In order to better serve the fans and visitors of the X3O community, we have decided to create an interview series – X3O’s Behind The Gamer. Every week an interview with one of the professional gamers within the team will be released. Through this series, you will get to know all of the gamers within X3O, including our CS 1.6, CSS, Q4 and COD4 teams.

If there are any questions you would like to have answered by an X3O gamer, feel free to post the question and to whom it is directed here or within any upcoming interview. If the question is suitable, it will be asked when the player is featured in Behind The Gamer.

We’ll be kick starting the series with none other than Mason “mason” Dickens of X3O’s Counter-Strike: Source squad. Mason joined the squad back in January, with prior experience in CSS with verGe and in 1.6 with various top teams.

Before we begin Mason, could you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Mason Dickens. I am 21 years old and was born and raised in Houston, TX. I have been playing counter-strike for about 7 years now.

Before we get into the gaming specific questions, what are your hobbies and interests outside of gaming?

If I’m not on the computer practicing then I am usually hanging out with my friends or I’m on the golf course.

Where and when was the beginning for you? Being a CS 1.6 player as well, what made you pursue gaming to a professional level?

I guess the beginning for me would be the nintendo, but for pc I started about 9 years ago with a game called Rogue Spear. I played RS with my brother for a couple years before I made the switch over to CS. What made me pursue cs was watching my brother be able to travel around the country playing in LAN tournaments. I have always loved gaming, but that just made me want to take it to the next step seeing that it is possible to actually get somewhere in gaming.

Who do you feel is the toughest CGS opponent in CEVO-P right now? Who do you feel is the toughest opponent that is not a CGS franchised team?

Well this cevo-p season there is only 2 CGS teams competing. Out of the 2 in the league right now I would definitely have to say that Carolina Core is the toughest competitor. Outside of the CGS teams though, zomblerz and 94Knicks.

Seeing as many top CSS teams are in the CGS, which teams do you mainly play against when preparing for matches? Do the franchised teams mainly practice within themselves, or do you find yourself playing them quite often?

Well right now since the season is going on, the CGS teams don't have very good internet at the players village; so they don't come online to practice. Lately we've just been playing whoever we can get out of #prosource. During the CGS off-season though we play against every CGS team and practice with them on a daily basis.

Could you describe the roles of your teammate’s in-game, and maybe mention anything else about them we may not know?

- AZK (Very smart player and one of the most skilled all around players I’ve ever seen)

- ROCKYTE (Tarik jeees man.... 2 words Team Clown. Tarik is just a one of a kind teammate, the guy is always making the team laugh and have a good time whether it be in practice or not. Also a very good rifler and entry man)

- DEPPY (He's another AWPer on the team and has one of the sickest deagles)

- PEX (P-O is the main Riflers in the team; also like Tarik he's a entry man. We love our French Canadians :D)

I know the CGS is mentioned far too often in interviews, but I must ask, is getting drafted alongside your X3O teammates your biggest goal when it comes to gaming right now?

I think that would be cool if we would all be able to get into CGS period, but to be in the same team in CGS would just be awesome. I think everyone would like that, but I think we would all just be happy for each other just to get a shot in CGS with or without the team.

How much of an impact has your brother, Warden, had on your success as a professional gamer?

A lot of people ask me, "Hey did your brother teach you how to play?" "Hey do you get tips from your brother?" Well the answer is I learned the game pretty much on my own aside from him maybe showing me around some maps in the earlier days when I first started. I am the type of person that if I want to get good at something then I will do it no matter how long or how hard it is. Watching him travel around the country winning tournaments just inspired me to get even better. I spent countless days and nights in public servers, watching demos, scrimming; just trying to improve my game. Matt has helped me with so many things outside of CS and I couldn't thank him enough for that, but to answer everyone’s question I pretty much learned the game myself.

Do you play any games besides CSS? Also, do you still play CS 1.6 regularly?

I do not play any other games beside CSS, and no I do not play 1.6 regularly. I might do a 1.6 pug here and there with old friends, but I don't play 1.6 other then that.

Lastly, with CEVO Professional S6 wrapping up, what are your expectations for the remaining matches of the season?

Obviously my expectations are to win out and finish the season at 11-7 and hopefully get us up there to make playoffs.

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Thanks a lot Mason for your time and be sure to stay tuned to www.x3o-gaming.com for more weekly interviews with X3O pros.