There’s a reason more and more elite athletes are jumping into Esports. Whether it’s retired NFL stars like Kenny Vaccaro or Premier League soccer players like Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, these athletes don’t just pay for video games, they become team owners and managers who are vital to the success of their peers. And, with serious prize money in leagues like BLAST Premier and more, winning is a lucrative business. Matthieu Péché has been working as a team manager for Team Vitality since 2019.
His team specializes in online Counter Strike tournaments. CS is, for the uninitiated, a popular series of tactical first-person shooter games, but Péché brings his actual athletic success into the mix to get the best out of his players. As a canoeist, the Frenchman won bronze at the 2016 Olympics and a world championship in 2017 in doubles. Here, Péché tells M&F how his work ethic and core values of respect, teamwork and physical activity put his team above the rest.
When did you first get excited about gaming?
Matthieu Péché: Even though I have spent my entire career in sports, I have always loved video games. I joined Team Vitality as the Team Manager of the Counter-Strike team in 2019. From there, I really began to immerse myself in the world of Esport performance. Even though Counter Strike is one of the more mature and advanced scenes, there was a lot of strategy and reflexes that had to be put into place.
How would you describe your role as a Counter-Strike 2 manager?
My role is to be the gatekeeper between my team and the rest of the world. This means ensuring that players’ schedules are balanced and managed to the minute to create the best conditions for them to perform. For this, I try to put my experience as a top-level athlete to work every day to develop the team’s performance and well-being.
What are some of the biggest awards the team has won?
Since the creation of Team Vitality’s international roster in CS, 2023 has been a year of triumph for the club. Our team managed to win five major circuit trophies, including IEM Rio in April, winning $100,000 in prize pool, BLAST.tv Major Paris in May, winning $500k in prize pool, Gamers8 Saudi Arabia in August, winning $400,000 in prize pool, BLAST Premier Fall Final Copenhagen in November, winning $200,000 in prize pool and BLAST Premier World Final Abu Dhabi in December, all back in 2023, winning $500k in prize pool.
How important is it to bring an athlete mindset to gaming, given your own background in sports?
As in traditional sport, players need to perform at a high level, so they need to be ready and on time as a team. It means that each player must level up and then sync with other team members to play as a unit. During all preparation outside the game, aspects that are important include good health, good sleep, good movement. I try to push them beyond the limits to make them think about what they are capable of.
Does the team work remotely or are the players together every day at the club in Paris?
We practice and play remotely outside of tournaments and together during matches or while boot-camping before events. We travel together as a group for about six months out of the year.
What kind of rules or practices do you expect from the team?
I have a strong work ethic and values such as respect, teamwork, inclusion and perseverance. My team and I have only one goal: to achieve excellence.
Do you think fitness is necessary to be a great player?
Fitness is key for me. The brain is one thing, but it won’t be effective without good physical condition. Every player has to find their way and their routine and their fitness to perform.
How often do some individual gaming sessions last?
In total, it’s 6-8 hours a day of practice and game practice. We also encourage players to include training in the gym at least a few hours a week.
What kind of drills would you suggest to work on our reflexes to become more advanced players?
Tennis reaction ball drills before a game really wakes up and tests reflexes, similar to tennis training and Formula 1. We also incorporate many other reactivity and coordination exercises such as table tennis, soccer and other ball games for warm-up.
You mentioned that some game sessions are long. Are you working on endurance?
Any cardio activity helps players keep pace during big games, but it also helps them keep their bodies in shape and cope with the demanding pace
competitions around the world. Stamina is essential throughout the game, all team players have thousands of hours of Counter Strike gameplay.
Thank you very much for your time and good luck in future tournaments! What are your hopes for the future of the team?
I would like to see our team’s efforts rewarded in the upcoming tournaments in the second half of the year. So far, we haven’t been able to make it all the way. First, I’d like to see them shine at the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, BLAST Premier Fall Groups in Copenhagen in July, and IEM in Cologne in August.
