(GotFrag) - Richard “ritch” Gibbs sits down with GotFrag to discuss European CS: Source.

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to sit down with us in this interview. Could you please take the time to tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm currently 19 years old living at home with my girlfriend. I am unemployed and not attending college, although I have taken some classes. I love playing games and going out clubbing on the weekend. I have been playing Counter-Strike: Source for a very long time. I have been known for my time in 4Kings and the Championship Gaming Series playing for London MiNT one of the two UK franchises.

What have you, and the rest of the MiNt crew been up too since CGS closed its doors?

Well, the Source team has disbanded and we have all gone our separate ways. Hughsy and I moved to a different organisation known as crackclan and joined up with ex London MiNT beta, HaZ from Stockholm Magnetik (also in the CGS) and Mx from one of our UK rival teams. As for the rest of MiNT most of them separated to dignitas, and team coolermaster.

How is the current CS: Source scene prevailing in Europe since the CGS?

UK Source is quite strong really, can't complain, but still the game isn't as active as it should be, but either is 1.6 - both games are having a tough time at the moment but should pick up as the year progresses. I believe this is going to be the closing year for Source.

What do you mean by "closing year"?

This is the last year for Counter-Strike: Source.

Why do you believe it to be the final year of Source?

Well I just think that most the top teams have lost their love for the game, and the American Scene its very weak in terms of top teams. The credit crunch has definitely had a massive effect in Europe, not sure about the USA.

What teams and players do you see as “top” contenders in Europe?

VERYGAMES, Dignitas, ROCCAT, RedLine - Whether or not teams have beaten me as people will say, doesn't mean I have to rate them. At the end of the day I know who is good and who is not; everyone mentions the fact Reason Gaming beat me when I was in London MiNT, but we didn't really have a strong team and honestly, they're not good at all.

In your eyes, how does Europe differ from America with CS: Source?

Well, without a doubt Europe has the stronger scene more top teams - but the USA has a lot more amateur active teams, but that doesn't really matter when it comes to true competition. I have always said that Europe has better Source team’s as well and I still stand by that statement.

You previously stated that Europe currently has a stronger professional scene, what makes you believe so?

Well there are more teams, most of the Americans just went back to 1.6 which is fair enough {If I had played the game from the start and was really good at it, I would too). Whereas Europe has LOTS of top teams.

Do you foresee any international events where European and American teams will be able to go head to head, such as the revival of the CPL?

For Counter-Strike: Source no, unless something DRASTICALLY changes.

Which leagues and lans will Crack Clan take attendance to in the near future?

We will be attending every European LAN, such as i36, the-eXperience and LAN79. We are currently due to start in the UKeSA league which is going to be huge for Source, I’m really looking forward to that. We also have the EPS Online tournament to look forward to with a big LAN at the end of it.

Thank you for your time, Gotfrag wishes you the best of luck this 09. Any shoutouts you would like to mention before we finish?

Just a quick mention to crack clan and anyone involved.