Many said they would not be a factor once the 1.6 teams came. Just a bunch of scrubs that couldn't make it in the real game and could never really compete with the top Counter Strike teams. Too emotional, hot headed, bad online, undisciplined and worst of all, they play that other game. The only real claim to fame was a win in a bad game at CPL 2005. It was also a popular opinion of the “1.6 community” that the team would fade away with a dying game in the months before the CGS came to town. Although there are still obstacles to overcome and fans to win over, perseverance and hard work have vindicated the core group of players once known as PowersGaming.

Still here.

A couple of the faces have changed but the core lineup from that 2005 CPL, Laurent “Warmach1ne” Keoula, Trevor “p0s” Randolph and Yazan “Clown” Ammari continue to rack up lifetime stats on par with 1.6's elite. Keuola has a +514 lifetime frag/death ratio, an 87 DAR and an incredible 522 lifetime assists. When Keoula goes on one of his insane one man shows, his rifle is nearly unstoppable. Ammari has a lifetime +471 frag/death ratio, an 80 DAR and 435 assists. Randolph is the former 1.6 veteran and sports a 82.8 DAR, +177 +/- ratio and 349 assists across both versions of the game.

Moe Assad was picked up by PowersGaming after losing to Assad's former team, WeW, at LANFest 2005. His incredible +824 lifetime frag/death ratio, 86.9 DAR put him in line with some of CS 1.6's most elite. His awp is considered one of the top 2 or 3 in the game and continues to improve. Ryan Pham is the latest addition to the lineup coming on board shortly before the team was drafted. Pham is also a seasoned 1.6 veteran and no slouch in the stats department as well. Pham played extremely well during the CEVO Season 5 playoffs to help propel the team to the Grand Finals.

Holding their own.

They were the last Source team chosen in the draft. Kat Hunter, San Francisco Optx General Manager, took a chance on choosing a true CS:S team. Hunter's own pick as a GM by the CGS had received a bit of criticism from the community due to what some believed her lack of experience in PC games and managing a CS team.

The Optx CS:S team helped propel the CGS franchise to a playoff spot in the Region 1 semi-finals, with a 13-5 win over the Carolina Core in the CS:S portion of the match, to end up in second place overall in regular season play. Placing well ahead of the franchise housing CS 1.6 champions Complexity and ahead of former CS 1.6 giant 3D as well. The Optx CS:S team won their portion of their playoff match against the Core 10-8 only to have the Core's dominating PGR players make null and void a nice lead. The CS:S team finished the season at 7-6, keeping the losing matches very close and giving the franchise a chance to win all season.

The Optx also had a nice showing in the NewEgg LANfest2k7 CS:Source tournament at the Convention Center in Ontario, California. The Optx defeated Chicago and Complexity on the way to the Grand Finals where they lost two maps to Complexity to take second place in the tournament.

Getting it done... online.

The old PG/EFG lineup was somewhat known for not being online monsters, no problem showing their LAN prowess but sometimes seeming to not take online play very serious. Whether it be the leadership of Kat Hunter or just the fact that being paid and being a part of a professional franchise that has made a difference in performance, that old image of not caring about online has slipped away into the past.

The Optx started CEVO Pro CS:S Season 5 steamrolling opponents with a six game winning streak. The Optx absolutely dominated 3D 10-1, old rivals Pandemic (verGe) 10-4 and Devastation 10-4 in the first couple weeks of play. Although a bit of the the old online “carelessness” has tried to slip in, in the later part of this season the Optx were able to take down Complexity in overtime, getting it done against the big boys of 1.6 and now Source. The Optx also handed Eximius a shutout in week 6 despite Eximius having added veteran 1.6 player Erik “da bears” Stromberg to the lineup.

San Francisco stormed into the CEVO Pro CS:Source Season 5 playoffs with the same determination that started the season, going undefeated into the Grand Finals. Along the way, the Optx took down the once seemingly invincible Complexity in overtime again. Next up on the list, the Guardians. Assad led the Optx to a 10-7 defeat of the number one seeded Guardians, putting an end to the Guardians incredible 12-1 season.

The Optx would now face the Dallas Venom in the Grand Finals of CEVO Pro Season 5. The Optx chose their favorite Dust 2, but just could not seem to play their usual game on the map as the Venom got the job done 10-3. The Optx quickly retaliated by defeating the Venom 10-3 on Inferno. This would set up the final map and the final match of the Optx's CEVO Pro CS:Source Season 5 Championship run. The Optx had a decent lead 7-2 going into the second half but the Dallas Venom made a remarkable comeback to take the match into overtime and a win. The Optx fought hard to the very end and made for an exciting, professional season for their fans.

Professionals.

One of the biggest changes in this lineup since the transition from PG/EFG to the Optx seems to be in the players desire and discipline. The Optx have been seen scrimming this season much more, players have been much more active online and in the community, matches have been scheduled and played on time, players and management have provided league and media with information in advance for coverage and the players overall level of professionalism and maturity has markedly improved. Not bad for "sauce scrubs".

Overall, the Optx players are playing better than ever and assuming their roles as professionals. They also seem to be having fun. There seems to be less in-fighting going on in and out of matches. They seem to be learning to harness their emotions when needed and get the win, such as the case of the overtime wins against coL. All in all, the transition from PowersGaming to The San Francisco Optx is one of growing up, becoming professionals and not giving up. It has been a good transition for the Optx as they rise above the critics of the past, the supposed death of their game, the disbanding of the PowersGaming organization and take their rightful place in eSports history. From the ashes of PowersGaming, I give you the San Francisco Optx, Professional CS:Source team.