Xizt
{{Short description|Swedish professional Counter-Strike 2 coach}}
{{Infobox Pro Gaming player
| ID = Xizt
| name = Richard Landström
| image = Interview Xizt - NiP (DH Masters Malmö 2017) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Landström at DreamHack Masters Malmö 2017
| name_trans =
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|28|2020|01|16}}{{cite news |last1=Biazzi |first1=Leonardo |title=Xizt leaves Fnatic |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/xizt-leaves-fnatic |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=Dot Esports |date=January 16, 2020}}
| nationality = Swedish
| game = Counter-Strike 2
| role = Coach, Rifler, IGL
| leagues =
| career_games = Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike 2
| career_start = 2010
| career_end = 2021
| coach_start = 2021
| coach_end =
| years1 = 2010
| team1 = Oslo Lions
| years2 = 2010–2012
| team2 = Fnatic
| years3 = 2012–2018
| team3 = Ninjas in Pyjamas
| years4 = 2018–2020
| team4 = Fnatic
| years5 = 2020–2021
| team5 = Dignitas
| cyears1 = 2021–2023
| cteam1 = Heroic
| cyears2 = 2024–present
| cteam2 = Ninjas in Pyjamas
| highlights = * CS:GO Major champion (Cologne 2014)
- HLTV Top 20 Player of the Year (2013)
- 2x HLTV MVP
}}
Richard Landström, better known as Xizt, is a Swedish former professional Counter-Strike player and coach who is the current head coach of Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Until February 2018, he played for Ninjas in Pyjamas, but stepped down following a stretch of poor results.{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/22784/dennis-joins-nip-xizt-steps-down |title=dennis joins NiP, Xizt steps down |website=HLTV.org |access-date=2018-02-18}} On March 11, 2018, he played for Fnatic as in-game leader to replace Golden. On January 21, 2020, he reunited with former teammates and was part of Dignitas's Male Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Team. Landström's biggest result was winning ESL One Cologne 2014, one of Counter-Strike's majors.{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/events/1444/esl-one-cologne-2014#News |title=ESL One Cologne 2014 overview |website=HLTV.org |access-date=2018-02-18}}
Playing career
Landström was the primary IGL for Ninjas in Pyjamas from the formation of the roster to him stepping down in February 2018. Even though he normally wasn't the best performing player on the NiP roster, HLTV ranked him among the top 20 players in 2010 (18th), 2011 (13th) and 2013 (6th).{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/5894/top-20-players-of-2010-xizt-18 |title=Top 20 players of 2010: Xizt (18) |website=HLTV.org |access-date=2018-02-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/8003/top-20-players-of-2011-xizt-13 |title=Top 20 players of 2011: Xizt (13) |website=HLTV.org |access-date=2018-02-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/11941/top-20-players-of-2013-xizt-6 |title=Top 20 players of 2013: Xist (6)|website=HLTV.org |access-date=2018-02-18}}
In April 2018 Landström joined FaZe Clan as a substitute for Olofmeister due to him taking a short break from competitive Counter-Strike. In May 2018 Olofmeister rejoined FaZe Clan and Landström left.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/23189/xizt-joins-faze-as-olofmeister-takes-leave-of-absence|title=Xizt joins FaZe as olofmeister takes leave of absence|website=HLTV.org}}
On March 11, 2018, Landström signed with Fnatic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/23019/fnatic-to-sign-xizt-report|title=fnatic to sign Xizt - Report|website=HLTV.org}} Many viewed this as a reunion as he had played with Fnatic before, in 2009–2012. He played with Fnatic until October 21, 2019, when he was benched by the organization from the active roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/27603/xizt-twist-benched-as-fnatic-look-to-enter-new-phase|title=Xizt, twist benched as fnatic look to enter "new phase"|website=HLTV.org}}
On September 18, 2019, Team Dignitas announced they would re-enter male competitive CS:GO.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/ajbbTtV_h3M Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20191113043207/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajbbTtV_h3M&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajbbTtV_h3M| title = Dignitas Will Return To Men's CS:GO | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Later on January 21, 2020, Dignitas confirmed the signing of the former NiP roster of Patrik "F0rest" Lindberg, Christopher "GeT_RiGhT" Alesund, Adam "friberg" Friberg, and Richard "Xizt" Landström while adding rising Norwegian star Håkon "Hallzerk" Fjærli with Robin "Fifflaren" Johansson as a coach/manager.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/KS2E-spxH0M Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201113065111/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS2E-spxH0M&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS2E-spxH0M| title = It's time for a new dynasty {{!}} DIG CS:GO 2020 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Landström announced his retirement from competitive Counter-Strike on September 23, 2021, ending his 12-year professional career.{{Cite web |last=Biazzi |first=Leonardo |date=2021-09-23 |title=Xizt retires from competitive Counter-Strike |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/xizt-retires-from-competitive-counter-strike |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}
Coaching career
Landström joined Heroic in October 2021 as an analyst and temporary coach for PGL Major Stockholm 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-20|title=Heroic add Xizt as analyst; temporary coach for PGL Major Stockholm*|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/32600/heroic-add-xizt-as-analyst-temporary-coach-for-pgl-major-stockholm|access-date=2021-11-28|website=HLTV.org|language=en}} He became the team's full-time coach in March 2022, after signing a one-year contract extension.{{Cite web |title=Heroic extend Xizt's contract, add haste as analyst |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/33504/heroic-extend-xizts-contract-add-haste-as-analyst |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=HLTV.org |language=en}}
Heroic announced the departure of Landström on December 12, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Blog E-sportstats.com - Heroic Bids Farewell to Coach Xizt After Two-Year Tenure |url=https://e-sportstats.com/blog/heroic-bids-farewell-to-coach-xizt/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=e-sportstats.com}} He was replaced by previous ENCE coach Eetu "sAw" Saha.{{Cite web |date=16 December 2023 |title=sAw joins Heroic |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/37796/saw-joins-heroic |access-date=17 December 2023 |website=HLTV}}
In March 2024, Landström was named the head coach of Ninjas in Pyjamas, marking his return to the team after his six-year stint with the organization from 2012 to 2018.{{Cite web |last=MIRAA |date=2024-03-08 |title=NIP unveil Xizt as new head coach |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/38450/nip-unveil-xizt-as-new-head-coach |access-date=2024-03-09 |work=HLTV}}