Twistzz, one of the prominent CS:GO players, has publicly confirmed that he was approached by Falcons, a Saudi organization aiming to create a superteam for 2024. However, he swiftly turned down their offer, emphasizing his commitment to his career and personal values.
During an interview at the BLAST Premier Fall Final on November 22, Twistzz revealed that Falcons had contacted him but he declined the opportunity. He made it clear that his decision was not solely based on financial gain, stating, “If it was about the money then… obviously, if I wanted the bag and I didn’t care about my career, then I would go to Falcons. But I do care about my career. I have morals and it’s not about the money.”
While Twistzz did not elaborate further on his thoughts regarding Falcons and Saudi Arabia’s increasing involvement in Counter-Strike, his mention of “morals” may allude to concerns over the country’s human rights record, anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and media censorship.
Saudi Arabia has been utilizing traditional sports as a means of improving its global image, a strategy known as “sportswashing.” This approach has now extended to esports, with Saudi Arabia currently owning the ESL FACEIT Group, constructing a massive gaming hub in NEOM, and planning to host a $45 million Esports World Cup in 2024.
Although Falcons has yet to achieve significant success in the world of Counter-Strike since entering the scene in 2021, the organization appears to be investing heavily in building a superteam. They have already secured the renowned coach zonic from Vitality and reportedly signed Magisk and Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer. Additionally, they were close to finalizing a deal with NiKo, although he ultimately declined the opportunity.
Despite declining Falcons’ offer, Twistzz is reportedly making a return to Team Liquid, his former team.
Source: DOTESPORTS
