Freeze (gamer) explained

Id:Freeze
Aleš Kněžížek
Team:100 Thieves
Role:Assistant coach
League:LCS
Birth Date:[1]
Nationality:Czech
Career Start:2012
Career End:2020
Coach Start:2020
Years1:2012–2013
Team1:eXtatus
Years2:2013
Team2:Samurai in Jeans
Years3:2013
Team3:Heimerdinger's Colossi
Years4:2013–2014
Team4:Ninjas in Pyjamas
Years5:2014–2015
Team5:Copenhagen Wolves
Years6:2016
Team6:Renegades
Years7:2016
Team7:H2k-Gaming
Years8:2016–2017
Team8:Tempo Storm
Years9:2017–2018
Team9:Inside Games
Years10:2018
Team10:Royal Bandits
Years11:2019
Team11:Splyce Vipers
Years12:2019–2020
Team12:MAD Lions
Years13:2020
Team13:Ad Hoc Gaming
Cyears1:2020–present
Cteam1:100 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

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

2013

2013
DateEventPlacementFinal game
2013-06-01SCAN & NVIDIA EUW Invitational1 Heimerdinger's Colossi 3 : 0 Eternity Gaming
2013-04-25SoloMid EU Invitational 41 Samurai in Jeans 2 : 0 AT Gaming
2013-04-09SoloMid EU Invitational 32 Samurai in Jeans 1 : 2 MeetYourMakers

2014

2014
DateEventPlacementFinal game
2014-08-072014 EU Challenger Summer Series Playoffs4 Ninjas in Pyjamas 0 : 3 Unicorns Of Love
2014-06-16DreamHack Summer 20141 Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 : 0 Reason Gaming
2014-05-19Solomid EU Tournament Circuit/Invitational 61 Ninjas in Pyjamas 3 : 0 Gamers2
2014-05-07Solomid EU Tournament Circuit/Invitational 51 Rest In Pepperonis 3 : 1 Gamers2
2014-04-19Copenhagen Games 20141 Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 : 0 Cloud9 Eclipse
2014-04-112014 EU Challenger Series Playoffs2 Ninjas in Pyjamas 1 : 3 Cloud9 Eclipse
2014-02-02FACEIT Challenger Invitational1 Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 : 0 SK Gaming Prime

Ninjas in Pyjamas

Copenhagen Wolves

Renagades

H2k-Gaming

Notes and References

  1. News: Nordmark . Sam . Freeze is leaving H2k, plans to play in EU LCS in 2017 . May 6, 2021 . Dot Esports . November 22, 2016.
  2. Web site: Freeze planning TSM tryout, has been approached by multiple LCS sides. The Daily Dot. 28 October 2015. 30 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160820130135/http://www.dailydot.com/esports/freeze-lcs-offers/. 20 August 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: Freeze announces free agency. 30 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Renegades pick up Freeze. 30 July 2016.
  5. Web site: Freeze to start against CLG on Sunday. 30 July 2016.
  6. Web site: Professional League Is a Marathon and a Sprint. Cass. Marshall. Red Bull. 30 July 2016.
  7. Web site: H2K signs Freeze. 30 July 2016.
  8. Web site: Big Greek Shoes: H2K take a chance on Freeze. 30 July 2016.
  9. Web site: Freeze joins H2k. The Daily Dot. 8 May 2016. 30 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Freeze: 'If [people] will compare me to FORG1VEN...I can show them I'm better than him']. 30 July 2016.
  11. Web site: Freeze in doubt for EU LCS finale due to wrist injury. The Daily Dot. 27 July 2016. 30 July 2016.
  12. Web site: FORG1VEN to start for H2k-Gaming in LCS week nine. The Daily Dot. 29 July 2016. 30 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Video Games, News, Reviews.
  14. Web site: Sources: Freeze and Hatrixx sign with Tempo Storm. 4 December 2016.
  15. News: Appleford . Danny . 100 Thieves sign European mid laner Abbedagge . May 6, 2021 . Upcomer . April 19, 2021.