Cologne is "Last Chance Saloon" for Complexity

When Complexity made the jump back into North American Counter-Strike in January, it was assumed the young team would need some time to find chemistry within the upper echelons of international competition. Now seven months in with minimal progress gained, failing to qualify for IEM Cologne should be enough to force management’s hand into a lineup change.

After signs of growing pains through their first two events, Complexity’s lineup showed its first signs of promise at ESL Challenger in February by taking BO3 series over ORDER and HEET. Although they were eliminated by Virtus.pro in the match after, the young team secured their first two BO3 wins under the new banner and made playoffs. After just a month, things were looking good in the Complexity camp.

Things continued to improve for the team as they were able to have solid March and April results despite a poor showing at ESL Pro League Season 15. Surrounding those results were strong performances at the PGL Americas Open Qualifier and Americas RMR, as well as the IEM Dallas qualifiers. Since then, progress made has seemingly escaped them, and the team has been in a state of regression for almost two and a half months.

Since the 29th of April, Complexity has won four of their 21 played maps, amounting to zero BO3 victories in seven attempts. Their sole “victory” comes in the form of a BO1 win over IHC at the Antwerp Major, and that win nearly two months ago was the last time the lineup saw “victory”. Out of the 17 map losses in that time, nine of them ended with Complexity winning less than ten rounds.

The lack of team success as of late has been too much for the stars to overcome, and their individual impact has become non-existent. Anticipated star riflers Ricky "floppy" Kemery and Michael "Grim" Wince have faded in performance and their ratings and K/D differences since the start of the slump have both fallen into the red. Since having a career year under Extra Salt, budding talent Justin "FaNg" Coakley has regressed to a shell of his 2021-self.

Once touted for his tactical prowess and mechanical skill as a tactician, Johnny "JT" Theodosieu has never seen less in control as a caller. The team does not have a functional map pool, as they’ve only managed a 50%+ win rate on Vertigo this year. From an individual basis, JT is struggling to mount any impact, only ending 33% of maps this year with a positive rating.

Despite the aforementioned issues plaguing the struggling Complexity, the lack of impact from the AWP continues to be the dagger that does the team in. The best teams in CS:GO are always seeking ways to maintain consistent impact with the big green. It is something that is expected out of successful teams, and it is something we see time and time again in top competition.

For Complexity, AWPer Paytyn "junior" Johnson has been unable to deliver even a hint of consistent impact. In fact, there is perhaps no better way to define the performances of junior other than “boom or bust” .Throughout the year with Complexity, he sits at an even 50% of maps played ending with a positive rating. As a momentum-based talent, junior is in an extreme slump. He doesn’t appear comfortable in-game and his consistent inconsistency proves that to be true.

With these issues laid out, Complexity management should put great consideration into at least one change if the lineup cannot mount some form of success at the IEM Cologne Play-in. Given the struggles, perhaps a change should be considered if they don’t outright qualify. As for what piece(s) should be replaced, that is up for management to decide. The current product is not working and has started to revert. The most obvious issues within the team needing fixing are the missing impact from the AWP and the map pool, and their most recent loss to the No. 46 ranked SINNERS has the lineup at a newfound low.

Complexity start their Cologne journey tomorrow against Spirit. Should they get over their Russian opponents, they will face the winner of Astralis and 00Nation. Not the easiest road, but there is no more opportunity to make excuses for this team. This event must be do or die for Complexity.