Hiko: "I am a free agent"

21-1-2015 20:47

Former Cloud9 and ex-iBUYPOWER player explains his departure from Cloud9 and announces himself as a free agent.

Spencer "⁠Hiko⁠" Martin took to Facebook today to declare himself a free agent as well as to shed some light on events of the past few months. Hiko clarified his decision to leave Cloud9 as a matter of difference in opinion over how to maintain a successful roster.

Hiko also addressed and denied accusations that he played in a lacklustre manner at DreamHack Winter 2014 due to his desire to move on to other pastures.

Spencer "⁠Hiko⁠" Martin looking for a new organisation to play under

Most interestingly however, Hiko revealed more clues about the decision of the ex-iBUYPOWER lineup to withdraw from MLG X Games Aspen earlier today.

In Hiko's words:

"As far as MLG X-games is concerned, I woke up this morning ready ready to buy my own flight to Aspen. The other guys felt like until they know what is going to happen with valve and until this cloud of uncertainty goes away that it is in their best not to worry about playing in tournaments. I don't know what will happen in the future and I don't know where things will end up, but as of right now I am a free agent and looking forward to moving on with my CS career."

This statement may imply that the ex-IBUYPOWER lineup will be absent from major tournaments until further notice, as well as that Valve may be involved in investigating the recent match-fixing scandal.

nice

2015-01-21 20:47

31 replies

-monte +hiko = top2 NA

2015-01-21 20:55

30 replies

fuck valve.

2015-01-21 21:00

7 replies

for what, investigating the match fixing scandal? hope valve crucifies them. steel especially.

2015-01-21 21:17

5 replies

hope that, steel for the arrogant piece of sh*t he is, gets rekt by valve same for all those involved.

2015-01-21 21:32

You hate Steel? You act just like him on other threads. Lol

2015-01-21 21:42

1 reply

He is steel, look at that flag

2015-01-21 21:46

Lol there's no matchfixing scandal. You guys are such a joke. The 5 best NA players with the longest record of LAN and invite + playoffs don't give a shit about you kids petty skins haha.

2015-01-21 23:09

1 reply

They give a shit about easy money though.

2015-01-22 01:12

All hail lord Gaben!

2015-01-22 01:11

Hiko to EU team would be much more interesting to see :)

2015-01-21 21:51

16 replies

oooh

2015-01-21 22:08

Mouz inc

2015-01-21 22:27

10 replies

Yeah, why not? It's pretty weird that none of the best NA players are moving to EU where the scene is much bigger if you think about how big pro CSGO has become. People moved from NA to EU and the other way around in 1.6 and CSS, so it should happen more in these days because of the much bigger prize pools and salaries, but it doesn't.

2015-01-21 22:29

9 replies

Wait for it.

2015-01-22 02:10

8 replies

I also think it will happen with several top NA players in 2015

2015-01-22 02:34

7 replies

there's a language barrier. Even though many EU players can speak english, most prefer to speak in their native language when playing/practicing. But i could see possibly an NA player going to a UK team.

2015-01-22 06:58

4 replies

Many intrrnational teams have existed throughout history of cs or esports. The only countries it wouldnt work in is France, Poland and the Russian speaking ones pretty much.

2015-01-22 07:05

3 replies

Other EU teams. In EU its not uncommon for people to speak more than one language or understand languages that are fairly similar.

2015-01-22 07:08

2 replies

Trust me, speaking english wouldnt affect most Scandinavians. Maybe a whole NA team will join an EU org and live in Sweden or something in the future, who knows?

2015-01-22 07:12

1 reply

Now that would be dope

2015-01-22 07:14

"while Robby "bLacKpoisoN" Da Loca will be filling in for rivals Damage Control until he moves to Sweden, where he will continue his career as a CS:GO player." So it begins. hltv.org/news/14032-bravado-change-three

2015-01-22 23:25

1 reply

I'm good at predicting. I'm the new Thorin

2015-01-23 00:21

He should have stayed in Cloud9.My opinion.

2015-01-21 22:39

3 replies

Moving to EU is really taking it to the next level for any NA player. I mean you could top a team in NA so that they win everything there, but it's still not very much. And they still always fail when they come to EU for the big LANs, even if the players are really good. They simply doesn't have enough competition back in NA to develop to their fullest is what I think

2015-01-21 22:42

2 replies

then he should move to uk cuz most of the players prefere to talk in their native language.

2015-01-21 22:52

1 reply

He would have to bring a CS scene with him. There isn't one here...

2015-01-23 11:36

++++

2015-01-21 21:57

-FNS +Hiko CLG #1 NA team

2015-01-21 22:33

2 replies

FNS is the in game leader. That won't work. hazed is their best player so that won't happen. Ptr is an awp, and TaRiK is the fan favorite. Only guy left is reltuC (Cutler).

2015-01-23 19:14

1 reply

oh then that would be -reltuC +Hiko i didnt know it FNS was IGL then this would be the best option and TaRiK is a beast of an entry frager

2015-01-23 19:39

-fifflaren +hiko

2015-01-22 06:55

lol

2015-01-21 20:47

1 reply

lol? Why lol? Pls explain to me! I need your smartness!

2015-01-22 10:35

hehe

2015-01-21 20:47

expected

2015-01-21 20:47

Good :D

2015-01-21 20:48

gl hiko!

2015-01-21 20:48

owned

2015-01-21 20:48

good guy! GL Marcin

2015-01-21 20:48

-adren +hiko

2015-01-21 20:48

14 replies

-daps +hiko adreN IGL

2015-01-21 20:51

11 replies

I'm talking about AdreN ofcourse from HR

2015-01-21 21:07

9 replies

oh yeah, duh can't believe i thought it was the US adren

2015-01-21 21:10

1 reply

silly goose

2015-01-21 21:22

then you misspelled his nickname in your - + post. AdreN not adren or adreN

2015-01-21 21:22

6 replies

pretty sure he spelled it right mate.

2015-01-21 21:29

4 replies

Pretty sure adren isn't AdreN

2015-01-22 02:11

3 replies

pretty sure its still [spelled] correctly.

2015-01-22 02:14

1 reply

Yes, I am aware that it is technically "spelled" correctly, but the comment you were replying to was referring to the use of capital letters, not that actual spelling of the name. I gave your intelligence the benefit of the doubt and assumed you understood that, and for that I apologize.

2015-01-22 09:42

HR AdreN

2015-01-22 09:19

no u ; - )

2015-01-21 21:30

While that looks great on paper I think it would affect the team's morale and play-style negatively.

2015-01-21 22:39

2015-01-21 20:58

-adren + adren?

2015-01-21 21:32

Good luck spence

2015-01-21 20:48

Best Player NA

2015-01-21 20:48

would like to see him with tarik and co

2015-01-21 20:48

3 replies

Some people speculated that he might fill in for CLG if reltuC is still sick by Thursday.

2015-01-21 20:50

2 replies

that would be sick

2015-01-21 20:52

1 reply

just like cutler xaxaxa

2015-01-21 21:04

lol get rekt xxaxaxxa. no. gl in the future.

2015-01-21 20:49

who gives a shit?

2015-01-21 20:49

3 replies

No one gives shit about your opinion either.

2015-01-21 21:15

Quite a lot of people probably as this is a cs news site and most people who come here and read this has some interest in said game and what happens around it. Why are you even here and commenting is a more appropriate questions

2015-01-21 21:46

1 reply

His swedish nationality is getting to him... Thinks hes tough shit.

2015-01-21 23:10

wanna join my clan m8?????

2015-01-21 20:49

-biggy +hiko

2015-01-21 20:49

nice

2015-01-21 20:49

1 reply

-biggy? lol -uzi + hiko

2015-01-21 21:17

c r i n g e

2015-01-21 20:49

Nice

2015-01-21 20:49

-byalko +HIKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2015-01-21 20:49

Hiko luck, one of the best or if not the best player in the USA!

2015-01-21 20:49

lol saw him at dreamhack winter running around in the corridors, looked like such a fkn hillbilly xd

2015-01-21 20:50

1 reply

how were you able to see throu your beard, turban n white robe?

2015-01-21 21:06

good luck Hiko finding a new team!

2015-01-21 20:50

the KennyS of NA rip hiko

2015-01-21 20:50

1 reply

Does hiko awp?

2015-01-22 09:12

gl hiko :)

2015-01-21 20:50

looooool

2015-01-21 20:51

i was really looking forward to seeing exibp at aspen :(

2015-01-21 20:51

-get_left +hiko

2015-01-21 20:52

This is one of the more decent NA player, pick him up fast boys!

2015-01-21 20:52

We got a spot for you on Omerta, Spencer. Bring your green hat.

2015-01-21 20:52

Fucking valve should stop wasting their time on matchmixing scandals and start fixing their servers so there isn't ddos ffs valves priorities are always so good

2015-01-21 20:53

5 replies

are you actually saying that you care about matchmaking?

2015-01-21 20:55

4 replies

Oh shut up already.

2015-01-21 20:58

Mathfixing* Fixed it for you!

2015-01-21 21:00

2 replies

no u didnt

2015-01-22 17:09

1 reply

I see :D

2015-01-22 17:26

hiko standin for clg confirmed

2015-01-21 20:54

i am cia agent lets team up

2015-01-21 20:54

-culter +hiko

2015-01-21 20:55

Hiko to CLG please.

2015-01-21 20:55

what situation with valve and why not play in tournaments? sounds like hiko was displeased with ibp for withdrawing?

2015-01-21 20:56

1 reply

agreed, any clarifycation on this? what does he mean? O_o

2015-01-21 21:31

GL for the future. Godspeed ,

2015-01-21 20:56

Hiko fulltime mcdonalds food tester, confirmed by me

2015-01-21 20:57

I already picked him up on my Org. So back off HLTV he's my fifth.

2015-01-21 20:58

AKA Hiko told C9 "Either drop Semphis and Sean or I'm out" (much like DaZeD did when they were on the same team) and C9 didn't wanna drop Sean and Semphis. To be honest, if Semphis stepped down that wouldn't be the worst thing. Hes a good rifler with his moments, but Naf-Fly and nitr0 are both better. Dropping Sean is stupid now, however, as hes proving to be a competent rifler and is the IGL. Seeing as NA has very few IGLs, Sean is kind of a must.

2015-01-21 20:59

8 replies

quite ironic how the first time, when dazed wanted semphis out, hiko was threatening to leave(which he did) if he dropped semphis

2015-01-21 22:09

1 reply

I found it very ironic as well. And look at DaZeD - dropped by iBP, went to a new org and came back. Doubt Hiko would do the same, but the similarities would be hilarious if he did.

2015-01-21 22:41

You need to get off sean's D. He isnt THAT valuable.

2015-01-21 22:18

5 replies

The only reason hes so valuable is because hes an IGL. Look at NA IGLs and tell me, other than DaZeD, that there are better IGLs. adreN is an ok IGL, but I'd say Sean is better, and while Steel may be a better IGL I don't think he'd mesh in C9 at all. NA basically has zero IGLs, so dropping one of the only viable ones is a stupid move. I'm not in awe of Sean's skill - they're are way better players (though everyone makes him out to be a silver, which is harsh), but as an IGL he is kind of indispensable (at least until NA starts to produce IGLs).

2015-01-21 22:41

4 replies

steel best IGL, m0E second best. Both mature and intelligent

2015-01-22 07:08

1 reply

I don't think that anyone has accused mOE of being mature, so I won't respond to that bait, but I will say steel clearly is intelligent and can be mature.

2015-01-22 07:12

Have you seen cloud9 strats? I'm pretty sure their only strat is, "if we win the round, we buy out. if we lose the round, we buy out." I've seen them force buy 6 rounds in a row on ct side and lose the first 5 of those rounds. Was winning 1 eco round really losing the game?

2015-01-23 00:28

1 reply

When was the last C9 game you saw? Their economy management has gotten much better since they added ShahZam. Saying all they do is buy out is wrong. The mostly run defaults with slight variations. They have some cool boosts they are working on, like a new fast cat, but its really nothing crazy. The point is, I would rather have an IGL who knows what works than an IGL who tries crazy shit that fails.

2015-01-23 00:44

fat james bond 007

2015-01-21 21:00

1 reply

+1 made me laugh

2015-01-21 21:10

hahaha backstabbing fat fuck you deserve it

2015-01-21 21:01

1 reply

lol wut

2015-01-21 21:33

Well gl for you.

2015-01-21 21:01

-dboorn +Hiko plz

2015-01-21 21:01

5 replies

Why would Torqued drop one of their better players for Hiko when they can drop a bad one to add him? That being said, I think Hiko would rather play for CLG or Liquid than Torqued.

2015-01-21 21:03

4 replies

I dunno whatcha smoking, dboorN has a rating about 0.82, worst in trqd

2015-01-21 23:22

3 replies

wrong mate play.esea.net/teams/74798?tab=stats

2015-01-22 02:30

2 replies

...because stats from a local tournament are more important hltv.org/?pageid=173&playerid=1046&gamei..

2015-01-22 04:19

1 reply

you're not very smart, how can you decide if hes pulling his weight in the team by looking at his career stats ? clearly esea invite is not a "local tournament" lmao, it shows his current form quite clearly. hes a beast, ive played against him

2015-01-22 05:54

Torqued -monte +Hiko OR C9 -sem -sean +Hiko +Steel

2015-01-21 21:02

3 replies

If C9 readd Hiko, I'd lose all my respect for them. If C9 make any changes it should be -Semphis +Naf-Fly/nitr0 and really nothing else.

2015-01-21 21:04

2 replies

Steel should be banned along with the iBuyPower players

2015-01-23 19:16

1 reply

Wrong reply? But I agree to be honest, throwing on the level that they did should definitely be bannable.

2015-01-23 19:19

Pretty sure this confirms ex-iBP guys are f*d. Hiko would not say he is a free agent and accepting offers, essentially saying he will not play with ex-iBP. He wouldn't decide against the best NA team that had a EG offer around the corner if that offer hadn't expired and more repercussions from the betting thing weren't likely.

2015-01-21 21:04

1 reply

The only possibility could be that he hopes to join a team for a quick way into MLG and hastily published this post for that reason, but plans to rejoin with ex-iBP afterwards.

2015-01-21 21:23

hiko: "give me good offer, no lowball or report"

2015-01-21 21:04

he was ready

2015-01-21 21:05

ex-IBP?

2015-01-21 21:05

rip in peace dazed

2015-01-21 21:06

"The other guys felt like until they know what is going to happen with valve and until this cloud of uncertainty goes away that it is in their best not to worry about playing in tournaments" Anyone care to take a stab at what this means?

2015-01-21 21:07

4 replies

Pretty obvious, isn't it? The ex-iBP guys are awaiting consequences of the match fix. Not attending MLG X fucking games is a pretty clear sign that not only did the potential offer from EG expire, but further repercussions are likely. Valve apparently is still investigating things, wouldn't be surprised to see a ban for major tournaments.

2015-01-21 21:11

3 replies

edit nvm

2015-01-21 21:15

1 reply

Valve is involved because ever since they started sponsoring tournaments more and more responsibilities for the scene's health lay with them. The smn incidents essentially had nothing to do with Valve either, but you can't have players in majors that are confirmed busted. This is of course an unique situation because it's not simply hacking that Valve has set ways to deal with in the form of VAC. It's however good that they are handling the case, because we need a governing body and it's time Valve starts to realize it can only be them.

2015-01-21 21:19

This ex-iBUYPOWER must be punished in some way. Hiko knew that ex-iBP will not go far because of the match fix.They fucked up their team and thats why hiko is now a free agent

2015-01-21 21:45

If this is true only really place I see him going is torqued cause I don't clg and liquid would add him last min or especially just cause he is now out there. We can now believe in torqued again if this is true :D

2015-01-21 21:07

Disappointing, old ibp had a really good shot at being the best na team ever in GO

2015-01-21 21:09

wasn't it the case that swag left coL because of Hiko and now Hiko wants (wanted) to play with him again - the relations in the NA Scene are really a bit confusing...

2015-01-21 21:09

2 replies

swag left because of Semphis and sgares

2015-01-21 21:58

1 reply

No, Hiko and Swag are great together. Nobody knows for sure why Swag left

2015-01-23 19:18

Volvo will do a Major ban wave to the ex-IBP squad. Just to send out a message to all those match fixing scumbags!

2015-01-21 21:09

Come on are you guys like desperate as dick for giving out news or something? This guy is a fat useless shit and you advertise his free agency bullshit.. rofl.

2015-01-21 21:09

You are a free potato that escaped from the Pringels-Factory. You dirty bastard

2015-01-21 21:10

He should be picked up fast I think.

2015-01-21 21:11

Swag: "Hey Hiko are you free to play with us? like is your contract over-" Hiko: "Of course I'm free. I'm an American" -que national anthem-

2015-01-21 21:12

1 reply

You're Saudi?

2015-01-21 22:10

i am batman

2015-01-21 21:12

2 replies

I am scatman!

2015-01-21 21:16

1 reply

sceebeedeebeedeebopbottabope

2015-01-21 22:36

JUST WOW

2015-01-21 21:18

-hazed +hiko

2015-01-21 21:19

2 replies

I think Cutler is sick at the moment, so if he's still sick I would expect Hiko to be the stand in, not Lucky.

2015-01-21 22:43

wtf hazed is a really solid player

2015-01-22 16:02

Didn't VP throw a match as well? Same as torqued in benQ tourney?

2015-01-21 21:20

3 replies

no, VP didn't. they bet against themselves after the match was finished because betting was still open. there is a difference. still shitty and despicable, but not nearly as bad as willfully throwing the game like steel & co.

2015-01-21 21:27

1 reply

ty for clarification. so then why isn't anything happening to torqued?

2015-01-21 21:29

This is (correct me if I'm wrong) the first time in which actual evidence - not circumstantial - has been presented to show that a Top team like iBP or VP threw matches. I think that if someone found evidence that VP threw a game for skins, they would be punished as well.

2015-01-21 22:44

freeporn big agent DDD

2015-01-21 21:22

why is valve investigating the match scandal? The question why valve and not other thing?

2015-01-21 21:30

Wait..is Hiko explaining the story behind his departure from C9 or his decision to leave ex-IBP? the facebook quote is so out of context

2015-01-21 21:30

hito to torqued. GG

2015-01-21 21:30

3 replies

would never happen, hiko not capable of that level of verbal abuse

2015-01-21 21:32

2 replies

Are you for real?

2015-01-21 21:33

1 reply

ya hes too chill for that

2015-01-21 21:34

FBI incoming

2015-01-21 21:40

HIKO ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

2015-01-21 21:43

#1 NA player teamless GGWP.

2015-01-21 21:44

14 replies

swag is the best na player*

2015-01-21 21:49

13 replies

inconsistent

2015-01-21 21:51

12 replies

haha don't make me laugh.Why isn't Hiko in top 20?He didn't do anything special in ex-iBP but swag saved them not to lose to Team Liquid just watch ;) and it isn't his first time to do something like this! youtube.com/watch?v=QOcSskkipGY

2015-01-21 21:59

11 replies

ok fanboy, what did swag do? I don't count NA cs 1v3 as anything

2015-01-21 23:05

10 replies

youtube.com/watch?v=FFczkdCaiks how about 1v4 vs nip? fucking moron

2015-01-21 23:10

1 reply

I am aware of the katowice frags, but he isn't at this level anymore.

2015-01-21 23:33

OK hiko was good at esl one cologne and that's it,swag was good maybe all the year except of the last 2 months of 2014

2015-01-21 23:25

7 replies

swag was maybe never good at majors except katowice

2015-01-21 23:33

6 replies

Hes team was bad all that changing players and shit ofcourse they were bad at majors

2015-01-22 00:41

5 replies

smells like an excuse mr fanboy

2015-01-22 01:42

4 replies

AHAHAHHA what about hiko then they never had problem with the team, it's just he is bad

2015-01-22 01:45

3 replies

wait what? Are you trying to say swag > hiko @ LANs?

2015-01-22 02:20

2 replies

lol you are a fanboy just make a tread and put swag or hiko and you'll see bitch!

2015-01-22 09:58

1 reply

I don't need opinions, I already know who's better by looking at stats

2015-01-22 10:30

nobody wants you

2015-01-21 21:45

2 replies

agreed, ever since he cleared his inventory back when kqly got vacced he's been complete trash. imo the NA dream team is: -swag -tarik -ptr -skadoodle -and a motivated n0thing that will actually fucking practice

2015-01-22 02:08

1 reply

Why do you have two awpers on the same team

2015-01-23 19:19

fattyboy

2015-01-21 21:47

hope they all suffer greatly for their actions. throwing that game set a bad example for everyone else in the scene and just makes the cs scene and esports in general seem so unprofessional.

2015-01-21 21:52

1 reply

Hiko wasn't involved in that, though... there's no reason for him to suffer.

2015-01-21 22:21

Special Agent Hiko

2015-01-21 22:02

CLG WAKE THE FUCK UP

2015-01-21 22:10

good for hiko

2015-01-21 22:12

Fuck yuo higo

2015-01-21 22:20

Hiko to YouPorn CSGO team confirmed :)

2015-01-21 22:51

-cutler -FNS +swag +Hiko ptr to igl ;) He never rages, very calm, motivational dude

2015-01-21 23:01

Love how he says this like there isn't only 4 teams Torqued (with moE? I dont think so/steel) C9 (HAHAHA) IBP ( Nice try flusha) MouseSpaz (who the fuck would they replace

2015-01-21 23:09

Now that it is confirmed that valve is getting involved, don't be surprised if they decided to shut down the lounges. Valve has no way to possibly regulate the throwing off matches or betting on matches. To me, it's obvious, valve is going to have to make a decision on whether betting on their in-game items has a place in its community, and given that historically in the United States gambling has been viewed as immoral (except when run by the state e.g. lottery), I fully expect them to shut the lounges down. The lounges don't do much for valve and the potential headaches these sites can cause far outweigh any benefit they receive from them. Regulating them would require too much time and effort and the easy solution is to just force them to shut down. Get your skins off now while you still can boys.

2015-01-21 23:16

2 replies

or what? They will steal em from you? Of course you would be able to reclaim your property. Good read otherwise.

2015-01-22 00:59

1 reply

If your skins are on bots that you dont have access to..

2015-01-22 05:07

He'll find his own eventually.

2015-01-22 00:59

Gl Hiko

2015-01-22 01:44

who cares about u being free agent,go fkin lsoe weight instead of fixing games for skins

2015-01-22 01:46

2 replies

huh ? he had nothing to do with that

2015-01-22 02:31

He wasn't even on the team stupid ignorant

2015-01-23 19:19

Hiko has always been a great player.Hope we see him in a new team soon.

2015-01-22 08:04

Hiko nr1

2015-01-22 09:00

1 reply

Hiko nr1?

2015-01-22 10:35

valve involved in betting scandal? is this a joke? wtf

2015-01-22 18:34

1 reply

Involved in investigating it dumb ass

2015-01-23 16:08

misread as Hiko: "I am so big I developed my own gravitational force"

2015-01-23 11:39

hiko is bed

2015-01-23 19:19

First he leaves C9 then he joines IBP and then... he leaves again... Calma noob you are not Pasha to behave like a god...

2015-01-24 10:55

Why is everyone so focused on skins being the problem? They have real money betting sites and if I was going to fix a game I would bet real cash instead of skins.

2015-01-24 11:04