During the CS:GO Intel Extreme Masters 2024, two top notch players failed to notice each other standing two meters apart while clearing their respective entrance. The awkward situation occurred between Skullz and Buda in the group stage match between Liquid and 9z and lasted almost for a full minute. It did not help that this unusual Counter Strike stand-off was streamed live on ESLCSb’s own Twitch channel.
The stream was showing Team Liquid’s Skullz and 9z’s Buda missing each other entirely. They were so focused on making sure that the entrance to the room was secured that they forgot to clear the room in which both players were standing.
Fans in the Twitch chat immediately blamed their 4:3 aspect ratio for this rookie mistake but the usual killing machines had nothing left but to involuntarily enjoy each other’s presence. Even as they came within mere feet of each other, the players continued to miss one another. Additionally, they both constantly used shift walking which lets you move soundlessly.
In professional CS:GO, these types of mistakes virtually never happen. It is safe to say that viewers were flabbergasted and commented on the sheer unlikelihood of such an event happening at this level. The commentators could not believe their eyes.
The preference for the 4:3 ratio among some players, like Skullz, can be traced back to the need for higher frame rates on older systems and personal comfort with the stretched view it provides. While the aspect ratio makes enemy models appear larger, it doesn’t actually change the mechanics of hitting shots. But not every set up decision is 100% rational when it comes to gaming. We will probably keep seeing players with this setup.
Anyway, the community loved seeing that pros are also human too and we are excited to see which quirky moments the tournament will bring next.
