Here is Sweden’s first women’s national eSports team

History was made when Sweden finally got a women’s national team for the EC and WC Championships of the International Federation of Electronic Sports..

It’s a CS:GO team whose players include Tilda “7licious” Byström, Johanna “Monky” Nilsson, Jennica “Jenkon” Sjögren, Matilda “Millz” Bjurström, Leyla “Noccaan” Basoda, and Alexandra “Twisted” Fredriksson.

Tilda Bystrom was appointed captain of the team by Union captain Frederick Anderson.

– It feels incredibly big, it’s an honor. Then it feels like the start of something new for girls in esports, and to be a part of it is great, she says.

The 21-year-old says she has gotten to know other players before, as the scene for Swedish women in CS is relatively young. They’ve had time to get to know each other better since the national team was ready and Byström believes they will become a tight-knit group during the year.

“The start of something big”

She talks about how important it is for women to have a scene during EC and WC.

– As I said, I think it’s the beginning of something big that can make great role models, and I hope other countries will want to do the same. There are many young girls who play and find it difficult not to have a lot of role models. And the girls aren’t seen much in the media either. So I think it could be a very good start for girls to take a bigger place in esports.

Was there something you missed in the beginning?

– Yes, I would say so. There were obviously a lot of girls playing at the time, but I didn’t know anyone at the time that you could look up to, which was a shame.

The female scene in CS:GO was a huge topic of conversation last year when several of the biggest profiles left for the burgeoning scene in competitor Valorant.

Including Swedish superstars Giuliano and Zaz.

– I would definitely say the landscape has unfortunately gotten smaller as a lot of people have switched to Valorant. They seem to have more investment on the female side. In the last six months more initiatives have been taken with competitions etc so it’s a positive anyway. It looks brighter, says Tilda Bystrom, but there are still a few contenders, which is a pity.

Now, however, she is looking forward to competing in international tournaments.

– It will be a really fun and wonderful experience. It’s the thing that was the goal and the dream.

Sweden will continue to boycott the WC in Bali later this year when the International Electronic Sports Federation allows Russia to participate. However, the European Commission backed down after the criticism and disqualified the country, but it does not currently hold a women’s tournament.

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