HOG x FPSChallenge COD4 Zagreb LAN 2022 - Interview: Kex (Albion Giants)

1. Hello Kex, first of all I’d like to thank you for taking part in this interview. Could you introduce yourself to the people who don't know you?

Hey, no worries. I'm Chris 'Kex' Tuck from the team Albion Giants (previously #tbt), I'm from the UK and play as a scope. Been playing COD4 since the beginning and back in the day I played for teams such as infused. Been to too many LANs to count and have placed well in many of them. I have a wife and little boy and play games a few nights a week with my team VAE, samuelG, alpha and TIGZ.

2. Currently you are playing for team Albion Giants (previously #tbt), could you tell us your story? How long has your team been playing together in this formation and how did you find each other?

We have all known each other for many years now, alpha and VAE are old school players I played with back in the day, samuelG was a player who was coming into form as I quit the game back in 2012, TIGZ I met once I returned to COD4 due to COVID. We have been an on again off again team for a long time, mostly due to IRL commitments and having kids. We are now back with our strongest line-up to date, we have previously come second in the Spring League with this formation and are in good form running up to this event.

3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your team?

We are all very passionate, maybe a little bit too competitive, that is our biggest strength and weakness. We absolutely hate to loose regardless of it being a PCW or LAN final and were British.

4. We saw you playing in Unknown Gaming on the last LAN. How did you feel in a Croatian team? How would you rate your performance with Unknown Gaming?

It was a very strange experience for me, I love those guys and they are great players. However, for me, I am so used to playing with english players. The communication was really hard for me. I think I held my own and played well some games, but the communication is such a large factor for me so I did struggle in that line-up.

5. We have seen some promising pictures from the LAN venue. How would you rate the HOG esport arena? Are you feeling hyped about the upcoming event?

It looks absolutely fantastic. TIGZ went to the last event there and from what he’s been saying, I can't wait to get there and get playing!

6. You won five and lost five games in FPSChallenge Autumn League 2022 TIER 1. How would you rate your online preparation (practice) matches in the last two or three months? Are you happy with the current form of your team? Did your team practice enough days according to you?

I was on holiday for two weeks, so they had a mixer for some of those games. However since we have the current line-up we are smashing our PCWs and winning most of our league games. We only play two or three days a week maximum due to work and family commitments. This is plenty for us, we are all experianced players who can just turn up and play to a high level.

7. What are your expectations about your team’s performance on Zagreb LAN? What kind of final result would you be satisfied?

Win. (c) VAE

8. 30 teams are going to participate on this LAN in Croatia. Since 2013, no COD4 LAN with so many participants has been organized. What do you think about the teams in general?

Everybody is mechanically fantastic at this game, we have all been studying the art of war, and watching band of brothers so, Ya know, come at us.

9. The Groups has been revealed few days ago, what do you think about the Groups? Are them balanced based on your opinion? Which one is the strongest and which one is the easiest according to you?

I honestly haven't evening looked at the Groups, according to my team friends they are balanced so I'll take their word for it.

10. Which teams you consider as the biggest threat to AG?

No threats, only love.

11. What is your prediction about TOP3 of this LAN event?

My prediction is pain. Not including us of course but honestly anybody could so well on any given day at this event. I would say qwertz, APES and DENIED are the top 3 in any order depending on form on the day.

12. What do you think, which team will surprise the opponents? Who is your secret favourite, that is underestimated by the other teams, but you know they will perform really well?

German Powerhouse are a ratty team. They could do very well if the can handle the lan environment. Invalid are also a solid team and could do absolute bits.

13. Thank you for taking part in the interview. Is there anything you'd like to add?

Looking forward to the event and seeing everybody, I accept all beers. VAE is gluten free, just so you all know.