Rocket League quint: “More NA teams will look for players globally in the future.”

German player Niels “quint” Seebann is the first-ever intercontinental transfer in the collegiate Rocket League scene. From Berlin to Windsor (Canada), the 19-year-old former Berlin Phoenix player now represents St. Clair College. This marks the third transfer of this kind in Rocket League esports.

As a three-time Uniliga Champion, EU Summer Champion, and Uni European Champion, the Berliner doesn’t come to North America without a title. 

In an interview with Fragster, quint opened up about how the transfer came about, what are his impressions of NA’s collegiate esports scene, what differences in playstyle he noticed while playing in the new scene, and more.

Comp and Spoods vouched for me

Fragster: How does such a transfer even come about?
quint: The transfer started at the Collegiate RL Worlds, it was a huge experience and I talked to a few people from St. Claire at the Media Days. One of them was Shaun Byrne, I had good conversations with him about the future of Rocket League and our ideas and goals matched.

When we were back in Germany, he contacted me after two weeks and I found out that he has quite a lot of influence at St. Clair. The existing roster of Comp and Spoods have vouched for me because they knew about my qualities in Rocket League. Then came all the paperwork, but I couldn’t tell anyone anything, so I’m all the happier now that it worked out.

How does it feel to be the first intercontinental transfer in the collegiate Rocket League?
It’s something special, no question. It’s not like I’m the best in the world but now I think I sit on a throne in the collegiate Rocket League scene.

Why is that?
I was not only brought to Rocket League because of my skills but also because of the way I use social media and how I present myself there.

Differences between EU and NA

What is your impression of the NA university esports scene in general?
Everything is much more professional than in the EU scene. It starts with the NEST, the arena with lots of computers and coaches, and also with the support of esports in Canada. Half of the university is watching the Worlds here, in Berlin my university didn’t even know that I was at the Worlds.

Are there any other differences that you have noticed so far?
Yes, because I moved out for the first time. A lot of things are new and different for me personally. For example, shopping, living alone, there’s a lot.

And in Rocket League directly?
I was a bit shocked at the beginning, but the playstyle of the NA scene is a bit “dumber”, which suits me quite well! Not because I don’t want to think, but rather because I like to just push it instead of waiting.

What are your personal goals for the season?
I want to finish in the top three at the EAST Conference with my team and then see how far we can get at the Worlds. I’m also relatively confident that this will work out with our team.

Do you think there will be more transfers like yours in the future?
Yes, definitely. While CRL is “just” an amateur league, more teams will look for players globally in the future. It doesn’t matter whether it’s at the university level or in the RLCS, but I’m not the reason for this development, there were already two transfers of this kind in the RLCS before me — Turbopolsa [Sweden] and Drippay [Australia]. However, I assume that the European scene will react with their prize pool.