mymTw|MarcelB: Could you quickly introduce yourself to our readers for those that don't know who you are (unlikely):

3D | Torbull: My name is Craig Levine, I am 20 years old and manager of Team 3D, the defending CPL champions.


mymTw|MarcelB: What is 3D doing to prepare for the Summer-CPL?

3D | Torbull: Team 3D has been in Dallas, TX bootcamping at The Gaming Center since July
18th. Our five players have been practicing hard. We are fine tuning our
teamwork, reworking some strategies, and playing lots of pcw's.


mymTw|MarcelB: For this event, the CPL has added a new map, de_cpl_fire. What are your thoughts on this map? Good move on CPL's part? Should it be used more than in the round to decide places #5-#8?

3D | Torbull: I personally am not a big fan of those two maps, although I think that there aren't too many really good tournament maps (aside from nuke, train, inferno, and dust2). I think that a lot of people don't like their decision to use mill and fire because they aren't the normal maps played in leagues or in scrims but at the same time everybody (Europeans and Americans) knew that these maps would be used and if teams ignored them and blew them off then it is their own fault. The use of these two maps should not come as a surprise to anyone.


mymTw|MarcelB: This event won't be played with the classic de_Aztec. Was this a good move on the CPL's part, or should they of kept Aztec in the rotation?

3D | Torbull: Again, I personally like Aztec better than Cobble but I guess they felt itwas too imbalanced (the same reason they no longer use prodigy). I agreethat it is unbalanced and I suppose that's why they introduced fire into the map rotation this year.


mymTw|MarcelB: How do you think American teams will fair against Europeans at this event, with $60,000 for first place at stake? Are the Euro domination days over? (especially with 3D's Winter-CPL win, and zEx's 2nd place at the ESWC?)

3D | Torbull: I don't make a distinction between European or American; an opponent is an opponent, whether you are a top European team or a lower end CAL team it makes no difference to me. At the top level of play that the CPL and ESWC is played at almost any team can win it if they play their game and come through when it counts. I think Americans will finish much better at this event than in the Winter but that is simply because I think there are fewer stronger European teams competing (no eoL, GoL). So maybe the results this year are inherently skewed, I don't know.


mymTw|MarcelB: Any plans on future Euro LAN (i.e. CPL-Copenhagen)?

3D | Torbull: Yes, we do have plans to return to Europe for some LAN events. CompUSA and NVIDIA are terrific sponsors that fully support us but I don't think the cash prize at Copenhagen is large enough to warrant a $6,000 trip across the Atlantic (I don't know the exact prize distribution). Additionally, an important thing for us is to make sure that the tournaments we do go are well organized, executed properly, and the promised cash is actually in place.


mymTw|MarcelB: Last month, it was rumored that CS1.6 would be used at the CPL. Are youglad it has not been released in time?

3D | Torbull: I played 1.6 a little bit at E3 and last CPL and although there haven't been any major changes like there were to 1.5, I think that the introduction of the new weapons could have changed the strategies of many teams and thrown a huge "X factor" into the event, so yes I am happy to see that it was not released on time. Any significant change before a big $200,000 event isn't good.


mymTw|MarcelB: CAL has implemented a new 8-man roster minimum for CAL-i. Will we be seeing some new members in 3D?

3D | Torbull: To be honest, we haven't even thought about this. Our focus right now is on the CPL but I can tell you that I don't foresee anyone who is added to the roster getting much play time. I think it is a nice idea so that there are fewer rescheduled matches and fewer forfeits but I don't think that it fits the current state of the community. Teams will still only use five or six players at LAN events and after all that is what it's all about now- doing it on LAN. If you were a top player, would you want to be on the 3D online roster knowing that the chances of you making any money at tournaments was minimal to none, or would you rather be on a less competitive team and play in tournaments? I don't know how we will adapt
to the rule but we aren't the only team who faces this issue.


mymTw|MarcelB: What is 3D's goal for the summer event?

3D | Torbull: Our goal is to repeat! We have to fend off the hungry competitors looking to dethrone us, but we won't let that happen We are really preparing hard to take first place again and yes we would be disappointed with anything less than first but I can live with a top three finish.


mymTw|MarcelB: Top 5 predictions?

3D | Torbull: I can't predict any order, but in the final two days expect to see teams like Team 9, zEx, SK, 3D, and maybe TEC still fighting it out.


mymTw|MarcelB: Thanks for your time. Good-Luck!

3D | Torbull: Thank you


(www.team3D.net)