I Don’t Quit. Don't Understand the Meaning of the Word. - Reflections with Jason Lake 1/2 - CS 1.6

Use code THORIN at http://gamersupps.gg/?afmc=THORIN for 10% off an order of GamerSupps' delicious energy formula. ► Join the Scrilluminati to get exclusive perks and support this channel: https://www.patreon.com/Thooorin ► Check out a previous CS Reflections here: https://youtu.be/0aDsMq60NdY Jason Lake, founder and owner of compLexity Gaming, is the star of the 450th Episode of 'Reflections'. This is episode one of two about Jason's career. Jason and compLexity first appeared in the early 2000s as a nobody team who got some initial headlines from Jason hiring top pros to ring (stand-in) for online games. Using that as springboard he also began to use media to pump up the spotlight on coL, boasting that they would become a top team and rival the likes of Team3D. The signing that changed everything was Bullseye, a decorated veteran champion who was retiring from Team3D but came back for a big cheque and motorcycle from Jason. This allowed them to start signing more players. The first big tournament was a bust as the team accomplished nothing at CPL Summer 2004, though with the caveat of a starter not being able to compete. For the CPL Winter event of 2004 their roster signings had been shrewd and they had already put together a good core of misfit talents. warden, Storm, fRoD and tr1p had all been invite level players who had made runs at CPLs. Together coL stormed CPL Winter 2004 and finished fifth. For 2005 they replaced Bullseye with sunman and the team became an international contender, finishing second at CPL Spain. At ESWC coL became the first and only NA team to win that European major. The following year the team again placed big, such as WSVG ISC 2006. They were one of the best teams and dominated domestic play. When CGS came along Jason sold coL to the league and became the General Manager. coL had the best Source team, but the performance of other teams within the organisation and the bizarrely skewed scoring system meant the Source team's play could not win them the CGS crown or even come close. After CGS, the Source team decided to go with former coL employee Alex Garfield and Evil Geniuses rather than Jason again and he was forced to rebuild. Eventually finding himself a new school line-up they would prove the second best NA team for years and have the occasional international run, like placing third at Dreamhack Winter 2009. When CS:GO began, coL arrived at the first major with what ended up being the best NA team and made a thrilling run to the semi-final, being eliminated by eventual champions FNATIC. The next year coL were again in the play-offs at EMS One Katowice, but were defeated by eventual finalists NiP. There would be down years, as they lost their squad to C9 and worked back to build new NA line-ups. The last hurrah of the NA side was a top eight finish at the FACEIT London major in 2018. The following year, Jason went back to his old playbook and announced to the world he was going to build "a juggernaut" to compete at the top again. Spending big on EU talents like k0nfig, BlameF and poizon, Jason seemed to have delivered upon his word. While competition was online, coL grinded hard and it most famously paid off with victory in the BLAST Premer Spring European finals of 2020. After that results proved trickier and when play went offline the Danish stars left for Astralis. coL has been an NA team again the last few years. Often a borderline play-off team, the acquisition of EliGE has allowed them to become a team that has made some legitimate runs and beaten numerous top 10 teams. The best moment being almost winning IEM Sydney last year. In part one, Jason discusses the sacrifces he made getting coL to a relevant level, the championship roster and losing his core to EG. This interview was recorded on the 26th of August, 2024. Check out Jason's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonBWLake ► Time-line of topics discussed: 00:00 1 as an alias 01:03 Perspective on the scene 03:44 Getting top pros as ringers 06:21 Bullseye 10:44 warden 13:54 Turn around of results 15:45 fRoD 19:14 Contrast of coL vs. Team3D 24:52 Family pressure 29:38 CGS had to work 37:38 Alex Garfield and the CS players going the EG route 48:32 Hiring back former coL members Subscribe this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfeeUuW7edMxF3M_cyxGT8Q/join ► Check out bite-sized Thorin on my new clips channel: https://www.youtube.com/thorinclips ► Follow me on social media: https://twitter.com/Thorin https://facebook.com/Thooorin https://www.instagram.com/thooorinofficial/ ► My written content: https://iamesports.substack.com/ ► My stream: https://www.twitch.tv/Thorin ► You can discuss this content at my Discord server: https://discord.gg/rDKxKfM ► This video was kindly supported by: Ahmed Hadjou Matt, Pugnatio, Rajcula Adam Tomlin Animosity Jensen Goh Tosh touken_ Special thanks go out to JerCkysMiNi0n. #Jasonlake #compLexity #Thorin