ArtFr0st: After my first trial, I was told I'm the second best player, just behind w0nderful.

Spirit's sniper Artem Kharitonov | ArtFr0st revealed how he made it into the main team after club trials. This 22-year-old Russian player believes these trials helped him better understand the game.

‘My first tryout was unexpected, and I wasn't prepared, but it turned out to be the most important one in my life. After that, the club saw my potential and decided to trust me, giving me an opportunity. They provided everything I needed to grow faster.

After the first tryout, I was told I'm the second-best player after Ihor Zhdanov | w0nderful, but he was a better fit for the team at the time. Nonetheless, the club relocated me to Moscow, where my skills and game understanding improved significantly. Before going to Moscow, my practice environment was not good. I had poor computers and internet. Conditions at home were tough, and I struggled to focus. But in Moscow, I was very concentrated, and my progress was rapid. I remember vividly practicing 180 hours every two weeks for two months during that time.

After that, our academy achieved good results. I had opportunities to join other Tier 2 teams, but I decided to stay in the academy to gain experience with Dmitry Forostyanko | S0tF1k. Eventually, I got a chance to join the main team. So I decided to stay, and after 3-4 months, I participated in the club's second tryout. Due to some network issues, the trial was tough, but it didn't matter; I passed it, and that made me very happy. The trio from the academy was promoted to the main team, and that's how our journey began.’

In the summer of 2022, ArtFr0st first tried out for Spirit, and w0nderful was chosen for the roster, so ArtFr0st stayed in Spirit Academy. Meanwhile, the academy earned $53,000 in prize money in 2023, while the main team only earned $16,000 that year.