![“We know Adil [ScreaM] wants to come back to CS, and we gave to him one year to play individually and have a feeling again with the game.” – JACKZ on ScreaM, FUT, standing-in for NiP, and playing EPIC.LAN](https://i2.wp.com/esports-news.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/JACKZ1.jpg?ssl=1 "“We know Adil [ScreaM] wants to come back to CS, and we gave to him one year to play individually and have a feeling again with the game.” – JACKZ on ScreaM, FUT, standing-in for NiP, and playing EPIC.LAN")
Regardless of being Main finalist with G2, Audric ‘JACKZ’ Jug is comfortable to take the step all the way down to decrease ranges of Counter-Strike if it means competing. In truth, the Frenchman is spending time that will historically be a honeymoon in Kettering competing at EPIC45.
The FUT roster, which options former Vitality gamers Kévin ‘misutaaa’ Rabier and Nabil ‘Nivera’ Benrlitom, are hungry to climb the Valve Regional Standings and safe invitations to future competitions, so as to match the ambitions of the brand new org, FUT Esports – a multi-game Turkish large.
Esports Information UK talked to JACKZ about his experiences with FUT and NiP, in addition to his ideas on Vitality’s yr and whether or not Belgian legend, Adil ‘ScreaM’ Benrlitom could return as a part of this roster.
Interview with JACKZ at EPIC.LAN 45
How are you discovering EPIC.LAN?
We’re good in UK LAN. The climate was good yesterday, so we’re a bit shocked, however on the finish, the actual climate of the UK is again.
We’re feeling good right here.
What in regards to the meals? Have you ever been managing to seek out meals you may eat?
Yeah, we’ve had pizza and burgers from the truck, so we try simply that for now, however let’s see. We haven’t been to a restaurant or catering but to eat, so we’ll see.
The blokes have been actually good with me, however we didn’t do observe collectively. I used to be simply right here to play the official video games.
JACKZ on his time with NiP
About your yr. You performed with NIP at the beginning of the yr for VRS causes. How did you discover that?
First, they got here to me due to the VRS system and I used to be a wildcard participant as a result of I performed with Vitality and we acquired prime eight throughout BLAST.
So, I used to be a wildcard participant and so they have simply Snappi and sjuush, if I’m not mistaken. So, they want three guys to get some VRS factors, so they arrive to me and ask me if I can stand in for them.
What was the expertise like within the staff? Clearly, that wasn’t essentially the staff that you just have been going to be in long run, so how is it working with one other staff?
It was actually good, nice ambiance. The blokes have been actually good with me, however we didn’t do observe collectively. I used to be simply right here to play the official video games.
It was like perhaps one hour earlier than the sport, we’d go on the server, they’d present me the technique, we have now a small speak with the workers to be a bit prepared, however it was not… oh, I can’t say that in English.
I feel if I’ve extra observe with them, for positive the expertise goes to be higher. However on the finish, it wasn’t superb, I knew I wasn’t going to do observe with them, so I simply performed and I loved it.
So, now shifting into this FUT roster. Initially, how did you discover your new organisation?
It was as a result of they’re a very good staff on Valorant and so they know Nivera and his brother ScreaM, our legend, and they also first acquired into contact and so they have been fascinated with coming into CS with a brand new lineup.
They selected us as a result of they didn’t wish to enter CS immediately with a tier one lineup. At this second, we had loads of maps and we’re taking part in so much on HLTV and it was good for us, I feel.
My spouse is my greatest help on CS so she completely understands that, and he or she instructed me even simply earlier than the marriage, through the week simply earlier than, ‘don’t neglect to observe’
JACKZ on spending his honeymoon at EPIC.LAN
Are the organisation serving to you? Have you ever discovered a constructive expertise with the organisation to date?
Yeah, critically. We went to Istanbul in Turkey, to the FUT home. It’s like a giant household, you recognize? In order that was actually good.
Simply on the competitors issues, we didn’t have a lot alternative to compete for now as a result of we’ve solely had one occasion in Sweden, Jönköping [Glitched Masters 2025: Open Qualifier], however it was actually dangerous situations.
After it was a break. Me, I had my marriage ceremony and we have now like simply two qualifiers on-line between some breaks and issues. Now we’re right here to play in UK, however we didn’t have like large alternative to essentially play like we did the primary a part of the season.
Talking of your marriage ceremony, how did your now spouse react to the truth that you’re going to Kettering to your honeymoon?
My spouse is my greatest help on CS so she completely understands that, and he or she instructed me even simply earlier than the marriage, through the week simply earlier than, ‘don’t neglect to observe, play individually, blah blah blah’, no worries about us.
After the marriage immediately, we have now three days of observe and after we’re right here. It was quick, fairly quick.
We all know and we are able to see that he has loads of potential, however we don’t know but if he’s at his greatest.
JACKZ on Nivera’s type coming back from Valorant
So now you’re in a position to play extra collectively, you may play some officers. What do you suppose is the type of potential of this roster?
Our objective right here is to win VRS factors as a result of now with out VRS, you do nothing. So we’re right here to get some factors and to get some invitations and to do the utmost that we are able to. We’re going to do the small tournaments on-line.
If we do properly, we’re going to have factors and we’re perhaps going to get invitations at CCT and each match we are able to have on web, and if we have now some LANs, like EPIC.LAN, or we are able to get some factors, we’re going to do it. If we have now the finances to do it.
You talked about Nivera getting back from Valorant. Do you are feeling like he’s again at his greatest in Counter-Strike?
It’s onerous to say this. We actually don’t know as a result of he stayed two or three years in Valorant. We all know and we are able to see that he has loads of potential, however we don’t know but if he’s at his greatest. I feel he’s nonetheless younger.
He has a giant margin of development nonetheless. So it’s good for us.
For me, CS is a contest. If I’m right here or if I’m in studio or in area, the sport remains to be the identical.
JACKZ on his drive to compete
Outdoors of the roster, you’ve gotten ScreaM on the bench as a content material creator. He introduced on Twitter that he want to compete once more. I don’t know in case you guys are in contact with him. Do you’ve gotten any updates? Do you suppose he’s gearing as much as competitors?
With us, we all know Adil [ScreaM] desires to come back again to CS, and we gave to him one yr to play individually and have a sense once more with the sport, however with FUT, usually he can be a content material creator and sixth participant if somebody of the staff can’t play.
However for positive, there’s all the time this door that may be opened if we have to do a change, and if Adil is able to play and he has feeling with the sport, let’s see in regards to the roles and these things.
However sure, it may be an answer.
You talked about earlier your stint with Vitality, the stand-in stint with Vitality final yr. Vitality have had a historic yr. I’m not going to say that it was all due to mezzii….
He’s the GOAT, he’s the GOAT.
However critically, I needed to ask, out of your viewpoint, you’ve been in contact with these gamers, did you count on this sort of yr with ropz becoming a member of?
I’ve loads of info, as a result of Dan is one in every of my greatest mates, however yeah, I do know as a result of they’ve some stuff with Lotan, with Spinx. So inside the staff was not the very best temper.
When ropz got here, I knew it was going to be like an enormous improve, and Lotan is a very, actually, actually good participant.
Simply inside the staff, whenever you keep two or three years, I feel, some issues occur and it was a wanted change, and ropz was the very best man to suit into this puzzle.
Personally, you’ve performed within the Main last, the ultimate of Katowice, the ultimate of Cologne. What’s it that’s bringing you to attending these LANs and making an attempt to grind your manner up once more?
For me, I prefer it. It’s like after I was younger, I used to be doing this like virtually each weekend. So I like this ambiance and in UK, you may actually really feel it. For me, CS is a contest. If I’m right here or if I’m in studio or in area, the sport remains to be the identical.
And I take pleasure in this sport.
Darragh Harbinson is an esports author specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports Information UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.
