This is a guest column written by Przemysław "Siemys" Siemaszko.

Frag eXecutors is the best Counter-Strike team in Poland since it was formed. After an astonishing 2008, when nEO was chosen to be the best eSports player of the year, their popularity was at its apogee. But as it usually happens, when we come to the subject of so called “fanboys”, after one or two losses they immediately became disliked. People, who were able to fight with dozens of foreigners and defending their idols, could change their direction diametrically and claim that the team was over and they would never win again. The situation went full circle for a few times and after any victories Fx (AGAiN, PGS, MYM or however they were called) became stars, and fell after few weeks.

But what happened now is the biggest crisis of their popularity since the beginning. In their homeland, Poland, they seem to have become hated by a majority of the eSports society. Even when they were losing, and the “fanboys” were against them, they had a strong crowd of supporters. Now most of the people simply wish for them to lose.

The whole situation is due to the worst marketing move in Polish eSports ever. Fx decided to reject the ESWC invitation and attend the national qualifiers. As their managers claim, it’s because of a will to show themselves at every big event in Poland. But the open secret is that they did not want to pay for their flight to Paris, which was not included in the invitation. Ipso facto they have “stolen” the second spot from another Polish team, that could have gone to the finals.

With this one completely missed decision, the Fx managers have ruined their leading position as the most professional organisation in Poland. By this inconsiderate decision they showed their biggest weaknesses. First of all, what might have been a grain of truth in the statement about playing in the national events, is that they wanted to present themselves to the sponsors, which they don’t have and need desperately. At this stage, they shoot themselves in the foot. I don’t think being the most hated organisation at the time can help in finding support. On the other hand, just being invited to ESWC and being a favourite to win it was a good bargaining chip for negotiating with companies to pay for the trip.

Secondly, they just unveiled that after signing the “Golden Five” they can’t afford to pay for flights to Paris, which costs not even 1000 Euros. Of course it is the consequence of the first problem I mentioned. That certainly does not help the organisation to create a good trademark.

Some people say that it is a good decision, because Fx will gain some money, other Polish teams would not show anything in Paris anyway and (most ridiculous) that they show their opposition against “cheaters” from ESWC. But what history shows us is that playing unfairly, because that’s the only word for Executors’ behaviour, is never profitable. Their current situation doesn’t augur well for finding a sponsor, other teams may show some good CS, especially when they will be supported by the crowd of Fx-haters and the last argument is a bit senseless. For the sake of explanation, the vast majority of Polish fans can’t understand that the current ESWC has absolutely nothing to do with the old one, which went bankrupt. Although it is quite funny to read proposals that Fx should boycott ESWC altogether with other big teams.

I personally hope that even if the eXecutors will win the qualifiers, which is the most possible situation, the effects of this shameful decision will stay as a lesson for all of eSports society, that being unfair and acting in contrary to the principles of the spirit of sports will never turn out to be a good thing.