CS:GO Analyst “Thorin” Joins Guild Esports

Guild Esports has announced the arrival of well-known CS:GO analyst Duncan “Thorin” Shields, with the Brit said to help the organization in building their roster from the ground up. The organization, who have David Beckham on their books as a leading investor, only recently announced its decision to move into the CS:GO scene, having already developed a presence in Rocket League, FIFA and Valorant.

Thorin is a leading Esports journalist, with his history in this area dating back to 2001. The former SK Gaming Editor in Chief has worked for sites based in Russia, Sweden and the United States, focusing on League of Legends, Starcraft and CS:GO. The 37-year-old has an indifferent relationship with many players, thanks in part to his controversial writing style.

What Will Thorin Bring to Guild Esports?

However, Guild have hired someone with outstanding knowledge of the game, with the analyst having broken the news on Twitter. He let fans know by stating: “I will help Guild develop their model for building the team and advise on players and staff I think appropriate to aid them in establishing themselves as a significant force in this part of the industry.”

Guild are the latest in a long line of organizations to have brought in someone to revamp their roster, with Cloud9 having announced Thorin’s compatriot Henry “HenryG” Greer as General Manager of late. Guild are believed to be targeting the competitive CS:GO scene in Europe, however a move to North America remains a possibility.

What is the Next Step for Guild in Valorant?

Should the latter come through, Guild would be in a position to sign some of the region’s best talents, with 100Thieves having recently departed. A host of South American players are also available, should Guild decide to go in this direction. A host of teams have decided to restructure their rosters, meaning that a large number of players are currently free agents. The presence of Thorin could well make Guild Esports an even more appealing organization.

Meanwhile, Guild were disqualified from the Valorant First Strike Europe event because of a bug exploit over the weekend. Having been drawn against Ninjas in Pyjamas in the playoffs, Guild picked up a map loss in their clash with G2 due to a bug exploit. As a result, it was G2 who ultimately took on NiP.

Despite proclaiming their innocence, it was ultimately a hugely disappointing debut for Guild, who entered the Valorant scene last month following the acquisition of Swedish team Bonk.