Dudes of Devastation

What started off as a simple flamewar on South African gaming forums about whether girls are better gamers has developed into the PLuGG Girls vs. Guys Game Off event where PLuGG has brought over a team from the international all-female Pandora's Mighty Soldier's (PMS) Clan for a mighty Counter-Strike 1.6 (CS) showdown with the guys from Team Bravado.

The event is taking place this Saturday, 29 November, in the Turbine Hall, Newtown, Johannesburg. You can check out the profiles of the girls playing for PMS Clan here as well as a brief interview here.

Bravado are currently the rAge 2008 and Vendetta 2008 champs. Here are now the profiles of the guys from Bravado who will be competing at the Girls vs. Guys event:

Andreas "Cent" Hadjipaschali

Age: 21

I have been involved in the gaming industry for over seven years, playing professionally and competitively. I am currently studying at Varsity College through UNISA. The reason I got involved into the gaming industry was purely for fun and competition. The first time I played Counter-Strike was in 2001 / 2002 at an internet cafe. After continuous playing, I got hooked. I am now in love with the game and realise that there’s much more to it than "just a game".

The industry has evolved so much and it has grown to a stage where competitive gaming is done as a job around the world. South Africa is still trying to reach this point. Many competitions have happened with amazing prize money, sponsorships and overseas trips.
I now currently lead team Bravado and aim to expand the team to a much greater degree anyone has seen in South Africa. Our clan consists of two divisions: the Counterstrike division and DotA division.

I am the team captain of Bravado (BVD) and the team captain of the Counter-Strike squad.

My main objective is to help the growth and overall involvement of SA gaming and have been doing so over the past few years. I have competed in major tournaments such as RAGE, ESWC, WCG, BOTC and Battle Lan.

Accomplishments:
Competed in ESWC, WCG, rAge, BOTC and Battle Lan tournaments.

Hadlee “Konvict “ Smith

Age: 17
From: Cape Town

I live in the mother city of South Africa, Cape Town and enjoy people who like gaming, especially Counter Strike. I particularly enjoy the fact that Counter-Strike is a team game. I got into the game just before Counter Strike version 1.5 changed to 1.6 with some friends at a local internet cafe that used to hold small 3v3 competitions. I only got seriously competitive in 2006, the same year which saw my first competition. I climbed the ranks through many teams over the years and finally landed a spot in Bravado-Gaming this year. The team is thriving, especially now that it has been joined by the country's best DotA team. I currently play both Counter Strike: Source and Counter Strike 1.6 for the clan.

I’ve got two things in gaming that I would like to accomplish, one of which I’ve completed: Firstly, being the best in my country and secondly, being recognised overseas as a competitive team/player.

Accomplishments
First Place:
Cape Town (CS1.6/execute)
Carnage April 2006 Cape Town (CS1.6/vision)
Carnage August 2006 Cape Town (CS1.6/liquid)
Carnage December 2006 Cape Town (CS1.6/nsite)
Carnage January 2007 Johannesburg (CSS/bravado)
AGASA/DO Gaming rAge 2008

Second Place:
Cape Town (CS1.6/pm)
Carnage January 2006 Cape Town (CS1.6/nsite)
Carnage Febuary 2007 Johannesburg (CS1.6/virtue)
ESWC 2007 Qualifier Johannesburg (CS1.6/virtue)
Kode5 January 2008 Qualifier

Third:
Cape Town (CS1.6/mix)
Carnage April 2007 Johannesburg (CS1.6/virtue)
Arena77 rAge 2007 Johannesburg (CS1.6/virtue)
Kode5 2008 SA Finals

Other:
Johannesburg (CS1.6/execute)
ESWC 2006

Dimitri "Detrony" Hadjipaschali

Age: 18
From: Kempton Park, JHB

I have been competing and gaming professionally (Counter-Strike in particular) since 2004. I started gaming when I was enlightened by my brother Andreas 'Cent' Hadjipaschali and soon discovered that it was a fun hobby and an extremely competitive sport. I have been involved in Bravado Gaming for the past three years, through many switches and changes. I am grateful to be part of one of the top two South African Counter-Strike squads today.

Accomplishments
2006 - CS1/6 & CS:Source
1st place at NakedIT - team Bravado(bvd)
3rd place at GameCraft Pretoria - team Bravado(bvd)
2nd place at ESWC carousel - team Bravado(bvd)
3rd place at rAge - team Bravado(bvd)

2007 - CS1.6
3rd place at PGL/mobileg - team Bravado(bvd)
4th place at ESWC emperors palace - team Bravado(bvd)
3rd place at BattleLan(css) Rivonia – team z7(mix)
3rd place at AGASA WCG Johannesburg – team Bravado(bvd)
2nd place at rAge - team Bravado(bvd)

2008 - CS1.6/CS: Source
1st place at BattleLan(css) Randburg – team Bravado
1st place at Kode 5 Qualifier (PRE) - team Bravado
1st place at Battle Of the Clans - team Bravado
2nd place at Kode 5 ZA Qualifier - team Bravado
1st place at BattleLan(css) Randburg - team Bravado
1st place at rAge - team Bravado

Grame 'korupt' Blackburn

Age:20
From: Randburg, JHB

I work for Vodacom ELS as the systems admin. The first time I played Counter-Strike was at a internet cafe. One of my friends told me it was the best game ever, so i had to go see for myself. I've been playing the game for almost five years now.



Accomplishments
First at rAge 2008
First at the Battlelan pre-rAge qualifier
First at Battlelan June
Plus many more.

Richard Leigh “SoS” Groves

My first online computer game was Medal of honor Allied Assault under the nickname SoS (Son of Sh@dow). I was around 13 years old and gaming became a favourite past time for me.

I have been playing Counter-Strike for around five years. I started off in a team called Rival with good mates and played with them for about three years. During matric I calmed down on competitive gaming to concentrate on my studies. I came back to gaming and got offered to join Bravado.

I got into Counter-Strike through my cousin who I watched playing one day and I wanted to play it. I got the game for myself and I became addicted.

Gaming has become a part of my life and I never look back. A lot, if not all, of my best friends I have met through competitive gaming.

Accomplishments
2007
WCG 3rd
RAGE 2nd
Battle Lan 1st

2008
Kode5 Kimberly qualifier 1st
Kode5 national qualifier 2nd
Rage 1st
Battle Lan 1st
BOTC Online 1st