you hear the word _Esports_ many people refer to Dota 2 as a popular game.  There is a big community, however during the past year the CS:GO community has started to grow. Many people have started to host community tournaments to produce new talent and there’s a pro league circuit we have in our country. However not all the teams are able attend it due to the level. 
​
Since we started our lockdown due to COVID-19 many Peruvian players started to play CS:GO again and that was kinda a push for many brands to start supporting events and tournaments. Nowadays, there are many amateur leagues and tournaments in our country which are sponsored by very important brands such Logitech G. 
​
In regards to the number of viewers we have in CS:GO, I have to say that the number has increased dramatically during these past two years. Many people cheer  for different teams now; anything from amateur to pro and that’s a great thing to develop a CS:GO community in Peru.  
​
![Peru](/images/posts/peru-2.jpg)

### Skybox in Peru
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**How do you think Skybox can potentially help the CS:GO scene in Peru to grow and help players to reach a higher level of gameplay?**
​
When I first saw Skybox it was live on Intel Master’s, I was amazed  by the power of the tool and how easy you can analyze games you played in or other teams played. There were some teams aware of this tool but it was kind of hard to get into the Early Access stage, so that’s why I decided to reach out to you guys. I thought it would be very helpful and interesting to introduce Skybox to the Peruvian players and teams. 
​
Skybox can not only help players and teams with an amazing software, but furthermore Skybox can  provide knowledge to players and teams regarding worldwide tournaments and organization. I would be nice to see Skybox uniting the CS:GO Peruvian community with the international community due to the contacts SKYBOX has with other pro teams, tournaments and events around the world.
​
Skybox in my opinion is not only a software to analyze matches and track down data from players, but more importantly a platform that the Peruvian teams and players can use to achieve the dream to become pro players and tier 1 teams. 
​
​
#### Additional information
For the last event in Peru, where Juan used Skybox, more than 93.000 were watching, an event sponsored by Logitech G. 
​
BassKnockin's socials: 
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/BassESports)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/bassknockinoficial)

Skybox unveils it's CS:GO prediction tool, showcased at the BLAST Premier Fall Final.

CS:GO predictions at BLAST Premier Fall Final


We teamed up with BLAST and Business Development company Copenhagen Capacity to showcase a CS:GO prediction application that we for a long time have been wanting to do.
​
### It all began with an "AI Hackathon".
More than 373 participants from more than 20 different countries participated in the competition. Is it actually possible to predict the outcome of CS:GO rounds and matches? Algorithms were developed and the three winning teams were showcased during BLAST Premier Fall Final 2020. The result: an approximately 73% accuracy. The winning teams came from India, Slovakia and the United States. 

![Skybox Nuke with player paths](/images/posts/skybox-nuke.jpg "Skybox")
​
### Further development of the prediction tool in 2021. 
Moving forward, we will continue to develop on the concept and the idea, bringing in feedback from our fanbase. We were amazed to see how many participants were involved, which goes to show that the Skybox community is steadily growing. We are really excited to dig deeper into this amazing tool in 2021. These algorithms can be useful, within and outside esports. **Our CEO, Ethan Cooper explains**: 
​
> We are really excited about making the technology available to the broader CS:GO community next year (2021).  

​
If you are interested in reading more, please go ahead and click [here](https://esportsinsider.com/2020/12/csgo-prediction-tool-showcased-at-blast-premier-fall-final/) for the article brought in Esports Insider.

Mental health and high performance in CS:GO goes hand in hand. 

Mental health and CS:GO go hand in hand.


Mental stress and pressure is really an unspoken part of the game for many within esports. As a gamer, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. We all know physical injuries happen, just like in any other sport. However, gamers that do experience challenges with their mental health can actually see a big dip in their performance during matches and even more so during big events and competitions. 
​
For that reason, we  have decided to collect a few tips and tricks on how to improve your mental health and by that perform at the highest level possible:
​
- Sleep
- Unplug
- Exercise

_Should you need any help in incorporate this to your daily rutine, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for guidance._ 

## Sleep

![Sleep](/images/posts/sleep.jpg)

Yes, it is indeed a cliche - but sleep is important and especially for gamers that need to perform on a high level. And the best part of it, you don’t even have to leave the house (COVID-19 approved).  The benefit of quality sleep is not to be underestimated. It will depend on the individual on how much sleep is needed, but a good rule of thumb is to get at least 6 hours of sleep every night. Some might need more, say 8, 9 or 10 hours of sleep every night. The most important part is that you are consistent in your sleeping habits. Sleep improves our memory and learning ability as well as it is a big part of our emotional health. So if you ever wake up and feel grumpy and blue, more sleep more do the trick. 
​
As a dedicated gamer there is a good chance that you are playing between 5 or even 7 days a week. You are constantly learning when you play and you have to adapt to new strategies and ideas. This can be very exhausting and if you don’t get a good nights sleep you will have a hard time performing on a high level. This can lead to frustration and have an effect on your mental health. Furthermore, as a gamer you are constantly under a lot of stress to perform when it matters. You might even be in a position where your salary depends on your performance, which can lead to a stressful environment if you do not perform as excepted. Sleep helps and allows your mind to take a break and recover. **Oh, and the best part - its free!**

## Unplug

![Unplug](/images/posts/unplug.jpeg)

Getting away from all technological stimulation. Yes, that is correct - **no phone, no Netflix, no computer, no internet.** If you after reading this is thinking “No way I can do that”, then you definitely need to unplug. As a competitive gamer you are basically _plugged in_ as soon as you turn on your computer and before you start playing you have probably turned on your TV or scrolled through your phone. You may also feel stressed out or an additional amount of pressure when going through results and game analysis. You are probably being bombarded with information, some teams or players might perform better than you. This can indeed take a toll on your confidence and affect your performance.
​
Therefore, make sure that you unplug yourself every day. Go for a walk, read a book, go to the gym - the choices are many. Unplugging is not only for gamers, but for everyone who has a job where you are around technology all the time. Yes, it might sound boring and yes you might be bored to begin with. However, you will benefit from this, and your body and mind will _catch a break_ from your normal routines in front of the computer. Another thing you might consider is to put your phone away when going to bed or even better - leave it away from your bed so you do not get distracted or tempted to “just check a few things”. At the end of the day, unplugging is something you and your team should commit to do, together as a team. 

## Exercise

![Exercise](/images/posts/exercise.jpg)

**Oh man, what a surprise huh?** Exercise! Yeah, that is probably what you are thinking right about now. How many times have you heard that exercising is good for you? Probably more than we you can count. However truth be told,  exercising is a great way to improve your overall health as well as calmness. When you exercise you release endorphins and this will help you keep your spirit high and stay mentally and physically on top of your game. Exercising is key for having a strong mental health. We could go on and on in regards to why you should exercise, but instead we just want to put emphasis on how important it is for you and your performance as a competitive gamer. **1. 2. 3. GO!**

_We do understand and appreciate that players and teams are different. However, as a team, we do hope that you help one another to stay mentally strong and healthy. By doing so you will feel better and perform better._

Wolves Esports is a German-based e-sports organisation that strives to be a top contender in Germany.

Customer story: Wolves Esport


## Customer story: Wolves Esport
Wolves Esports is a German-based e-sports organisation that strives to be a top contender in Germany as well as Europe. Their CS:GO team is now preparing for their first season in ESEA Main, where the clear goal is to avoid relegation. Wolves Esports compete in different games such as League of Legends, Rainbow Six: Siege and of course CS:GO.

> Skybox allowed us to get a deeper understanding and keep track of our individual performances 

Wolves Esports has been part of the Skybox family since the early launch back in September 2019. This means that they have been able to experience the changes that has been made along the way, and themselves provided excellent feedback and ideas. We had the chance to speak to Andre Matuszak, the COO of Wolves Esports and ask him what Skybox meant to them and their team. He told us "Skybox allowed us to get a deeper understanding and keep track of our individual performances in matches and scrims. With the replay tool we’ve been able to identify mistakes, find and showcase solutions in a more efficient way. Being able to properly visualise important things for others is a welcomed feature we often make use of."

### Skybox will help in reaching longterm goals.

Even though Wolves Esports has in fact performed very well the lat few seasons, they strive for more. As mentioned about, to avoid relegation from ESEA main is the main priority. However, when it comes to Germany and the 99Damange league, the minimum goal is to qualify for Division 2-3 playoffs yet again. This will hopefully result in a promotion to Division 2. Andre has no doubt that Skybox will play a vital part of the ongoing success.

_If you would like to read more about Wolves Esports, below you will find links to their website and Social Media._

- [Website](https://www.wolves-esports.com/)
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wolves_esports)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/wolvesesports)


Teknikum in Växjö Sweden, is offering e-sport to their students and has throughout the last year experienced an increased interest.

Skybox, an invaluable tool when teaching CS:GO.


## Skybox, an invaluable tool when teaching CS:GO. 

**Teknikum in Växjö Sweden**, is offering esport to their students and has throughout the last year experienced an increased interest in esport and especially CS:GO. It is an extra curricular activity that they offer their students where they implement areas such as physical and mental training. We had the opportunity to speak to Linus Glans, who is responsible for the e-sport profile and for teaching CS:GO. 
 
### Skybox makes it easier to understand and improve.

Linus explained that it can indeed be tricky and challenging to teach students, and when you have around 15 students at each class you have to make sure to utilise your time the best way possible. 
 
> Before Skybox it was really hard for me to assign my students to evaluate their own, and their team performances. With Skybox we have the ability to get an overview of our played games right away. We can look at rotations, flashes, smokes, defensive and offensive setups and easily tweak and change the things we need.  
 
### Easy to use - easy to understand. 
Skybox is a platform that makes it easy for teams to figure out, in detail, what happened during a game, round or a sequence. However, it is also a great tool to highlight great gameplay, which is an area that is key when you teach. Students have to be encouraged and excited to play.  When speaking to Linus about this part of the game, he agrees that it is a very important aspect of improving your game. 
 
> It’s really easy for me with Skybox to highlight good performances, both individually and as a team. Stuff such as grenade deployment and team play is hard for students to see and observe during the game and to have the ability to illustrate this right after a game is extremely valuable.  

### A platform for players and coaches. 

Skybox is meant as a platform that can help in various ways, for players that are playing the game as well as coaches that are observing. We are very happy that we are able to help schools making it easier for them to teach and help their students as much as possible. For Linus there is one particular area that has helped him tremendously.
 
> Another great thing is to use professional games in Skybox to illustrate detailed strategies and setups that you can’t really see when watching the same game on the regular broadcast.  
 
A big thank you to Linus and Teknikum for an interesting and inspiring interview. If you live in Sweden and want to read more about the program, click [here](https://vaxjo.se/sidor/forskola-och-skola/gymnasieskola/teknikum/program-pa-teknikum/e-sportsprofil.html). 


Blog

The growing CS:GO scene in Peru

CS:GO predictions at BLAST Premier Fall Final

Mental health and CS:GO go hand in hand.

Customer story: Wolves Esport

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