A former star of the North American professional Counter-Strike scene has made his position clear in an old discussion - but not on the side of his region.
When it comes to competitive gaming, one of the oldest debates revolves around which region is superior: North America or Europe?
In the case of Counter-Strike, former professional player and popular Twitch streamer Michael "shroud" Grzesiek has a clear answer – Europe reigns supreme.
From NA Star to Streaming Sensation
Shroud, known for his insane aim and versatility in shooters, first made a name for himself in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) as a player for Cloud9. While he enjoyed regional success in North America, his team always struggled against the dominant European powerhouses.
Now a full-time streamer with over 11 million followers on Twitch, shroud recently looked back on his time in professional Counter-Strike and openly admitted that NA simply couldn’t keep up with EU.
During a recent Twitch stream, shroud reflected on Cloud9’s performances during his time on the roster:
„We were kind of the best NA team, so we won all the NA stuff. Then we went to Europe, and we were just okay.“
While that might sound disappointing, he immediately clarified:
„Being okay in Europe was still respectable, because Europe in Counter-Strike is insane.“
This brutally honest take highlights a long-standing truth in the CS scene – Europe has always been miles ahead of North America in terms of talent, strategy, and consistency.
Cloud9 Won a Major – Right After Shroud Was Benched
Ironically, Cloud9 went on to achieve NA’s greatest CS accomplishment just six months after shroud was benched. The team won the ELEAGUE Major 2018 in Boston, the only Major victory by a North American team in history.
Coincidence? Maybe not.
Some fans have since jokingly pointed out that Cloud9’s biggest achievement happened without shroud on the starting roster, raising the question whether his presence had been holding them back. While it’s a tough pill to swallow for his biggest supporters, the reality is that Cloud9 found its peak form only after he stepped away.
NA CS Has Become A Meme
Over the years, North American Counter-Strike has become somewhat of a joke in the global scene. One of the most common memes is the infamous "NA Smoke," a phrase used when a player completely botches a smoke grenade throw.
This joke perfectly captures the gap in fundamentals between NA and EU teams – where European squads are praised for their tactical precision, North American teams are often ridiculed for their sloppy mistakes.
And the stats back it up: In the ongoing race for qualification to the upcoming CS2 Major in Austin, Brazilian teams have overtaken almost all North American squads, except for Team Liquid – who, ironically, don’t even have a single American player on their roster! Their current lineup consists of two Canadians, an Australian, an Israeli and a Pole, making them technically an NA org in name only.
Twistzz: The NA Player Who Had To Join EU To Win
Nowadays, the best North American players need to move to European teams to win trophies. The perfect example? Russell "Twistzz" Van Dulken.
After realizing the limitations of the NA scene, Twistzz joined the European powerhouse FaZe Clan in 2021. A year later, he won his first and only Major at the PGL Major Antwerp 2022 – something he likely never could have achieved if he had stayed in a North American team. Now, after rejoining Liquid, neither he nor the team have found any success yet!
Shroud Has Lost Credibility Among CS Fans
Despite being a fan favorite for years, shroud has lost a significant amount of credibility in the Counter-Strike community recently. One of the biggest controversies came when he dismissed the return of the beloved map Cache in Counter-Strike 2.
Despite the fact that a famous position on Cache is literally named after him, shroud didn’t seem to care at all. His reaction?
„What? Cache is out in CS2? Nobody cares! Wow!“
This lack of enthusiasm for a game he once dominated has frustrated longtime fans, who feel he has distanced himself from the CS scene over the years. While he remains one of the most popular shooter streamers in the world, his relevance in the Counter-Strike community has undeniably faded.
Shroud's thoughts on Cache release for CS2 pic.twitter.com/b0jkAbyexv
— NarT (@NartOutHere) March 4, 2025
Shroud’s Take Is Brutal – But He’s Right
Despite the memes, the stats, and the jokes about NA CS, one thing is clear – shroud isn’t wrong.
Europe has always been the stronger region, and as CS2 entered a new era, that gap isn’t shrinking – it’s growing
With North American teams struggling and their best players leaving for European rosters, it’s becoming increasingly obvious: if you want to win in Counter-Strike, NA just isn’t the place to be