EZ4ENCE: A Local Meme Turned Counter-Strike Hit

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The ENCE team, known for its dramatic history of ups and downs, is one of the most captivating stories in esports. Their journey to the top has been difficult and full of challenges, but this has made their story all the more inspiring and thrilling.

The Beginning: Forming the Team

It all started with Joona "natu" Leppänen, one of the most respected figures in Finnish esports. Starting his career in 2000, Joona quickly established himself as a talented player and leader in Counter-Strike 1.6. Over a fifteen-year gaming career, he played for several top teams and gained extensive experience, which later helped him as a coach and manager.

In the spring of 2015, Joona decided to hang up his mouse and focus on a coaching career. He soon became the coach of the legendary team Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP), but left the organization after a few months and returned to Finland, where a new challenge awaited him—leading Finland's largest esports organization, ENCE.

At that time, the Finnish CS:GO scene was in a dire state. Although there were many talented players in the country, no team could achieve significant success on the global stage. Most Finnish teams were stuck at the tier-3 level, and the only player with any international recognition was the legendary sniper, Allu. This situation was unacceptable to Joona, and he set an ambitious goal—to elevate Finnish esports to a new level.

First Steps: The Formation and Failures of the First ENCE Roster

Joona’s plan to revive Finnish esports began by recruiting Allu, who at the time was the strongest player in the region. Shortly after, the first ENCE roster was assembled, but the results were disappointing. The team struggled to perform well on the international stage, hovered at the bottom of tier-2, and frequently changed players, which negatively affected the team's stability.

The problems peaked when Allu left for FaZe Clan, leaving ENCE without its primary sniper. The team subsequently disbanded, and Joona was faced with a choice: to keep fighting or give up. However, he was determined not to back down and decided to assemble a new roster, this time consisting entirely of young, ambitious players.

A New Approach: Assembling the Second Roster

In 2018, Joona reached out to Allu again, who was then benched at OpTic Gaming. Allu agreed to return to ENCE, and Joona began building a new roster. This time, he approached the task with much more seriousness. Joona and his team meticulously analyzed all possible candidates and concluded that for success, they needed not only talented players but also a stable and cohesive unit.

Thus, Xseven, Aleksib, Sergei "Sergej" Salas, and Joonas "Jamppi" Savolainen joined the team. These players were recruited from various Finnish teams, which dealt a blow to the local scene, as they effectively pulled the best players from Finland's strongest teams. However, this step was crucial in forming the new ENCE roster, which soon began to deliver incredible results.

Breakthrough on the Global Stage

By the end of 2018, ENCE was consistently ranked among the top 15 teams in the world. The team won several tier-2 tournaments and took first place at a major tournament in Kyiv. But the real breakthrough came in 2019, when ENCE won the European Minor, securing a spot at the Major—the most prestigious CS:GO tournament.

This was a historic event for Finnish esports. For the first time in many years, a Finnish team qualified for the World Championship, sparking unprecedented excitement among fans. Finnish supporters took to social media en masse, using the hashtag #EZ4ENCE, predicting an easy victory for the team.

Inspiration for the Legendary Anthem

ENCE’s success on the global stage inspired two Finnish musicians, Iiro and Tomi, to create an anthem for the team. Iiro and Tomi were big CS:GO fans and had long wanted to create something like this for their favorite team. Inspired by ENCE's qualification for the Major, they recorded the song "EZ4ENCE," which quickly became a hit in the Finnish and global esports communities.

Although the song was initially created as a joke for friends, it quickly gained popularity on YouTube and other platforms. "EZ4ENCE" became the team's unofficial anthem, accompanying them at all major tournaments. At the 2019 Major in Katowice, ENCE took the stage to the sound of this song, marking the culmination of their journey.

Legendary Performance at the Katowice Major

ENCE continued to surprise everyone at the Katowice Major, reaching the tournament's final despite the skepticism of many experts. The team showcased incredible gameplay, defeating titans like Team Liquid and Natus Vincere, and deservedly entered the ranks of the world’s best teams.

Although ENCE lost to Astralis in the final, their performance became one of the most talked-about topics in the CS;GO world. The Finns demonstrated that even a small country with limited resources could achieve great success on the global stage if it had talent, determination, and a team that could work as one.

The Legacy and Impact of ENCE

The story of ENCE is one of perseverance, determination, and belief in oneself. From a team that couldn’t break out of the tier-2 level to a contender for the world crown, ENCE has traveled a long and difficult path. Their success has inspired a new generation of Finnish players, showing that dreams can come true.

Today, ENCE remains one of the most respected and beloved teams in the CS world. Their story is a vivid example of how the right approach, hard work, and belief in the team can lead to great achievements. And while esports will always be full of challenges, the story of ENCE proves that even in the most difficult circumstances, there is a path to success.