Everything you need to know about Team Heretics: Europe Closed Qualifier profile

Click here for all links to all sixteen of the team profiles for the Europe Closed Qualifier for ESL One Rio.

Rank (HLTV/ESL): #76/#40

Invite or Qualifier: Invited

Lineup

• Bryan "Maka" Canda
• Jérémy "jeyN" Nguyen
• Fabien "kioShiMa" Fiey
• Lucas "Lucky" Chastang
• Alexandre "xms" Forté

Five most recent results

• FLASHPOINT Europe Closed Qualifier = 9-12th (Online)
• DreamHack Open Leipzig 2020 Europe Closed Qualifier = 5-8th (Online)
• WESG 2019 West Europe Closed Qualifier = 3rd (Online)
• OMEN Atlantic Challenge 2019 = 2nd (LAN)
• WePlay! Forge of Masters Season 2 Finals = 5-6th (LAN)

Brief rundown

Heretics has a core containing many recognisable names from the French scene.

Two-time Major champion kioShiMa, former G2 Esports rifler Lucky and returning retiree xms are the most familiar while Maka has been a constant presence below France's elite and promising prospect jeyN's previous break for studies is over as he is now firmly on the team for the near future.

G2 Esports had signed both JaCkz and Lucky from 3DMAX but replaced the latter when the signing of Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač and Nemanja "nexa" Isaković occurred. kioShiMa had stood in for two events with G2 before he and Lucky both joined Heretics last year.

Without spots in either ESL Pro League Season 11 or the inaugural season of new league FLASHPOINT, Heretics remain on the outskirts for now with a narrow grip on an ESL World Ranking place and a slight bump sees them sit at #76 in HLTV's own ranking after falling down to a record low of #82 for the core.

A solid performance in the Closed Qualifier could be the key to survival for Heretics going forward into 2020.

Player to watch: Lucky

Lucky had been a promising star in the lower tiers of play before his time on G2. Bouncing back to the form he saw while on 3DMAX in 2018 that saw the team through the Closed Qualifier could well see Heretics do the same.

While his name does not carry the same weight as France's legends, the carry within the server is what will be worth more in the end if Heretics are able to claim one of the top eight spots in Rio against the competition and Lucky could well be the key factor if he is able to step up once more.

GINX prediction

As one of only two teams without a listed coach (the other being the ESEA Advanced team KOVA Esports), the tactical depth of Heretics against the strongest opponents here will truly be tested.

French Counter-Strike has been having its ups and downs, with G2 on the rise alongside Serbian additions and Team Vitality seeing in-game leader Alex "ALEX" McMeekin bench himself due to burnout, but like a Stark always needing to be in Winterfell, there has always been a third top team in the region that remains competitive.

With LDLC on the rocks, Heretics have the perfect opportunity to cement themselves in the standings domestically and internationally but it hangs in the balance and relies heavily on a strong Closed Qualifier showing.