Freeze (gamer)
| Freeze | |
|---|---|
| Current team | |
| Team | 100 Thieves |
| Role | Assistant coach |
| League | LCS |
| Personal information | |
| Name | Aleš Kněžížek |
| Born | 1993 or 1994 (age 30–31)[1] |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 2012–2020 |
| Coaching career | 2020–present |
| Team history | |
| As player: | |
| 2012–2013 | eXtatus |
| 2013 | Samurai in Jeans[a] |
| 2013 | Heimerdinger's Colossi |
| 2013–2014 | Ninjas in Pyjamas |
| 2014–2015 | Copenhagen Wolves |
| 2016 | Renegades |
| 2016 | H2k-Gaming |
| 2016–2017 | Tempo Storm |
| 2017–2018 | Inside Games |
| 2018 | Royal Bandits |
| 2019 | Splyce Vipers |
| 2019–2020 | MAD Lions |
| 2020 | Ad Hoc Gaming |
| As coach: | |
| 2020–present | 100 Thieves |
Aleš Kněžínek, better known by his in-game name Freeze, is a Czech former professional League of Legends player and current Assistant Coach for 100 Thieves. He has also played for Renegades, H2k-Gaming, Copenhagen Wolves, and Ninjas in Pyjamas. He was the first Czech national to play in the LCS.
Career
[edit]With Ninjas in Pyjamas, Kněžínek began his LCS career during the summer split of season 3. By the end of the split, the team finished the regular season in 5th place, making it to the playoffs, where they finished 6th overall. This, unfortunately, lead Ninjas in Pyjamas to be relegated to the challenger series, where Kněžínek would stay for the whole duration of season 4, before later leaving the disbanding NiP. Kněžížek was then picked up by the Copenhagen Wolves before the start of season 5 spring split, where he and the team finished 6th. In the summer split of season 5, the Copenhagen Wolves were much less successful, finishing in last place, forcing them to be auto-relegated.[2] Meaning Kněžínek's contract expired and he announced his free agency on November 1, 2015.[3] He was picked up by North American team Renegades on January 6,[4][5] where he is currently playing the season 6 spring split.[6] Renagades finished 8th in the LCS, and Kněžínek left the team after the disappointing finish.
He joined H2k on May 8, 2016, ahead of the EU LCS Summer 2016 split, replacing FORG1VEN at AD Carry as the latter was conscripted into the Greek Army.[7][8][9][10] However, FORG1VEN later had his military service commuted, and transferred to Origen.
On July 27, 2016, H2k announced that Kněžínek would step away from the roster due to persistent tendonitis.[11] The team stated that FORG1VEN would take his place on the starting roster.[12] Signed by Tempo Storm in December 2016.[13][14]
In 2020, Kněžínek stepped away from competitive play and signed with 100 Thieves as an assistant coach.[15]
With the help of Kněžínek's coaching abilities, 100 Thieves became a title contender, which they've successfully accomplished during the 2021 LCS Summer split. 100 Thieves didn't change the roster even after struggling during the 2021 Worlds championship, finishing 3-3 in group stage.
Kněžínek became the head coach of the 2022 100 Thieves roster and despite tough losses in finals of both spring and summer split, the team had consistent results and great performances.
After another disappointing Worlds championship performance, Kněžínek signed a contract with Evil geniuses.
After struggling through the spring split of LCS's 2023 season, Evil geniuses managed to reach semifinals in the playoffs. But losing 0-3 to Golden Guardians destroyed any hopes of playing MSI 2023. Aleš Kněžínek left the team soon after spring season ended.
Tournament results
[edit]2013
[edit]| Date | Event | Placement | Final game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-01 | SCAN & NVIDIA EUW Invitational | 1 | Heimerdinger's Colossi 3 : 0 Eternity Gaming |
| 2013-04-25 | SoloMid EU Invitational 4 | 1 | Samurai in Jeans 2 : 0 AT Gaming |
| 2013-04-09 | SoloMid EU Invitational 3 | 2 | Samurai in Jeans 1 : 2 MeetYourMakers |
2014
[edit]| Date | Event | Placement | Final game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-08-07 | 2014 EU Challenger Summer Series Playoffs | 4 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 0 : 3 Unicorns Of Love |
| 2014-06-16 | DreamHack Summer 2014 | 1 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 : 0 Reason Gaming |
| 2014-05-19 | Solomid EU Tournament Circuit/Invitational 6 | 1 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 3 : 0 Gamers2 |
| 2014-05-07 | Solomid EU Tournament Circuit/Invitational 5 | 1 | Rest In Pepperonis 3 : 1 Gamers2 |
| 2014-04-19 | Copenhagen Games 2014 | 1 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 : 0 Cloud9 Eclipse |
| 2014-04-11 | 2014 EU Challenger Series Playoffs | 2 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 1 : 3 Cloud9 Eclipse |
| 2014-02-02 | FACEIT Challenger Invitational | 1 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 : 0 SK Gaming Prime |
Ninjas in Pyjamas
[edit]- 1st — DreamHack Summer 2014 (17 June 2014)
Copenhagen Wolves
[edit]- 6th — 2015 Spring EU LCS
- 10th — 2015 Summer EU LCS
Renagades
[edit]- 8th — 2016 Spring NA LCS
H2k-Gaming
[edit]- 4th — 2016 Summer EU LCS
Notes
[edit]- ^ Previously known as Esport4Life
References
[edit]- ^ Nordmark, Sam (November 22, 2016). "Freeze is leaving H2k, plans to play in EU LCS in 2017". Dot Esports. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ "Freeze planning TSM tryout, has been approached by multiple LCS sides". The Daily Dot. 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Freeze announces free agency". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Renegades pick up Freeze". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Freeze to start against CLG on Sunday". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ Marshall, Cass. "Professional League Is a Marathon and a Sprint". Red Bull. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "H2K signs Freeze". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Big Greek Shoes: H2K take a chance on Freeze". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Freeze joins H2k". The Daily Dot. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Freeze: 'If [people] will compare me to FORG1VEN...I can show them I'm better than him'". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Freeze in doubt for EU LCS finale due to wrist injury". The Daily Dot. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "FORG1VEN to start for H2k-Gaming in LCS week nine". The Daily Dot. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Video Games, News, Reviews".
- ^ "Sources: Freeze and Hatrixx sign with Tempo Storm". 4 December 2016.
- ^ Appleford, Danny (April 19, 2021). "100 Thieves sign European mid laner Abbedagge". Upcomer. Retrieved May 6, 2021.