Vitality calls JACKZ to fill in for Mezii at BLAST World Final

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

7 Oct

Andre Guaraldo

Vitality has announced an important roster change for the upcoming BLAST Premier World Final, with Audric "JACKZ" Jug stepping in for William "mezii" Merriman. The British player is set to miss the event, held from October 30 to November 3 in Singapore, as he anticipates the birth of his first child.

Soon-to-be-father Mezii will not play for Team Vitality in the upcoming Blast World Final (credits: PGL)

Timing of the decision

While the roster change might seem abrupt, the organization has had ample time to prepare for it. According to the team’s coach, Rémy "XTQZZZ" Quoniam, the decision was made two months ago, allowing the team to plan ahead.

"William will become a dad around the World Final, so we decided about two months ago to take JACKZ as a stand-in, we’ll still use mezii for practice ahead of the Major, though." - XTQZZZ

JACKZ’s familiar role

This isn’t JACKZ’s first rodeo with Vitality. The French player previously stood in for Peter "dupreeh" Rasmussen during ESL Pro League Season 17 when dupreeh was on parental leave.

Despite being without an organization since his departure from TSM in January and a short-lived experience with Project G, JACKZ’s experience on the international stage makes him a reliable choice. His familiarity with the team’s core members, including in-game leader Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, ensures smoother chemistry, an essential factor when competing in high-stakes events.

This is the second time JACKZ will be standing in for a player about to become a father (credits: ESL)

Impact on Vitality’s Major preparation

Vitality’s main focus after the BLAST Premier World Final is the Perfect World Shanghai Major, with the European RMR set to take place 14 to 18 days after BLAST. XTQZZZ assured that the team’s preparation for the Major continues normally.

"We’ll still have time to practice with mezii before the Major" - he emphasized, maintaining confidence in the team’s ability to juggle both events successfully.

Shanghai Major, s1mple's next destination (credits: Perfect World)

All eyes at the Shanghai Major qualifiers after Blast World Finals (credits: Perfect World)

While some fans may remain skeptical, there’s no denying JACKZ’s value as a stand-in. His extensive experience and past success with the French organization make him a natural choice for this high-pressure situation. As the BLAST Premier World Final approaches, JACKZ will have another opportunity to showcase his skills on the global stage and help Vitality close out the year with a strong performance in Singapore.

Featured image credits: ESL

Vitality calls JACKZ to fill in for Mezii at BLAST World Final

Timing of the decision

JACKZ’s familiar role

Impact on Vitality’s Major preparation

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