This definitive statement was expressed about friendship and electronic sport ambition.

- It is simply not possible.

The exclamation was made in 2002 before the circuit of big money events, the professional salaries, and the televised coverage of Counter-Strike. The innate nature of a sport where the players have been in charge prevents it. How often have you seen interviews where the players praise each other, both for being good in-game but also for being the funniest and most sociable teammate out there? And then a little while after, they have their backs stabbed by those same teammates later.

Success built on friendship

The Polish team previously known as Pentagram and PGS became the media darlings of the e-sport world when they had their international breakthrough some time ago. Their emotion and passion for gaming touched a soft spot in any pencil pushing e-journalist. They were the ultimate underdog story, hailing from Eastern Europe where the lack of an adequate gaming infrastructure made their ambitions improbable. Nevertheless, they succeeded and they did it together. They had to work hard for several years, honing their skills and teamwork, quite the contrary story to most sky rocketing careers in this sport.

The five players and manager Philipp “ryan” Kasprowicz really put in the time, and for the people watching involved it felt so right when they finally won. It was proof that friendships could succeed in competitive gaming as well – something that international audiences had not seen since 2002 when 2 Easy from Sweden became Team 9.

To Filip “Neo” Kubski leaving the organization he helped build into one of the most recognizable brands in competitive Counter-Strike 1.6 was not an easy decision.

- It feels weird, you know, he said.

- It was our home, we created PGS together with the management.

The post ESWC victory debacle when their contracts expired and MYM approached them with the offer to join took a lot of energy out of the team. In the end, they chose to extend their relationship with Kasprowicz and PGS.

Given the CS team’s position, that decision was a giant leap of faith and it would take a lot for the relationship to last. PGS is a very small fish in a big pond.

A bad mix of friends and money

Money is the ultimate test to loyalty, a test the five players passed with flying colors, giving up the chance to play for more money and signing on for another year in PGS.

The question was whether or not the PGS organization had the money to send the CS 1.6 team to the events they wanted to compete in and the money to pay out a decent salary, or if it was just talk. It would certainly not be the first time in this sport.

In the end it looks as if it was the latter. The team suffered financial reverses and had to pay for their own lodging as they traveled to Extreme Masters in Los Angeles. That money was reimbursed but continued financial concerns put a strain on the competitive mindset and focus they needed to have to compete at an international level. PGS was already in a slump. The extra financial concerns did not help them climb out of it.