spamzzy1: "It's something that makes you feel good if somebody is following in your footsteps"

Infinity had a tough run during their time at the IEM Rio Americas RMR, getting trounced in their opening match versus FURIA before falling to ECL side Nouns later in the day to go 0-2. Infinity kept it far closer against oNe in their elimination match, but it wasn't enough to stop the LATAM squad from being sent packing from the event. Shortly after the loss to oNe, Andres "spamzzy1" Correa spoke with Dust2.us' Dafydd Gwynn about the team's experience at this event, what it's like being a pro from an underrepresented region, and the opportunities available to rising players from these regions.

Coming into this tournament you guys were seen as big underdogs. Does going to a tournament like this give you confidence for the future?

Yes, of course. I think it's a lot of experience for our new players. I think this is a big opportunity for the team to keep growing. Even with the results, we will prove that our first day is very disappointing and now today we play our game, be looser. It's still a very bad feeling, but I think we could be improving in the future.

You brought the game pretty close, 16-14 on the first map. What were you guys saying to each other after that close first map?

We knew that Inferno could be for anyone. We had a chance to close the map, they rushed B in a close round. We got a little bit tilted after losing the OT, but we knew we were playing good. It was a different scenario than the first day. The team was confident and we entered the second map with very good confidence, but it didn't work out for us.

You have players from North, Central, and South America on your team. How welcomed have you felt by the NA and SA scenes?

I know a lot of players from the community, I've been in some LANs so I know some Brazilian players or Argentinian players, and some of NA. I think it's a good environment, they're very friendly. Of course, there's some banter or beefing online, but at the end of the server, we are all friends. We have friends all over the place.

Can we expect to see you at more North American LANs, like Fragadelphia?

We hope so, we are trying to get our visas to finally attend a Fragadelphia because we know it's a big event. If we could work it out, we would be attending Fragadelphia and of course, grinding the qualifiers for every international event.

For a lot of your players, you're representing regions that aren't really well represented in Counter-Strike. How does that feel for you guys?

For me personally, I think I'm the only Colombian flag that is being seen in a lot of tournaments, so I'm very proud for doing that job, and I think my teammates too, my Peruvian teammates and my Mexican teammates, are having their flags on their backs so a lot of people are watching them too. It's a good experience to know even though the community and the scene is small in our regions, we can make it out. It's also good for the upcoming players that see us, that they can make it too and we can have more players from our regions.

Is it a weird feeling thinking you might be a role model to these younger players?

No, I think it's very good. It could be weird, but it's something that makes you feel good if somebody is following in your footsteps so that for sure is a good feeling for you.

Coming from Colombia, what was your path like to becoming a pro?

I think it's hard, very hard, because people have normal jobs and a normal lifestyle, and having a gaming career is not seen as normal. I was very patient when I was younger. I grinded a lot, so I think it paid off at the end. I had my normal job, I was studying in university, and I saw an opportunity and made it out. When I say made it out, it's because I finally get the opportunity to play with a competitive team and be at some LANs.

How many international LANs have you been to?

I mean, I've been to Argentina, China, and LA to play Pro League once, and now I'm here. Even though we haven't got good results, I think we keep searching for these opportunities and I think it's good experience too.

Is there anything you want to say to young players who want to get into what you do but don't know what to do or where to start?

I will say that the opportunities now are easier than it used to be. There's a lot of investment and sponsors so there's more teams, more events, more opportunities at the end. I think with good discipline and time well invested, I think they can do it. We are all the same, so if they have their dream they can make it.

Do you have anything to say to fans, friends, or family?

To everybody that was following us, watching us, I have to say sorry for our first day, that was very disappointing. We were in a mental block, but we pulled better results. Only thankful for everybody to be watching us, and of course to ESL for their excellence. I have no words for everything they've done, it's perfect, very clean. I hope I can go again to these kinds of tournaments.

Despite the last-place exit, Infinity will be looking to take the experience from this event back to North America, where the squad will be looking to reach ESL Challenger League when ESEA Advanced Season 43 kicks off.