KSCERATO: “My family always said it was way better to stay home and play CS than go on street and learn bad things”Exclusive

At the recent BetBoom Dacha tournament, we sat down with FURIA’s star rifler Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato for an exclusive conversation. The Brazilian professional shared insights about competing alongside legendary teammate Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, reflected on his upbringing in São Paulo’s vibrant streets, and analyzed FURIA’s strategic positioning within the evolving Counter-Strike 2 competitive landscape.

— You’re currently based at a bootcamp in Serbia this competitive season. How challenging is extended separation from home for you and your teammates?

— The lifestyle demands are incredibly demanding, to be completely honest. After 5-6 years of international competition circuits, we’ve developed routines to manage the constant travel. While the physical and emotional toll is significant, we maintain perspective—this journey represents our collective aspiration, requiring calculated trade-offs to achieve excellence at the highest level.

— What sparked your passionate support for Corinthians football club?

— My father’s influence primarily shaped my allegiance. He would recount stories about Corinthians’ historic squads with such enthusiasm that the connection became deeply personal. Regional pride also plays a substantial role—as São Paulo natives, supporting the city’s most prominent team feels inherently natural.

— Does football fandom create competitive banter within FURIA’s roster?

— Absolutely, the rivalry creates constant friendly tension. Only yuurih and I champion Corinthians, while several teammates ardently support their arch-rivals Palmeiras. Corinthians’ current competitive struggles compared to Palmeiras’ consecutive championship victories make for entertaining, if slightly painful, team discussions.

— Do teammates deliberately provoke reactions with football-themed humor?

— Brazilian football culture inherently includes provocative banter. The Corinthians-Palmeiras derby represents Brazil’s most intense football rivalry, historically featuring stadium conflicts—though contemporary matches show improved fan behavior.

— Global football icon Neymar publicly supports FURIA. How does it feel having such an elite athlete as both fan and peer?

— That relationship feels surreal to articulate, given his status as my childhood sports hero. The concept that I could be considered significant to him remains difficult to process emotionally. His genuine enthusiasm for our performances creates incredible motivation—he’s Neymar, an absolute legend.

— Have you competed alongside him in Counter-Strike matches? What’s your assessment of his gameplay abilities?

— His skill development genuinely impresses me. Considering his primary dedication to football excellence, his CS proficiency demonstrates remarkable cross-sport talent acquisition.

— Could Neymar realistically compete at semi-professional levels? Would he hold his own in exhibition matches against established professionals?

— Matching professional players’ consistency seems unlikely currently. He would certainly create unpredictable challenges for opponents. With dedicated practice commitment, I believe he could achieve tier-3 competitive status, potentially advancing further with structured training.

— As a Corinthians supporter and Neymar originating from Santos, did this create initial tension?

— When we first connected personally, I confessed how frequently I’d criticized his performances previously. His dominance against my preferred team spanned multiple seasons, creating natural frustration. Despite this history, I couldn’t resist admiring his artistic football brilliance. That period preceded my CS career focus—watching his genius football creativity felt inspirational during my formative years.

— Do you perceive yourself as a Brazilian esports superstar? Do you receive recognition internationally?

— Public recognition occurs periodically—shopping mall encounters or street interactions where fans request photos. The scale differs significantly from FalleN’s iconic status remains unparalleled. However, my visibility continues growing steadily. The mutual respect between Brazilian fans and professional players creates a special community dynamic I deeply appreciate.

— Your cousin WOOD7 also competes professionally. Have you envisioned teaming together like famous sibling duos NiKo and huNter- or the Brazilian twins HEN1 and LUCAS1?

— We collaborated briefly during earlier career phases. Neither our individual skills nor team coordination had matured sufficiently then. Future collaboration possibilities remain open-ended.

— Growing up in São Paulo, what characterized your childhood experiences?

— My early years created unforgettable memories. Street football matches, traditional kite fighting competitions, and neighborhood exploration defined those formative experiences. Public transportation commutes during adolescence provided unexpected mindfulness opportunities—valuable reflection time currently scarce amidst professional demands.

— Young gamers internationally often face parental conflicts over gaming versus education priorities. Did similar tensions exist in your Brazilian upbringing?

— My parents maintained progressive perspectives regarding gaming. They consistently emphasized that home-based Counter-Strike engagement provided safer developmental environments than potential street risks. Their primary requirement focused on academic commitment—which explains why I completed electrical engineering studies while simultaneously pursuing professional gaming aspirations.

— You’ve mentioned significant parental sacrifices during your upbringing. Could you elaborate further?

— Our neighborhood presented substantial socioeconomic challenges. Despite limited resources, my parents prioritized providing quality gaming equipment, peripherals, and internet connectivity. Unreliable connections meant phone calls would disrupt gameplay sessions. Their unwavering support included my father missing business appointments to transport us to local competitions. These sacrifices created foundational support systems I hope to replicate for my future family.

— Did Counter-Strike function as an escape mechanism during adolescent challenges?

— The game provided both refuge and educational platform. Traditional schooling methods often failed to engage me effectively. CS:GO’s English-language interface accelerated my language acquisition, while PC access enabled independent research into various learning topics. The community connections proved equally valuable—Chelo and I connected through gaming at ages 9-10, maintaining friendship continuity throughout our professional journeys.

— Competing alongside FalleN represents a significant career milestone. Does this collaboration feel like dream fulfillment?

— Absolutely represents realized aspirations. I participated in his inaugural CS 1.6 academy program, learning foundational skills he now implements alongside me professionally.

— BetBoom’s coach innersh1ne previously described arT‘s approach as lifestyle integration rather than mere playstyle. Do you share this perspective?

— Completely accurate assessment. Competitive excellence requires comprehensive mindset adoption. Optimal decision-making and reaction timing demand constant cognitive engagement—during matches and throughout daily life. Maintaining competitive edge necessitates 24/7 mental preparation and strategic contemplation.

Yuurih: Agreement confirmed. [shared laughter]

— Several months ago, FURIA attempted strategic playstyle modifications that proved unsuccessful. What factors contributed to these challenges?

— The transitional difficulties primarily affected yuurih and myself. Extended collaboration with arT’s aggressive in-game leadership created adaptation barriers when implementing slower tactical approaches. The current hybrid leadership structure combining FalleN’s strategic depth with arT’s aggressive innovation creates unprecedented adaptability. We can now dynamically shift between strategic pacing options, finding optimal competitive equilibrium.

— How does BetBoom Dacha compare organizationally with other premier LAN competitions?

— This tournament’s unique structure creates bootcamp-like immersion. The villa accommodations replicate gaming house environments, generating comfort reminiscent of CS 1.6’s grassroots era and FURIA’s foundational period. The high school thematic approach provides refreshing differentiation from conventional esports events. Implementing similar concepts in European markets presents logistical challenges due to different hospitality infrastructure standards.

— CS2’s mechanical changes favor aggressive tactical approaches. Given FURIA’s established reputation for dynamic play, do you sense destiny aligning for championship dominance?

— Ongoing game updates continue shaping the competitive meta. While peeker’s advantage may not persist indefinitely within CS2’s development roadmap, we’re strategically leveraging current mechanics. Achieving top global ranking requires dedicated refinement—this tournament provides crucial preparation for the upcoming Major championship in Denmark. Our collective confidence remains high regarding championship contention capabilities.

— Does significant skill disparity exist between younger and veteran CS competitors?

— Age creates minimal performance differentiation in contemporary competitive landscapes. Consistent gameplay refinement and peeker’s advantage mastery determine success more than generational factors. CS2’s reset mechanics create equal opportunity landscapes where tactical execution outweighs demographic considerations.

— What aspect of Counter-Strike creates deepest personal satisfaction, regardless of game version iterations?

— The competitive satisfaction emerges from decisive outplay moments. Successfully dismantling opponents through superior positioning and tactical execution generates immense gratification. Competitive integrity represents core appeal—global ranking supremacy remains perpetually vulnerable to tactical errors. Perfect decision-making precision every millisecond defines championship-level performance requirements.

— Your Tesla tattoo demonstrates clear scientific appreciation. Does this interest conflict with engineering educational background?

— Engineering studies extensively covered Tesla’s revolutionary contributions. His technological innovations fundamentally enabled modern computing and gaming ecosystems. Historical recognition feels appropriately placed for such transformative inventiveness.

— Belgrade hosts a dedicated Tesla museum. Have you visited this institution?

— The concept creates emotional complexity. While deeply admiring his scientific legacy, museum visitation feels unnecessary for maintaining historical appreciation. Some cultural institutions fail to adequately represent historical significance through exhibition design.

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No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » KSCERATO: “My family always said it was way better to stay home and play CS than go on street and learn bad things”Exclusive FURIA star KSCERATO reveals family support, Neymar friendship, and CS2 ambitions in exclusive interview