F0rest


Patrik Lindberg, known by the pseudonym f0rest, is a Swedish esports player who is considered to be one of the best Counter-Strike players in the world. Having played competitively since 2005, Lindberg has been widely regarded within the esports scene as the greatest player in Counter-Strike history. Lindberg is best known for his four years of tenure on the Fnatic roster, which he helped bring to prominence as the dominant team of 2009, during which year the team broke the record for the highest-earning team in Counter-Strike history. Near the end of 2010, Lindberg left Fnatic and joined SK Gaming, which he remained with until July 2012. Soon after, he transitioned over to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and joined the team Ninjas in Pyjamas. In 2020, Lindberg left NiP to join Dignitas.

Professional career

Lindberg began his professional gaming career in early 2005, when he made his international debut at the global finals in South Korea for the World e-Sports Games, alongside the new Swedish team of Begrip Gaming. There, Begrip defeated all opponents, including the defending champions Catch-Gamers and won the prize pot of 50,000 USD. Following this victory, Lindberg dropped out of high school to concentrate on his Counter-Strike career. In 2005, Lindberg was nominated for the eSports Award 2005, under the categories for "Newcomer of the Year" and "Best Counter-Strike Player". In early 2006, Lindberg left Begrip alongside his teammate Kristoffer "Tentpole" Nordlund, and signed a contract with Fnatic and became a permanent member of the team.
Lindberg's first year in Fnatic proved to be successful, having the team earn upwards of US$100,000, which was acknowledged by Turtle Entertainment. During 2006, Fnatic won the Cyberathlete Professional League Championship, the World Tour, along with a silver medal at the Electronic Sports World Cup. Lindberg was once again nominated for the eSports Award and won the Counter-Strike Player of the Year Award. However, Fnatic faced a major slump from 2007 through 2008, as the team failed to win any major tournaments and only achieved a handful of medals. The team regained its form and chemistry in 2009, however, with the retirement of Oscar "Archi" Torgersen and Oscar "ins" Holm and the recruitment of Christopher "GeT_Right" Alesund and Rasmus "GuX" Ståhl. During 2009, Fnatic was the single most-dominant team, having garnered gold medal victories at the Intel Extreme Masters Global Challenge, European Finals and World Championship, ESWC 2009, e-Stars Seoul, KODE5 and World eSports Masters. In 2009, Lindberg was nominated for the eSports Award 2009, under the category of "Regional eSports Player of the Year Northern Europe", but lost to his teammate Alesund, who won the main category for eSports Player of the Year.
Fnatic could not repeat its success from 2009 in the 2010 season, however, as the team found itself at odds with the Ukrainians from Natus Vincere, with their winnings being upward of US$220,000. Following this underwhelming year, Lindberg, along with his teammates Alesund and Ståhl, attempted to have Fnatic replace the team's in-game leader, Patrik "cArn" Sättermon, as well as its captain, Harley "dsn" Örwall, with SK Gaming's Jimmy "allen" Allén and Robert "RobbaN" Dahlström. This was, however, not approved, so Lindberg and Alesund left Fnatic and joined SK Gaming. Early 2011 proved to be slow for SK, as they failed to impress at their first event, IEM European Championship Finals, being unable to surpass the group stage, while Lindberg's previous team won the event themselves. SK Gaming managed to regain their form, however, and finished as the second highest-earning team of 2011, behind the Polish team of ESC Gaming.
On July 26, 2012, it was reported that SK Gaming had gone into a state of disarray, with the head coach, Anton Budak, resigning from the organization, along with Patrik Lindberg and his teammates Robert Dahlström and Christopher Alesund. According to Budak, this came as a result of SK refusing to send the players to GameGune 2012. The following August, it was announced that Lindberg would be making a transition over to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, by joining the team Ninjas in Pyjamas, which included Alesund in its roster. From the beginning of the competitive Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene in 2012, Ninjas in Pyjamas became the single most dominant team, having won the vast majority of the tournaments they attended, as well as maintaining an 87-map winning streak for a time. Ninjas in Pyjamas has maintained their dominance for the years of 2012 and 2013. Ninjas in Pyjamas reached the grand finals of all major $250,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournaments until ESL One Cologne 2015. In August 2014 they won ESL One Cologne. At Dreamhack Cluj-Napoca where they were ousted by NaVi in the semi-finals.

Notable tournament results

Bold denotes a CS:GO Major
GameYearPlaceTournamentTeamWinning scoreOpponentPrize moneyAwards
Counter-Strike2005[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]World e-Sports Games Grand FinalsBegrip Gaming2–0Catch-Gamer$50,000.00
Counter-Strike2006[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Counter-Strike Champions LeagueFnatic2–0Mousesports$10,000.00
Counter-Strike2006[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]CPL World TourFnatic16–6 Speed-Link$10,000.00
Counter-Strike2006[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]CPL Winter 2006Fnatic2–1MeetYourMakers$30,000.00
Counter-Strike2007[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]GameGune 2007Fnatic2–0Made in Brazil$12,000.00
Counter-Strike2007[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]World e-Sports Games SeoulFnatic2–0X7-Hacker$25,000.00
Counter-Strike2007[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]NLG OneFnatic2–0SK Gaming$20,000.00
Counter-Strike2007[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Intel Extreme Masters Los AngelesFnatic16–5 SK Gaming$25,000.00
Counter-Strike2008[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]NLG OneFnatic3–2Roccat$20,000.00
Counter-Strike2008[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Samsung Euro Championship 2008Fnatic2–1MeetYourMakers$19,700.00
Counter-Strike2008[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]IEM III Global Challenge MontrealFnatic2–1SK Gaming$25,000.00
Counter-Strike2009[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]IEM Season IIIFnatic16–13 MeetYourMakers$50,000.00
Counter-Strike2009[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Electronic Sports World Cup 2009Fnatic2–0SK Gaming$20,000.00
Counter-Strike2009[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]KODE5 Global FinalsFnatic2–0SK Gaming$25,000.00
Counter-Strike2009[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]World e-Sports Games SeoulFnatic2–0WeMade FOX$12,000.00
Counter-Strike2009[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Intel Extreme Masters DubaiFnatic2–0MeetYourMakers$10,000.00
Counter-Strike2009[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]World e-Sports MastersFnatic2–0Power Gaming$22,500.00
Counter-Strike2010[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Arbalet Cup 2010Fnatic2–1Natus Vincere$15,000.00
Counter-Strike2010[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]GameGune 2010Fnatic2–1Frag eXecutors$15,500.00
Counter-Strike2010[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Intel Extreme Masters ShanghaiFnatic2–0TyLoo.raw$14,000.00
Counter-Strike2010[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Komplett Gamer ChallengeFnatic2–0Full-Gaming$19,400.00
Counter-Strike2011[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]IOL FINAL4 2011SK Gaming2–0Fnatic$8,000.00
Counter-Strike2011[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]DreamHack Summer 2011SK Gaming2–0mTw$9,600.00
Counter-Strike2011[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Intel Challenge Super Cup 8SK Gaming2–1Moscow Five$5,000.00
Counter-Strike2011[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]GameGune 2011SK Gaming16–14 ESC Gaming$17,223.00
Counter-Strike2011[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Intel Extreme Masters New YorkSK Gaming2–0WinFakt$16,000.00
Counter-Strike2011[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Electronic Sports World Cup 2011SK Gaming2–0Natus Vincere$12,000.00
Counter-Strike2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Copenhagen Games 2012 ChallengeSK Gaming16–13 ESC Gaming$1,314.00
Counter-Strike2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Esport SM StockholmSK Gaming2–1Fnatic$1,314.00
Counter-Strike2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]3rd Intel Core ChallengeSK Gaming2–0Fnatic$10,000.00
CS:GO2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]SteelSeries GONinjas in Pyjamas2–0BuggIT$4,546.00
CS:GO2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]DreamHack Valencia 2012Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0VeryGames$3,236.00[Image:Circle-icons-trophy.svg|20px|center|link=|HLTV MVP]
CS:GO2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Electronic Sports World Cup 2012Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0VeryGames$10,000.00
CS:GO2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]DreamHack Winter 2012Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0VeryGames$22,600.00
CS:GO2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]AMD SapphireNinjas in Pyjamas2–0VeryGames$10,000.00
CS:GO2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]THOR Open 2012Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0Curse$15,100.00
CS:GO2012[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]NorthCon 2012Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0ESC Gaming$6,580.00[Image:Circle-icons-trophy.svg|20px|center|link=|HLTV MVP]
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]ESL Major Series Winter 2012Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0Imaginary Gaming$3,365.00
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Copenhagen Games 2013Ninjas in Pyjamas16–2 Western Wolves$21,156.00[Image:Circle-icons-trophy.svg|20px|center|link=|HLTV MVP]
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]ESEA Invite Season 13 FinalsNinjas in Pyjamas2–0Denial eSports$17,500.00
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Svecup Västerås 2013Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0Crave Gaming$4,500.00
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Swedish Championship 2013Ninjas in Pyjamas2–1Epsilon$15,500.00
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Dreamhack Summer 2013Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0Epsilon$10,800.00[Image:Circle-icons-trophy.svg|20px|center|link=|HLTV MVP]
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]SLTV StarSeries VINinjas in Pyjamas3–2Natus Vincere$6,000.00
CS:GO2013[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]ESEA Season 14 FinalsNinjas in Pyjamas2–1compLexity$20,000.00
CS:GO2013[Image:Silver_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|2nd]DreamHack Winter 2013Ninjas in Pyjamas1–2Fnatic$50,000.00
CS:GO2014[Image:Silver_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|2nd]EMS One Katowice 2014Ninjas in Pyjamas0–2Virtus.pro$50,000.00
CS:GO2014[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Copenhagen GamesNinjas in Pyjamas2–1Virtus.pro$19,370.00
CS:GO2014[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Dreamhack Summer 2014Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0Natus Vincere$10,000.00[Image:Circle-icons-trophy.svg|20px|center|link=|HLTV MVP]
CS:GO2014[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]IronGamingNinjas in Pyjamas2–0Natus Vincere$10,000.00
CS:GO2014[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]ESL One Cologne 2014Ninjas in Pyjamas2–1Fnatic$100,000.00
CS:GO2015[Image:Silver_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|2nd]DreamHack Winter 2014Ninjas in Pyjamas1–2Team LDLC.com$50,000.00
CS:GO2015[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]ASUS ROG Winter 2015Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0Titan$12,000.00
CS:GO2015[Image:Silver_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|2nd]ESL One Katowice 2015Ninjas in Pyjamas1–2Fnatic$50,000.00
CS:GO20155–8th

ESL One Cologne 2015Ninjas in Pyjamas0–2Virtus.pro$10,000.00
CS:GO20153–4th

DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015Ninjas in Pyjamas0–2Natus Vincere$22,000.00
CS:GO20165–8th

MLG Major Championship: ColumbusNinjas in Pyjamas0–2Natus Vincere$35,000.00
CS:GO2016[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Dreamhack Masters MalmöNinjas in Pyjamas2–0Natus Vincere$100,000.00
CS:GO20169–12th

ESL One Cologne 2016Ninjas in Pyjamas1–2FlipSid3 Tactics$8,750.00
CS:GO20165–8th

ELeague Season 1Ninjas in Pyjamas0–2Virtus.pro$50,000.00
CS:GO2016[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]StarLadder i-League StarSeries Season 2Ninjas in Pyjamas2–0G2 Esports$130,000.00[Image:Circle-icons-trophy.svg|20px|center|link=|HLTV MVP]
CS:GO2016[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Intel Extreme Masters 2016 OaklandNinjas in Pyjamas2–1SK Gaming$128,000.00[Image:Circle-icons-trophy.svg|20px|center|link=|HLTV MVP]
CS:GO2017[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]DreamHack Open Valencia 2017Ninjas in Pyjamas2–1Red Reserve$50,000.00
CS:GO2017[Image:Gold_medal_icon.svg|center|link=|1st]Intel Extreme Masters 2017 OaklandNinjas in Pyjamas3–2FaZe Clan$128,000.00
CS:GO20195–8th

Intel Extreme Masters Season XIII – World Championship MajorNinjas in Pyjamas0–2Astralis$35,000.00