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WESGG TALKS TO BENITA
By Duncan 'Thorin' Shields
SK Gaming
http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/31145-WESgg_talks_to_Benita
Nov 2 2010
SK Gaming female's Benita talked to WESgg about her experiences in SK,
winning events and how she became a CS player.
Ukrainian website WESgg.com has interviewed SK Gaming female player
Benita 'bENITA' Novshadian and kindly provided the English language
version of it for publication on SK Gaming.
You're playing for SK for two years. What were the most things to
remember during this period?
My favorite memory of being a part of the SK organization was seeing
my flight information. I love to travel and on top of just traveling
alone, I would travel to achieve what I was most passionate about.
Without the SK organization, I would have never had the opportunity
to achieve my dream.
What do you think, why in the female teams changes in the line-up
are less common than in male?
There are simply not enough female players. As soon as a female team
comes up with their five players, they need to learn to set aside
their differences and play the game as a team.
What are the main differences between male and female CS? Is it real
to unite both?
I honestly don't see a "main difference" between male and female
CS. I do not see an advantage that a male has that a female does
not have. Counter-Strike is a video game that both men and women
can equally succeed at. As a whole, the male CS has more competition,
more prizes, and more tournaments. Although the male tournaments do
not restrict females, there simply isn't a team with five females
who are successful enough to compete in those tournaments. At home,
I always attend local tournaments with males and it is a lot of fun. I
definitely feel a different vibe when it comes to playing with males.
Which male team you sympathize the most? Would you like to play in
same team with those guys?
I don't quite feel any sort of sympathy for any team but I definitely
don't mind playing with guys! :)
How do guys react to the fact that you're a professional player in
Counter-Strike?
My brother is definitely my #1 fan. He always loves to brag about
me with his friends just because of the reactions. Majority of the
guys find it hard to believe. When I am telling somebody that is
clueless about the competition in eSports, they think it is literlly
the coolest thing ever. When I tell somebody that used to play CS,
they are in awe that I am still playing this game. Regardless, the guys
are always really interested to hear the stories that I have to share.
Do you have Armenian roots?
Haha yes. I am half armenian and half persian. I understand more than
I speak armenian.
There is a rumor that you're used to playing with cheats. Is it true?
..what?! No.
Each team sometimes have conflicts. On what ground conflicts arise
in female teams.
I guess from my past experience I can say that most conflicts arise
due to mistakes that are being made ingame. When disagreement comes
upon the girls, all hell breaks loose! Haha no just kidding! But that
is definitely where tension builds up the most.
Who is the best female player in your opinion now?
I will never forget Arbalet Female Cup in Kiev, Ukraine grand finals
vs Fnatic girls. I think it was double or triple overtime where zAAz
was hitting the most insane headshots on me on de_nuke. I don't know
if that answers the question but umm... I don't really have an exact
answer :)
You are the ESWC winner. Tell us about your impressions after winning
the title.
It was so unreal to me. I met ali, the leader of SK Ladies, when I was
11-12 years old and was told that I wasn't old enough to compete. I
joined SK when I was 15 years old hoping to gain a lot of experience
for upcoming tournaments. I was practically put on "hold" until I
was old enough to play at the ESWC tournament. When I turned 16, I
was beyond excited to attend the tournament. In 2009, ESWC announced
bankrupcy and I was beyond devastated. Keeping my hopes up, I still
came online and played a lot. Finally in 2010, my dream came true. I
went to Paris, I played on stage, and I am now an ESWC Champion.
Playing over 105+ hours of CS prior to the tournament was worth it.
This spring SK visited Kiev. Tell us about your impressions of Arbalet
Cup Female.
Best damn tournament I've ever been to in my life! The computers,
monitors, and staff was excellent. The lan center was SO amazing. The
bathroom was the hut on de_nuke! How freaking awesome is that?!
Arbalet Cup was my first female international appearance so I feel
like I was underestimated by the other girls. It was definitely the
best performance I've ever had on lan.
Was it easy to take it?
Prior to the actual tournament date, there was a volcano explosion
that STRONGLY affected my team. Jso was stuck in Germany for about a
week. We didn't even know if we were going to be able to go to the new
dates of the tournament that was announced. If I remember correctly,
my team and I didn't even play CS at all until we arrived in Kiev.
What do you think about Ukraine? Was it your first visit? How did
you spend your lifetime there?
It was my first time in Ukraine and it was okay. I was either at the
lan center or in the hotel. I don't really remember even having an
appetite. I didn't eat anything special and my only focus was just
to take the cash prize home.
What other championships do you remember the most and why?
My only "major" championships have been Arbalet Cup 2010 and ESWC
2010. Winning local tournaments in California has been fun times as
well :)
What is the most beautiful city you have visited thanks progaming?
Paris and Chicago.
How is female e-sports in the USA?
Almost completely dead.
Which teams do you practice? Did you beat top men's teams?
Around tournament times, our practices are really really intense. At
home, we played strictly teams that are in ESEA-Main or Invite. At
Gamegune Mexico, we got 12 rounds on EG and almost had an amazing
comeback. Top teams in the USA was the best practice for us. Most
even enjoyed playing us because we tried harder than teams that were
actually in their current league.
Famous American player Evolution in one interview said that people
are afraid to look like "nerds" in USA. Do you agree with him?
Firstly, I would just like to say evolution is awesome. Hi Scott!! :)
I guess I somewhat agree with his quote but in my case, I am not
afraid at all! As nerdy as this sounds, the close friends that I've
made through this game, the community, and the game itself has shaped
me into the person that I am today. My friends and family enjoy the
fact that I am a complete video game geek. As for others, I can see
where people can be afraid to look like "nerds" but it really isn't
that much of a big deal!
You started playing CS in a fairly early age. How did this happen
at first?
I was introduced to CS at the age of 9. I didn't have a computer at
the time and my brother would never let me use his computer. While
he was at school, I would sneak onto his computer and play in public
servers. When he would get home, I would make it seem like I never
touched the computer and then I would always intentionally hang out
in his room. I would sit on his bed and play Nintendo64 and watch
him play CS at the same time. Finally I got my own computer when I
was about 10 years old.
Who was pushed you to play? What was your first team?
Nobody really encouraged me to play at the time. I just instantly fell
in love with the game and had formed a habit to play everyday. My
very first team was with Jordan 'n0thing' Gilbert. He was like 12
years old and he would always make fun of me :(
Why did you choice the destiny of the cyber-sportsman? What attracts
you to it?
The competition attracts me the most. I didn't start playing this game
knowing I was going to become a professional player. I just played
because it was fun and overtime, my passion for it grew. I started to
become really competitive and very determined. I was hungry for the
wins. I studied and played the game a lot. Now that I am older, the
community is great and it has so much to offer. I've met such amazing
people and I've had opportunities that not many people could ever have.
What do you study?
I am currently in 12th grade and finishing up on college applications.
How parents react to the hobby of own daughter?
Ever since day one, my parents have been completely supportive of me.
They didn't think it was anything serious though until the very first
time I traveled. At the age of 15, 5 years after playing this game
as an everyday hobby, my mom and dad accepted it in a serious matter.
What was the reaction of them when you brought home the first money
earned by playing CS?
The first time I brought home A LOT of money from CS, I got very lucky
because tournaments rarely pay out in cash. Arbalet instantly gave
us the prize money in U.S. Dollars after the closing ceremony. My
brother was beyond proud of me. It was super awesome. My parents
were simply just glad that after all these years and time spent,
something good has come out of it.
What would you advise to young girls who have interests in cs?
When I started playing in 2002, the game was at its full potential.
The community, the competition, and the prizes involved was fully
alive. I would not recommend anybody to start playing CS now in 2010.
I would say that it's a waste of time.
Can you remember the funniest story related to your esports career?
I can't exactly pinpoint a funny story but I remember back when I
was about 13 years old, none of my school friends believed that I
played CS. The boys at my school underestimated me really really bad
so I started to play them 1v1 for 5 dollars. I would beat them so
hard that the next day at school they would hand me money without
saying anything.
Have you some hobbies besides CS?
I don't have much hobbies besides CS. I love to play other games like
Guitar Hero, HoN, LoL, and other random PS3/Xbox 360 games. I also
love to listen to music, read, and travel.
Thank you very much for your answers! Can you tell something to our
readers, please?
Gaming has made such a big impact on my life and if I could go back,
I wouldn't change one thing. Just wanted to say thank you to my brother
for supporting every decision I have made and for being my #1 fan!
From: A. Papazian
By Duncan 'Thorin' Shields
SK Gaming
http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/31145-WESgg_talks_to_Benita
Nov 2 2010
SK Gaming female's Benita talked to WESgg about her experiences in SK,
winning events and how she became a CS player.
Ukrainian website WESgg.com has interviewed SK Gaming female player
Benita 'bENITA' Novshadian and kindly provided the English language
version of it for publication on SK Gaming.
You're playing for SK for two years. What were the most things to
remember during this period?
My favorite memory of being a part of the SK organization was seeing
my flight information. I love to travel and on top of just traveling
alone, I would travel to achieve what I was most passionate about.
Without the SK organization, I would have never had the opportunity
to achieve my dream.
What do you think, why in the female teams changes in the line-up
are less common than in male?
There are simply not enough female players. As soon as a female team
comes up with their five players, they need to learn to set aside
their differences and play the game as a team.
What are the main differences between male and female CS? Is it real
to unite both?
I honestly don't see a "main difference" between male and female
CS. I do not see an advantage that a male has that a female does
not have. Counter-Strike is a video game that both men and women
can equally succeed at. As a whole, the male CS has more competition,
more prizes, and more tournaments. Although the male tournaments do
not restrict females, there simply isn't a team with five females
who are successful enough to compete in those tournaments. At home,
I always attend local tournaments with males and it is a lot of fun. I
definitely feel a different vibe when it comes to playing with males.
Which male team you sympathize the most? Would you like to play in
same team with those guys?
I don't quite feel any sort of sympathy for any team but I definitely
don't mind playing with guys! :)
How do guys react to the fact that you're a professional player in
Counter-Strike?
My brother is definitely my #1 fan. He always loves to brag about
me with his friends just because of the reactions. Majority of the
guys find it hard to believe. When I am telling somebody that is
clueless about the competition in eSports, they think it is literlly
the coolest thing ever. When I tell somebody that used to play CS,
they are in awe that I am still playing this game. Regardless, the guys
are always really interested to hear the stories that I have to share.
Do you have Armenian roots?
Haha yes. I am half armenian and half persian. I understand more than
I speak armenian.
There is a rumor that you're used to playing with cheats. Is it true?
..what?! No.
Each team sometimes have conflicts. On what ground conflicts arise
in female teams.
I guess from my past experience I can say that most conflicts arise
due to mistakes that are being made ingame. When disagreement comes
upon the girls, all hell breaks loose! Haha no just kidding! But that
is definitely where tension builds up the most.
Who is the best female player in your opinion now?
I will never forget Arbalet Female Cup in Kiev, Ukraine grand finals
vs Fnatic girls. I think it was double or triple overtime where zAAz
was hitting the most insane headshots on me on de_nuke. I don't know
if that answers the question but umm... I don't really have an exact
answer :)
You are the ESWC winner. Tell us about your impressions after winning
the title.
It was so unreal to me. I met ali, the leader of SK Ladies, when I was
11-12 years old and was told that I wasn't old enough to compete. I
joined SK when I was 15 years old hoping to gain a lot of experience
for upcoming tournaments. I was practically put on "hold" until I
was old enough to play at the ESWC tournament. When I turned 16, I
was beyond excited to attend the tournament. In 2009, ESWC announced
bankrupcy and I was beyond devastated. Keeping my hopes up, I still
came online and played a lot. Finally in 2010, my dream came true. I
went to Paris, I played on stage, and I am now an ESWC Champion.
Playing over 105+ hours of CS prior to the tournament was worth it.
This spring SK visited Kiev. Tell us about your impressions of Arbalet
Cup Female.
Best damn tournament I've ever been to in my life! The computers,
monitors, and staff was excellent. The lan center was SO amazing. The
bathroom was the hut on de_nuke! How freaking awesome is that?!
Arbalet Cup was my first female international appearance so I feel
like I was underestimated by the other girls. It was definitely the
best performance I've ever had on lan.
Was it easy to take it?
Prior to the actual tournament date, there was a volcano explosion
that STRONGLY affected my team. Jso was stuck in Germany for about a
week. We didn't even know if we were going to be able to go to the new
dates of the tournament that was announced. If I remember correctly,
my team and I didn't even play CS at all until we arrived in Kiev.
What do you think about Ukraine? Was it your first visit? How did
you spend your lifetime there?
It was my first time in Ukraine and it was okay. I was either at the
lan center or in the hotel. I don't really remember even having an
appetite. I didn't eat anything special and my only focus was just
to take the cash prize home.
What other championships do you remember the most and why?
My only "major" championships have been Arbalet Cup 2010 and ESWC
2010. Winning local tournaments in California has been fun times as
well :)
What is the most beautiful city you have visited thanks progaming?
Paris and Chicago.
How is female e-sports in the USA?
Almost completely dead.
Which teams do you practice? Did you beat top men's teams?
Around tournament times, our practices are really really intense. At
home, we played strictly teams that are in ESEA-Main or Invite. At
Gamegune Mexico, we got 12 rounds on EG and almost had an amazing
comeback. Top teams in the USA was the best practice for us. Most
even enjoyed playing us because we tried harder than teams that were
actually in their current league.
Famous American player Evolution in one interview said that people
are afraid to look like "nerds" in USA. Do you agree with him?
Firstly, I would just like to say evolution is awesome. Hi Scott!! :)
I guess I somewhat agree with his quote but in my case, I am not
afraid at all! As nerdy as this sounds, the close friends that I've
made through this game, the community, and the game itself has shaped
me into the person that I am today. My friends and family enjoy the
fact that I am a complete video game geek. As for others, I can see
where people can be afraid to look like "nerds" but it really isn't
that much of a big deal!
You started playing CS in a fairly early age. How did this happen
at first?
I was introduced to CS at the age of 9. I didn't have a computer at
the time and my brother would never let me use his computer. While
he was at school, I would sneak onto his computer and play in public
servers. When he would get home, I would make it seem like I never
touched the computer and then I would always intentionally hang out
in his room. I would sit on his bed and play Nintendo64 and watch
him play CS at the same time. Finally I got my own computer when I
was about 10 years old.
Who was pushed you to play? What was your first team?
Nobody really encouraged me to play at the time. I just instantly fell
in love with the game and had formed a habit to play everyday. My
very first team was with Jordan 'n0thing' Gilbert. He was like 12
years old and he would always make fun of me :(
Why did you choice the destiny of the cyber-sportsman? What attracts
you to it?
The competition attracts me the most. I didn't start playing this game
knowing I was going to become a professional player. I just played
because it was fun and overtime, my passion for it grew. I started to
become really competitive and very determined. I was hungry for the
wins. I studied and played the game a lot. Now that I am older, the
community is great and it has so much to offer. I've met such amazing
people and I've had opportunities that not many people could ever have.
What do you study?
I am currently in 12th grade and finishing up on college applications.
How parents react to the hobby of own daughter?
Ever since day one, my parents have been completely supportive of me.
They didn't think it was anything serious though until the very first
time I traveled. At the age of 15, 5 years after playing this game
as an everyday hobby, my mom and dad accepted it in a serious matter.
What was the reaction of them when you brought home the first money
earned by playing CS?
The first time I brought home A LOT of money from CS, I got very lucky
because tournaments rarely pay out in cash. Arbalet instantly gave
us the prize money in U.S. Dollars after the closing ceremony. My
brother was beyond proud of me. It was super awesome. My parents
were simply just glad that after all these years and time spent,
something good has come out of it.
What would you advise to young girls who have interests in cs?
When I started playing in 2002, the game was at its full potential.
The community, the competition, and the prizes involved was fully
alive. I would not recommend anybody to start playing CS now in 2010.
I would say that it's a waste of time.
Can you remember the funniest story related to your esports career?
I can't exactly pinpoint a funny story but I remember back when I
was about 13 years old, none of my school friends believed that I
played CS. The boys at my school underestimated me really really bad
so I started to play them 1v1 for 5 dollars. I would beat them so
hard that the next day at school they would hand me money without
saying anything.
Have you some hobbies besides CS?
I don't have much hobbies besides CS. I love to play other games like
Guitar Hero, HoN, LoL, and other random PS3/Xbox 360 games. I also
love to listen to music, read, and travel.
Thank you very much for your answers! Can you tell something to our
readers, please?
Gaming has made such a big impact on my life and if I could go back,
I wouldn't change one thing. Just wanted to say thank you to my brother
for supporting every decision I have made and for being my #1 fan!
From: A. Papazian