Krimbo on rejecting offers from top teams: BIG is my home

In December 2023, BIG announced the contract extension of their star rifler Karim “Krimbo” Moussa with the youngster putting pen to paper on a new “long-term” deal with the German flagship.

But why did Krimbo decide to commit himself to a team that hasn’t been inside the top 10 for one and a half years and with their latest LAN title dating back to January 2020? Especially when there are multiple top offers to choose from.

Pley.gg have had the chance to ask the man himself to get a deeper insight into why he decided to stay in BIG instead of seeking a challenge elsewhere.

- BIG has always been my home. And I believe in the plan they have for this project, but also their plans for me personally, Krimbo starts off.

- BIG always puts their players first, it doesn’t matter what, for example, sorting out your living situation or more personal things in your life. The organization trusts me, and I can trust them. I can give them my loyalty and they can give me theirs. I have known them [people in BIG] for six or even seven years and it’s now my second family.

- There will always be people questioning your decisions, but it’s also about being happy where you are.

Getting offers from top teams

Around Krimbo’s extension with BIG, the top of Counter-Strike found itself in a crazy roster shuffle, where big teams such as Vitality, MOUZ, FaZe, G2, Falcons, and Liquid all were on the hunt for new players.

In that regard, BIG revealed that they had received “many offers from top teams” on Krimbo. Krimbo himself confirmed to Pley.gg that there were offers and talks being held with other teams.

- There were offers and interest from other teams, and there were some talks as well. Some of it was not that relevant, but there were some where I had to think. Because all this was new to me and something I had no experience in. Of course, I considered the options. Just thinking about it, you know. I think that’s completely human, Krimbo says.

"I still have something to prove"

Krimbo then elaborated on his decision to turn down the offers and therefore continue to player under the wings of Johannes “tabseN” Wodarz and Fatih “gob b” Dayik.

- In the first year on BIG, I wasn’t playing that great. Last year was a bit better for me, but I wouldn’t say I’m an established player in the scene yet – like a frozen for example. I still have something to prove. I have committed myself and I believe in this right now – and then the future will tell. I will give everything I have to make this work because I value what I have right now.

- But it’s also motivating getting acknowledged like this and it’s proving that you’re doing something right, Krimbo adds.

Missing important tournaments

During Krimbo’s time in BIG, starting in March 2022, the German team have struggled to find a consistent level which has been good enough to compete with the elite. Qualifying for the big LAN events has also proven to be a difficult task for Krimbo and company.

If we look at the last 12 months, BIG and Krimbo have missed important tournaments such as IEM Cologne on home soil, BLAST Fall and World Final, and most notably; the Major in Paris and soon also in Copenhagen.

Something we asked Krimbo about and whether or not it was a concern for him before committing to a new long-term deal with BIG.

- Of course, it hurts a lot when you miss the Majors and other big events. Not making the Major is the most hurtful thing you can experience as a player.” And you think BIG is cool with missing a Major? No, it’s also really important for them, and the organisation uses every resource to achieve these things.

Krimbo has been a part of BIG since February 2022

Will he ever leave?

Krimbo’s commitment to BIG is strong. But it’s not an unwavering bond, the young rifler asserts.

If the team is not successful and they are failing to qualify for tournaments - which seems to get tougher in the future with Valve’s decision to put down partner leagues – Krimbo can be forced to reconsider his options.

- Of course, if we miss every tournament, then at some point you have to rethink your situation and get in talks with BIG again. As I have said before, it’s also an important priority for players to have success, and if things don’t go well, you have to at one point think about yourself.

- But just leaving a “sinking ship” without caring about anyone than myself, is not something I would do. But of course, I also have a family at home, and I also want to give them the best life possible, Krimbo explains.

tabseN – The big inspiration

The news of Krimbo putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal with BIG made Counter-Strike expert and caster Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill say the following in an episode of HLTV Confirmed:

- I think at one point, Krimbo has to make the decision to leave the German scene, unless he wants to become the new tabseN.

However, will that be a bad thing to happen? To become the “new tabseN”. If you ask Krimbo about tabseN, it’s clear from the very get-go that he admires his captain a lot. But his goal is not to be a replicate of his more experienced countryman.

- He’s a legend in the scene and if you think about German CS, you will think on him - and gob b, of course. tabseN is THE inspiration for every German player. I grew up watching him play, and now I playing together with him.

- The same goes for me as for him with him also having sacrificed a lot for this project and organization. He has probably had offers in the past as well, but he has stayed in BIG for all these years. I have had talks with tabseN about this but we’re also different persons, so I don’t want to just copy him. In the end, it’s my decision. Not anyone else’s.

- Fortunately, in BIG we have people around who want to give everything they have but also are willing to give it a second chance to make it work. It’s really valuable what we have in BIG, and you rarely find this somewhere else, Krimbo says.

Last week, BIG announced that they were changing their roster by bringing on syrsoN and JDC.