Messioso Appointed Head of CS Operations at 100 Thieves as Seangares Takes Over as Head of FPS

Messioso Appointed Head of CS Operations at 100 Thieves as Seangares Takes Over as Head of FPS

100 Thieves have officially announced Graham “messioso” Pitt as their new Head of CS Operations and Sean “seang@res / seangares” Gares as Head of FPS, placing two highly respected Counter-Strike veterans in charge of building the organization’s ambitious Counter-Strike 2 project from the ground up.

The appointments come shortly after the organization revealed its long-awaited return to Counter-Strike—more than five years after withdrawing from the scene. The future roster will compete under the name 100 Thieves Roobet, part of a newly established multi-year partnership with the online betting brand.

Building the New CS2 Division

In a recent interview, Pitt explained that his role at 100 Thieves will closely mirror his responsibilities during his tenure at Complexity, where he acted as the crucial link between the players and the organization’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

“It’s basically the same role that I had in Complexity, acting as a link between the team and HQ,”
— Graham “messioso” Pitt

Sean Gares’ responsibilities extend even further. As Head of FPS, he is set to oversee all first-person shooter initiatives at 100 Thieves, including both CS2 and Valorant.

Together, Pitt and Gares outlined their plan for shaping the new CS2 roster and project. They revealed that the organization is exploring two potential routes:

Signing a core from an established top-30 team, or

Building a roster from scratch if the right core cannot be secured.

“We’ve looked at a lot of cores in the top 30. There are a lot of moving parts, but we could also build from scratch. We’re open to it all and sending as many feelers as possible,”
— Sean “seang@res” Gares

Pitt emphasized that the goal is not to chase stars, but to secure players who are the best cultural and competitive fit:

“We want to get the best possible players that suit us. The one thing I don’t want to do is buy a core, and then find out we need to replace two players within the first two months.”

Roster Philosophy: Blending Youth with Experience

Both leaders stressed the importance of balance when it comes to roster construction. According to Pitt and Gares, the ideal lineup mixes the hunger of rising talent with the leadership and stability of proven veterans.

“You can get to a certain level with young kids, but you need at least one experienced veteran. I would like two. Young players need guidance and leadership from the older experienced players, while the older ones get some drive to grind,”
— Graham “messioso” Pitt

They concluded the interview by teasing that the next announcements will involve player signings, strongly implying that roster news is imminent.

100 Thieves’ Return to Counter-Strike

100 Thieves’ re-entry into Counter-Strike marks their first competitive involvement in Valve’s ecosystem since the organization exited the scene in 2020. Their last roster featured the renowned Australian core including jks and jkaem before the team disbanded.

President Jacob Toft-Andersen described Counter-Strike 2 as a perfect environment for the brand’s future:

“Counter-Strike has always been a cornerstone of esports, and CS2 has sparked new energy worldwide.”

The organization’s new Roobet partnership is expected to play a key role in expanding 100 Thieves’ presence across Europe and other global esports markets.

Who Is Graham “Messioso” Pitt?

Graham Pitt arrives at 100 Thieves with extensive experience in competitive Counter-Strike management. Best known for his leadership at Complexity, Pitt built and oversaw multiple lineups centered around the North American core of JT, floppy, Grim, and hallzerk.

Throughout his time in the scene, Pitt has voiced strong opinions on several issues:

Tier-one competitiveness, insisting that Complexity could challenge elite teams despite psychological barriers.

The limitations of the North American circuit, calling the region “high-risk, low-reward” due to weak competition and fewer international opportunities.

Crowd interference, advocating for stricter penalties for players who intentionally solicit assistance from the audience.

Complexity ultimately scaled down their CS2 ambitions, leaving Pitt temporarily without a team—until 100 Thieves offered him the leadership role. His arrival signals that the organization is prioritizing a stable and professionally structured CS2 program.

Who Is Sean “Seangares” Gares?

Sean Gares brings a rare mix of elite playing experience, coaching expertise, and broadcast analysis to his new role.

As a player, he was a central figure in major North American CS:GO teams, including compLexity, Cloud9, Echo Fox, and Misfits.

In Valorant, Gares took over as head coach of 100 Thieves in 2022, leading a rebuilt lineup to qualification for Valorant Champions through the NA Last Chance Qualifier.

After returning briefly to content creation and broadcast commentary, he later joined Shopify Rebellion before returning once again to 100 Thieves—this time in an executive leadership role.

Gares has always emphasized tactical discipline, structure, and eliminating “mental errors,” a philosophy he is expected to apply across both the CS2 and Valorant divisions.

He described his return to 100 Thieves as a “homecoming,” referencing his long-standing history with both the organization and the Counter-Strike community.

Community Reports and Speculation

Several additional reports and rumors have surfaced around 100 Thieves’ return to CS2:

Some analysts described the appointments of Pitt and Gares as creating a “brain trust” for the organization’s new venture.

Esports media highlighted the duo’s combined experience as a strong strategic foundation for the project.

Community discussions referenced speculation from leaker Aleksei “OverDrive” Birukov, suggesting that 100 Thieves may be targeting a trio from GamerLegion and potentially exploring a move for Håvard “rain” Nygaard.
These rumors remain unconfirmed and should be treated cautiously.

Officially, 100 Thieves have continued to focus solely on staff announcements, stating that player signings will be revealed next.

What This Means for 100 Thieves

By placing Pitt and Gares in charge, 100 Thieves are clearly signaling that they intend to build a serious, long-term CS2 project, not a short-term marketing splash. Both leaders bring:

proven experience in building competitive rosters,

familiarity with international competition,

deep understanding of player development, and

a unified vision for FPS success across the organization.