Av3k
Av3k at ESWC in July 2007
Personal information
NameMaciej Krzykowski
Nickname(s)Avekkk
Born (1991-04-01) April 1, 1991
NationalityPolish
Career information
GamesQuake Live, Quake IV, Quake III Arena, ShootMania
Team history
Razer
Serious Gaming
Millenium
Owly Six
Virtus.Pro
Nemiga
Endpoint (current)
Career highlights and awards

Maciej Krzykowski (born April 1, 1991),[1] who goes by the pseudonym Av3k ('ævɪk), is a professional Quake and ShootMania player. He has Polish nationality and resides in Ostróda.[2] He actively competes in international Quake competitions[3] and was signed to Razer and Dutch electronic sports team Serious Gaming and French organization Millenium, but is now signed to British organisation Endpoint.[4][5][6] On July 8, 2007, at age 16, he became the youngest Quake champion ever after winning the Electronic Sports World Cup 2007 in Paris without losing a single map.[7]

Biography

Quake IV (2006–2007)

Av3k is widely regarded as the best Quake IV player ever alongside former Swedish professional gamer Johan "Toxjq" Quick and was defeated by only four other players: Anton "Cooller" Singov, Alex "Ztrider" Ingarv, Magnus "fox" Olsson, and Toxjq. He faced Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel three times in competition and has gone undefeated. One of Av3k's victories is considered to be the sixth biggest moment in professional gaming[8] by GamePro.

He was considered a prodigy player due to his young age. In 2006, he was nominated for Player of the Year and Quake Revelation of the Year by competitive gaming media around the world.[9] In 2007, he was awarded the eSports Award's 'Breakthrough of the Year'.

Quake III (2008)

Following Quake IV, he focused on Quake III competitions in 2008, as it became the main competitive first-person shooter. He took third place at his first competition in the game, losing to Magnus "fox" Olsson and Alexey "Cypher" Yanushevsky at the ESWC Masters of Paris event.[10] Later that year, he won two major competitions (DreamHack and GameGune) and took third place at the ESWC Masters of Athens in Athens, Greece. He was unable to defend his Electronic Sports World Cup title as his visa to the United States was denied.[11]

Quake Live (2009–2012)

Following the beta launch of Quake Live, it became the main competitive first-person shooter starting in 2009, a year in which no Electronic Sports World Cup took place.[12] This, combined with the previous cancellation of the World Series of Video Games, resulted in few remaining professional competitions. In 2010, the Electronic Sports World Cup renewed their lineup with Quake Live, as did Intel Extreme Masters. Av3k proved himself as one of the strongest players, taking second place at the European championship of the Intel Extreme Masters in 2010 and third place at the world championship. He additionally defended his DreamHack championship in 2009 and 2010.

During DreamHack Winter 2012, Av3k announced his retirement from Quake Live due to his inability to win any major tournaments in the last two years. He stated, "I just decided to not let people down anymore."[13] After his victory of the FaceIt Legends Cup, however, Av3k retracted his previous announcement and relabelled his retirement as a hiatus. He cited his repeated losses to fellow progamer rapha demoralized him, and in response, he would take a break from Quake Live and improve his mental state.[14]

ShootMania (2012–2016)

In June 2012, French organization Millenium signed three players to represent their ShootMania team, consisting of three current Quake players Kevin "Strenx" Baeza, Alexey "Cypher" Yanushevsky, and Av3k.[5]

Overwatch (2015-17)

In late 2015, Av3k began to play Blizzard Gaming's new first-person shooter Overwatch, along with fellow former Quake players Cypher and Cooller. He played with Russian organisation ANOX and French team Owly Six, achieving few notable results. On 14 June 2017 it was announced that the Owly Six roster had disbanded.[15]

Quake Champions (2017-present)

Av3k returned to the Quake franchise in August 2017 with the release of Quake Champions, the most recent game in the series. On August 21 he signed with Virtus.Pro, famous for their successful Counter-Strike: Global Offensive lineup, also from Poland. His signing came after Virtus.Pro player Cypher was denied entry to the United States ahead of QuakeCon 2017.[16] On 13 June 2018, Virtus.Pro announced it was closing its Quake Champions division.[17]

On 19 September 2018, Av3k and Cypher signed with Belarusian organisation Nemiga Gaming.[18] While with Nemiga, Av3k achieved a runner-up finish in Dreamhack Winter 2018. On February 16, 2019, Nemiga announced that Av3k's contract had expired and he and Cypher left the organisation, which closed its Quake Champions division.[19]

On July 23, 2019, Av3k signed with British organisation Endpoint.[6] On 10 August 2020 Endpoint announced that Av3k had renewed his contract for another year.[20] Av3k co-hosts Endpoint's Quake podcast, Quake: A Game of Champions, with British commentator Zoot.


Notable tournament results

Quake Live

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
2013 DreamHack Winter Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 4th Duel $1,536[21]
2012 FaceIt Legends Cup Online 1st Duel $658. Retracted retirement announcement, relabling it as a hiatus[22]
2012 DreamHack Winter Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 3rd/4th Duel $1,508. Announced retirement from Quake Live[13][23]
2012 Zynaps' Cup Online 1st Duel $600[24]
2012 Adroits Wzzrd in Enschede, Netherlands 3rd Duel $800[25]
2012 The Arena: Quake Live Invitation #3 Online 1st Duel $500[26][27]
2011 DreamHack Winter Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 3rd Duel $1,427[28]
2011 DreamHack Winter Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 3rd Team Death Match $357. With the team tRainspotting[28]
2011 QuakeCon TDM Invitational Masters Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas 1st Team Death Match $4,000[29]
2011 Asus Summer Online 1st Duel $217[30]
2011 DreamHack Summer Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 5th/6th Duel [31][32]
2011 DreamHack Summer Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 3rd Team Death Match $195. With the team Serious Gaming[31][32]
2011 Intel Extreme Masters Season V World Championship Finals CeBIT in Hanover, Germany 5th/6th Duel $600[33]
2011 Intel Extreme Masters Season V European Championship Finals Kyiv Cybersports Arena in Kyiv, Ukraine 2nd Duel $2,000[34]
2010 DreamHack Winter Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 5th-8th Duel $3,908[35]
2010 FnaticMSI PLAY BEAT IT Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 5th/6th Duel [36]
2010 Intel Extreme Masters Season V Global Challenge: Cologne Gamescom at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany 3rd Duel $850[37]
2010 Electronic Sports World Cup Disneyland Park in Paris, France 2nd Duel $4,000[38][39]
2010 DreamHack Summer Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 1st Duel $3,908[40]
2010 Intel Extreme Masters Season IV World Championship Finals CeBIT in Hanover, Germany 3rd Duel $1,600[41]
2010 Intel Extreme Masters Season IV European Championship Finals Cologne, Germany 2nd Duel $1,500[42]
2009 DreamHack Winter Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 1st Duel $3,586[43]
2009 QuakeCon Masters Championship Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas 9th-12th Duel [44]

Quake IV

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
2007 Multiplay i32 Cup Newbury, Berkshire 2nd Duel $3,500[45]
2007 World Series of Video Games Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada 4th Duel $1,200[46]
2007 Electronic Sports World Cup Paris, France 1st Duel $10,000[47][48]
2007 World Series of Video Games Lanwar Louisville, Kentucky 1st Duel $5,250[49]
2007 Multiplay i30 & Belkin Tournament Newbury, Berkshire 1st Duel $4,000[50][51]
2006 Poznan Game Arena Poznan, Poland 1st Duel $1,500[52]
2006 World Cyber Games All Stars Monza, Italy 3rd 2v2 With the player Stermy[53]
2006 World Cyber Games All Stars Monza, Italy 6th Duel [53]
2006 DigitalLife New York, New York 2nd Duel $3,500[54]
2006 QuakeCon Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas 4th Duel $3,000[55]
2006 QuakeCon Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas 9th-12th 2v2 With the player forever[55]
2006 The Gathering Hamar Olympic Hall in Hamar, Norway 1st Duel $837[56]
2006 Samsung Netgamez Nieuwegein, Netherlands 1st Duel $360[57]

Quake III Arena

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
2008 DreamHack Winter Elmia in Jonkoping, Sweden 1st Duel $1,800[58][59]
2008 Electronic Sports World Cup Masters of Athens Athens, Greece 3rd Duel $2,000[60][61]
2008 GameGune Bilbao, Spain 1st Duel $3,923[62]
2008 Electronic Sports World Cup Masters of Paris Paris, France 3rd Duel $1,000[63][64]

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 Quake 4 Player of the Year[65] Global Gaming League Nominated
2007 Breakthrough of the Year[66] eSports Award Won
2007 Best FPS Duel Player[67] eSports Award Nominated
2006 Quake Revelation of the Year[68] Global Gaming League Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Esports World Convention - ESWC". www.eswc.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Quake Quick Cup Forums - Live Nations Cup". www.quakequickcup.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Serious Gaming Archived May 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Serious Gaming Archived July 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 "Strenx, Av3k and Cypher to represent Millenium". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Av3k joins Endpoint". 23 July 2019.
  7. ↑ "ESR - (Archive) ESWC Q4 Finals :: av3k wins". www.esreality.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Video Game News, Updates, and other Gaming News from GamePro". 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  9. ↑ GGL.com: Sky, Lucifer, Toxic, av3k, archi, f0rest Players of 2006 Archived February 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Esports World Convention - ESWC". www.eswc.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "SK Gaming | Content: US embassy denies av3k ESWC title hopes".
  12. ↑ "SK Gaming | Content: ESWC is dead, company enters liquidation". Archived from the original on 2022-01-03. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  13. 1 2 DHW 2012: Av3k announces his retirement from Quake. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  14. ↑ FaceIt TV: Legends Cup. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  15. ↑ @OWMendzel (June 14, 2017). "Our Overwatch roster is no longer part of @OwlySix. All of the players are free agents from now on" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ Virtus.Pro "Circle of the legend: Av3k is back on track!". August 21, 2017.
  17. ↑ Virtus.Pro "Virtus.Pro closes Quake Champions roster". August 21, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Nemiga Gaming announces Quake Champions Roster". September 19, 2018.
  19. ↑ ""Nemiga Gaming closes Quake Champions"". February 16, 2019.
  20. ↑ "We have resigned Av3k for another year!". August 10, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Rapha takes silver at DreamHack". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  22. ↑ "FACEIT: Legends Cup event and details". Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  23. ↑ "Dreamhack Winter 2012 QuakeLive". Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  24. ↑ "Welcome to Zynaps' Cup #3". Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  25. ↑ "Adroits LAN Quake Live: Resuts". Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  26. ↑ "THE ARENA POWERED BY AMD SAPPHIRE #3". Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  27. ↑ "The Arena powered by AMD Sapphire #3". Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  28. 1 2 "eSports at DHW11". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  29. ↑ "QuakeCon 2011 Results and Wrap-up". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  30. ↑ "av3k wins ASUS Summer 2011 QL Masters". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  31. 1 2 "DreamHack Summer 2011: Quake Live". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  32. 1 2 "DreamHack Summer 2011: Quake Live Results". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  33. ↑ "rapha defeats Cooller, retains IEM crown". Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  34. ↑ "Intel Extreme Masters 5 Europe: Quake Live Results". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  35. ↑ "Cypher — DreamHack Winter 2010 Quake Live". Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  36. ↑ "BEAT IT Quake Live". Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  37. ↑ "ESL World: gamescom - gamescom 2010 - Season V - Intel Extreme Masters - Electronic Sports League". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  38. ↑ "ESWC 2010 Results". Archived from the original on 14 November 2010.
  39. ↑ "Electronic Sports World Cup". Archived from the original on 29 January 2011.
  40. ↑ "av3k, the champ of Dreamhack Summer 2010". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  41. ↑ "ESL World: Main - World Championship - Season IV - Intel Extreme Masters - Electronic Sports League". Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  42. ↑ "ESL World: Main - European Championship Finals - Season IV - Intel Extreme Masters - Electronic Sports League". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  43. ↑ "Dreamhack Winter: av3k wins QL 1on1". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  44. ↑ "QuakeCon'09 QL Tournaments Ended". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  45. ↑ "i32 Schedule and Quake4 Coverage". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  46. ↑ "Quake: WSVG Toronto Recap". Archived from the original on 28 October 2008.
  47. ↑ "Quake: ESWC Q4 grand final recap". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008.
  48. ↑ "Quake: ESWC Q4 grand final recap". Archived from the original on 17 September 2008.
  49. ↑ "All Games: WSVG Louisville 2007 Results". Archived from the original on 27 October 2008.
  50. ↑ "Multiplay Belkin Quake 4 1v1 International tournament Final - Match Report". Archived from the original on 6 May 2007.
  51. ↑ "i30 Q4 Grand Final :: av3k wins". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  52. ↑ "Quake: av3k defeats socrates to win Ponzan Quake 4". Archived from the original on 28 December 2007.
  53. 1 2 "WCG 2006: Q4 All Stars Tournaments Over". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  54. ↑ "Quake: Toxic wins DigitalLife Q4". Archived from the original on 30 November 2006.
  55. 1 2 "Quake: Toxic dominates Quakecon Final Results". Archived from the original on 8 March 2012.
  56. ↑ "Av3k wins the Gathering 2006". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  57. ↑ "Av3k Wins NETGAMEZ 2006 Tournament". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  58. ↑ "DH: DreamHack Winter 2008". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  59. ↑ "Quake Forever is over!". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  60. ↑ "The Electronic Sports World Cup launches in Greece". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  61. ↑ "Rapha, ESWC Masters of Athens champion". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  62. ↑ "Av3k wins GameGune 2008 in a 4 overtime thriller". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  63. ↑ "ESWC Masters of Paris - Final Standings". Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  64. ↑ "Cypher wins ESWC Q3 Masters 2008". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  65. ↑ "GGL announces Players of the Year 2007". Archived from the original on 18 April 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  66. ↑ Cole, Corin. "eSports Award 2007 - The Winners". Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  67. ↑ Armstrong, Richard. "eSports Award 2007". Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  68. ↑ Shetye, Siddharth. "GGL-Players of 2006 nominees". Retrieved 18 January 2013.
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