Jonas “bsl” Alsaker Vikan has announced his departure from his role as Tournament Director at ESL.
Vikan is a former professional Counter-Strike 1.6 player, and announced his leave of absence from esports on Medium.
Over the 11 months Vikan spent at ESL, he spent 138 days travelling or away from home – working on 11 professional events under the banner of ESL One, IEM, or Pro League around the world. He notes that the main reason he’s stepping away from ESL – and esports as a whole, for now – is because he’s required to spend a lot of time away from his two young children.
Vikan explained in his post: “Walking away now, from esports and from such an exciting position in the world’s biggest esport company, is hard. I started in esports in 1999, when there was no esports. Just a computer and some games. No lights, no money, no fame, no future.”
He continued, explaining the likelihood of him staying away from the esports industry for good: “A friend who has supported my every esport endeavor over nearly 20 years asked me if I am now finally done with esports. My answer was I think that’s not possible, its fabric is too closely weaved with who I am. It has given me everything. But for right now, I need to step down.”
Vikan was appointed by ESL in August of last year, but his career in esports kicked off in 2002. He co-founded team Meredia and played Counter-Strike 1.6 competitively, before creating Team NoA and developing the team as one of the best in the world.
Esports Insider says: Not too long ago it was revealed that IEM Katowice would be the home of the first CS:GO Major in 2019, so that’s a good way for Vikan to bow out from his position. We wish him the best of luck for the future and hope decides to return to the industry one day!