malta retires from competitive play

26-10-2023 13:18

The three-time Major attendee has departed from VERTEX.

IEM Sydney was malta's final event

Former Grayhound and Renegades rifler Liam "⁠malta⁠" Schembri has hung up his mouse and keyboard after a seven-year-long career in and around Australia's best sides.

His swansong was IEM Sydney, where he posted a 1.06 rating despite VERTEX's home campaign ending in a 13-16th placed finish.

"I'm glad I was able to catch up with so many people this past weekend at IEM," malta said on X. "It's been an absolute blessing to play this game professionally but I need to move on and see what else there is in life!"

malta's career began in earnest at Sydney 2017, where Chiefs upset Renegades and North and narrowly missed out on the arena with a fifth placed finish.

The Maltese-Australian went on to appear at a total of 11 Big Events over his career, including all four iterations of IEM Sydney, and three Major Challengers stages.

VERTEX are now:

Australia Toby "⁠BRACE⁠" Barnes
Australia Jared "⁠hazr⁠" O'Bree
Australia Jordan "⁠pz⁠" White
Australia Christian "⁠ADDICT⁠" Pendleton

Australia David "⁠Kingfisher⁠" Kingsford (coach)

Australia Jordan 'pz' White
Jordan 'pz' White
Age:
24
Team:
VERTEX
Rating 1.0:
1.07
Maps played:
596
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.62
New Zealand Christian 'ADDICT' Pendleton
Christian 'ADDICT' Pendleton
Age:
23
Team:
VERTEX
Rating 1.0:
1.07
Maps played:
444
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.63
Australia Jared 'hazr' O'Bree
Jared 'hazr' O'Bree
Age:
21
Team:
VERTEX
Rating 1.0:
1.08
Maps played:
927
KPR:
0.74
DPR:
0.68
Australia Toby 'BRACE' Barnes
Toby 'BRACE' Barnes
Age:
24
Team:
VERTEX
Rating 1.0:
0.94
Maps played:
562
KPR:
0.64
DPR:
0.68
Australia Liam 'malta' Schembri
Liam 'malta' Schembri
Age:
27
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
1.04
Maps played:
1144
KPR:
0.69
DPR:
0.64
#1
 | 
Turkey Orion1d
Who
2023-10-26 13:19
0
6 replies
#9
cat | 
United States DELUSlONAL_OK_SAYER
the whole nation of malta wtf
2023-10-26 13:22
0
4 replies
#16
 | 
India shoom123
Who
2023-10-26 13:27
0
#19
Czech Republic ModusOperandi
no more epl at malta
2023-10-26 13:32
0
1 reply
#22
k0nfig | 
Croatia dffg321
Lets goooo, EPL is back in Germany
2023-10-26 13:34
0
#100
Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
United States bfrank
actually what i thought at first though lolol
2023-10-27 11:19
0
#82
 | 
North America minte
newfrog
2023-10-26 18:20
0
#2
NEO | 
Europe legitb
gl
2023-10-26 13:19
0
#4
 | 
Russia monkasam
Huh?
2023-10-26 13:19
0
1 reply
#96
Freya | 
Philippines Sicko[melvs]
It's a yes or no question
2023-10-26 23:15
0
#5
Noppo | 
Japan Inlivino
I don't know he's in Vertex
2023-10-26 13:22
0
4 replies
#21
 | 
Estonia userfriendly
didn't* on*
2023-10-26 13:33
0
3 replies
#32
 | 
Spain Delusional_dav1g_fan
was
2023-10-26 13:43
0
#35
Noppo | 
Japan Inlivino
k
2023-10-26 13:46
0
#95
United States chokyy
When EU bots try to correct someone's grammar
2023-10-26 22:59
0
#6
 | 
Montenegro Blunt_Shovel
expected tbf ggs brother
2023-10-26 13:22
0
#7
Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Sweden Hasklon
Goodbye legend
2023-10-26 13:22
0
#8
Europe sture
Who?
2023-10-26 13:22
0
1 reply
#40
Olivia | 
France LeDiplomate
Yo le noob, Did multiple Majors, very decent career.
2023-10-26 13:55
0
#10
Faceit level 7 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Portugal dracø
no hate intended here: "Forever etched in CS history; Liam has been a pioneer for CS and esports within Australia.", what did he do?
2023-10-26 13:22
0
6 replies
#13
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Ukraine Xe0m
clips.twitch.tv/RefinedCogentPizzaTooSpi..
2023-10-26 13:25
0
4 replies
#23
clowN | 
Tajikistan ClownBetMan322
xaxaxaxaxaxaxax its faceit rank 3 game?????
2023-10-26 13:36
0
3 replies
#27
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Ukraine Xe0m
name + flair
2023-10-26 13:38
0
#47
Faceit level 1  | 
ohnePixel | 
Finland osk4r99
based on guns used and the UI i would think that its from the Starladder major 2019
2023-10-26 14:06
0
#73
Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
MATYS | 
Slovakia VladO.
name and flair checks out
2023-10-26 16:37
0
#50
 | 
Germany unfortunate_miscommunication
same as fox for portugal, nothing but played 2 majors more then him. so..
2023-10-26 14:12
0
#11
sjokz | 
Oceania bihahhhoe
gg lad
2023-10-26 13:23
0
#14
kissmyass | 
Poland Burgers
no more Pro League there?
2023-10-26 13:26
0
2 replies
#37
Asia LifeisanAdvanture
Sadly, yes.
2023-10-26 13:50
0
#62
 | 
United States MrNorwood
Pro League has been gone everywhere except Europe since the stupid partner team deal, but Challenger League is returning to Oceania next year.
2023-10-26 15:31
0
#15
 | 
Italy CiroDiMarzio
Respect for not paycheck stealing, a lot of pros don’t have any plans after cs so try to stall their careers for so long…
2023-10-26 13:27
0
#17
jks | 
Australia i_kinda_like_konfig
damn i saw it coming, but its still crazy AU legend still better than Sico
2023-10-26 13:31
0
1 reply
#48
New Zealand Slushie
+1 sico is a bot
2023-10-26 14:07
0
#18
JDC | 
Germany SeBook
rip country malta ):
2023-10-26 13:32
0
#20
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Malaysia biatche
who the heck is he, was he even in any competition
2023-10-26 13:32
0
5 replies
#24
 | 
Poland infamouss__
"The three-time Major attendee" can you even read?
2023-10-26 13:36
0
3 replies
#84
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Malaysia biatche
he played a tournament?!
2023-10-26 18:24
0
2 replies
#85
 | 
Poland infamouss__
why tf do you keep on with this convo? you're just embarrassing yourself even more
2023-10-26 18:24
0
1 reply
#86
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Malaysia biatche
im learning how to read and write never heard of him, so he tried joining a major?
2023-10-26 18:31
0
#83
 | 
North America minte
#82
2023-10-26 18:21
0
#26
 | 
Portugal ReyZ555
Oh no... Anyway
2023-10-26 13:37
0
#28
Edward | 
Australia TOP_1_EDWARD_FAN
rip legend of the scene
2023-10-26 13:39
0
#30
Faceit plus user  | 
 | 
England naDalous
gg's
2023-10-26 13:42
0
#31
Spain SPQR_CAESAR
who?
2023-10-26 13:43
0
2 replies
#34
Asia LifeisanAdvanture
Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. It's a nation known for historic sites related to a succession of rulers including the Romans, Moors, Knights of Saint John, French and British. It has numerous fortresses, megalithic temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean complex of halls and burial chambers dating to circa 4000 B.C.
2023-10-26 13:45
0
1 reply
#36
Spain SPQR_CAESAR
expected from HLTV trolls lmao
2023-10-26 13:48
0
#38
El Patron | 
Europe dooddi
will they finally move epl out of Malta now?
2023-10-26 13:50
0
#39
b0RUP | 
New Zealand stam_
Expected
2023-10-26 13:51
0
#41
sAw | 
Germany Links234
thats pretty early at 27 but ok. well, good luck in your future endeavors!
2023-10-26 13:55
0
1 reply
#103
Faceit level 10  | 
shaGuar | 
Canada Emperor1e
27 is pretty late in esports though, especially when you haven’t done anything of note. He probably wants to get an earlier start on a real life job before he hits 30. I think he’s smart for it tbh, he’s probably not gonna be getting any t2 offers outside AU, and in all likelihood the results of his efforts that he would have been putting into the game would just stagnate at best, or more likely diminish at this point in his career. Hope he finds some kind of success though.
2023-10-27 13:53
0
#42
rain | 
Europe mames
Actually i thought that EPL will not be at Malta anymore.
2023-10-26 13:56
0
#44
Europe ArM4444
got baited
2023-10-26 13:59
0
#49
device | 
Asia kingdevve
Another fixer retired
2023-10-26 14:10
0
#51
 | 
Czech Republic knom1s
What, the whole country?
2023-10-26 14:14
0
#52
 | 
Poland dhuun
WH OMEGALUL
2023-10-26 14:17
0
#53
 | 
Russia Topper!
Respect goat
2023-10-26 14:20
0
#54
Faceit level 4  | 
 | 
African Union mikecool
ggs
2023-10-26 14:30
0
#55
ohnePixel | 
United States xVechs
Spunj is gonna cry when he wakes up and reads this.. maybe not cry but be really sad. Maybe not really sad but sadge for sure
2023-10-26 14:49
0
2 replies
#60
dexter | 
Australia EZ4SEXTER
mate its 9pm in perth. he is reading rn
2023-10-26 15:12
0
1 reply
#69
 | 
Australia mklitty2
spunj lives in the eu bruh
2023-10-26 16:29
0
#56
 | 
Germany hltvfinest
nooooooooo
2023-10-26 14:54
0
#57
tiziaN | 
Germany kuppikuppi
ESL pro league in shambles
2023-10-26 15:05
0
#58
molodoy | 
Brazil Zrz0
wtf retired at 27 years old LOL 3 majors - 12 matches - 3 wins - 9 losses 0 classifications 3 eliminations
2023-10-26 15:08
0
1 reply
#104
Faceit level 10  | 
shaGuar | 
Canada Emperor1e
#103
2023-10-27 13:54
0
#59
sh1ro | 
Zimbabwe lasrrrr
damn where they gona hold pro league now, RIP my favourite country
2023-10-26 15:08
0
#61
Mexico TitoLarriva
didnt expect this. Good luck further
2023-10-26 15:16
0
#63
 | 
Lithuania LoveSlipknot
Wow! The game is so bad whole country is retiring 😳
2023-10-26 15:33
0
#64
 | 
United States MrNorwood
Good luck with whatever you do malta!
2023-10-26 15:33
0
#65
HEN1 | 
Australia Lexyy
damn HLTV users really showing their age with this one. GL mate, it was a pleasure to see you in Sydney.
2023-10-26 15:40
0
4 replies
#68
 | 
Poland NaKii
Real, even though im 13 and still know this guy pretty well lol
2023-10-26 16:06
0
#99
 | 
Europe yommamas
It's not about zoomers, it's about not caring about irrelevant players lmao
2023-10-27 09:47
0
2 replies
#102
HEN1 | 
Australia Lexyy
"not caring about irrelevant players" ur right, I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire.
2023-10-27 12:53
0
1 reply
#107
 | 
Europe yommamas
>aussies are actually this mad about people not recognizing their below mid player oh no no no no
2023-10-27 14:35
0
#66
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
casey | 
World Snazzzy
hazr australian perfecto
2023-10-26 15:51
0
#67
 | 
Poland NaKii
How do you not know malta?!
2023-10-26 16:06
0
#75
Croatia 1AMFOOL
I guess no more ESL Pro League... farewell Malta
2023-10-26 16:53
0
#76
 | 
Saudi Arabia OG_1_MAJORFINALIST_ENCE_0
why this new has new zealand flag?
2023-10-26 17:01
0
#77
s1mple | 
Singapore hev_suit
I havent heard his name for a good 3 years
2023-10-26 17:19
0
#78
 | 
Ireland Fl0werz
golden age of greyhound, never forget
2023-10-26 17:27
0
#80
 | 
Australia Beard43
GG's and GL
2023-10-26 17:53
0
#87
RIPablo Escobar | 
Finland HerrWinklaaa
But he is aware that Malta is a country?
2023-10-26 18:31
0
#89
dexter | 
Latvia swag_1_ban_JW_0_ban
GG Legend ♥️
2023-10-26 18:45
0
#90
 | 
Finland eltsiiii
who?
2023-10-26 18:45
0
#91
emocore | 
United States Hakase
ggs
2023-10-26 19:13
0
#92
 | 
Australia Pennings
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SIGN ANYONE BUT SAVAGE
2023-10-26 19:21
0
#94
Faceit level 7  | 
flairr | 
South America imnotwinning
8/8 bait hltv
2023-10-26 21:24
0
#97
 | 
India slavishcrusader
all this time, Malta was in Australia 4Head
2023-10-26 23:17
0
#98
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Australia SigmaJesus
RIP
2023-10-27 00:16
0
#101
 | 
United Kingdom ShiftDot
Sąd times, DMing against him was fun
2023-10-27 11:57
0
#106
 | 
El Salvador Bredalow
Bro entire country retired, brazil when?
2023-10-27 14:25
0
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