Jeremy “Kursy” Gast returned to competitive Counter-Strike with 3DMAX after almost a year away from the server, but his comeback came with a major role change. The former GamerLegion AWPer joined the French team as a rifler instead of taking up the Big Green.
Speaking in an interview with HLTV, the 24-year-old said he had been thinking about playing again constantly. He had already played four tournaments with 3DMAX, leaving little practice time to settle into a new position before returning to official matches.
“I wanted to [change], and I really like it,” Kursy said. He also made it clear that the transition was still in progress. He feels more comfortable with a rifle than an AWP, but he is still learning how to handle every part of the role.
“I need to understand it more, it’s not finished, and I have a lot of progress to do,” he said. Kursy added that each day brings new situations to study as he works with 3DMAX’s staff.
Why Kursy left the AWP behind
Kursy’s time with GamerLegion gave him experience in an international environment, but he said the move away from a French team created problems. He had not previously communicated in English during matches, and the team’s approach and atmosphere differed from what he knew.
“In GamerLegion, I don’t think I showed a good me,” Kursy explained. He described rifle play as a more natural option and said the new team asked him to join as a rifler. His response was simple: “Why not?”
That familiarity has not completely solved the consistency problem. Kursy acknowledged that he could produce a strong map and then struggle in the next match. He believes more time in the position will help him react better when new situations appear.
The language barrier is also less of an issue at 3DMAX. Kursy said working in French has made it easier to grow into the role and gain experience. He felt an international lineup would have made that process harder.
The interview was also released as an audio episode.
3DMAX prepare for a tough playoff path
3DMAX’s comfort on Cache has been one of the team’s talking points. The squad had practiced the map heavily and tried to develop approaches that other teams had not worked on as much. Kursy noted, however, that 3DMAX had lost its last two or three Cache appearances at the time of the interview, and other teams were now investing more practice into the map.
After reaching the top eight, 3DMAX was scheduled to choose its opponent on July 30, with MOUZ or Spirit as the possible matchups mentioned by Kursy. He also pointed to the losses suffered by Falcons and Vitality as evidence that the event offered room for an underdog run.
“It’s not about who we’re playing, it’s about us,” Kursy said. He viewed the playoff appearance as a chance to earn points and insisted that the team would give everything against any opponent, whether it was a top-50 side or a top-three team.
Whether the rifle experiment becomes a long-term success will depend on how quickly Kursy turns those promising maps into steady performances. For now, 3DMAX has given him a familiar environment, a role he prefers, and a playoff opportunity to show what he can do.
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