AW: “I had been waiting nine months for this moment”

Interviews

InterviewExclusive

AW: “I had been waiting nine months for this moment”

After magic defeated PARIVISION at FISSURE Playground 3, AW discussed the emotions of facing his former team, the incredible comeback, and the team’s goals for the tournament. He also ranked the strongest CIS teams, built his dream lineup, and shared his view on the Vitality era.

10 September 2026 at 12:08Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

Boombl4: “At EWC, it felt like we simply forgot how to play”

After BETBOOM Team defeated Astralis at FISSURE Playground 3, Boombl4 broke down the difficult opening map and the unexpected Anubis pick, discussed the reasons behind the team’s EWC failure, and assessed his current form. The captain also explained why he prefers playing in front of a crowd.

10 September 2026 at 12:07Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

MATYS: “I think we can win this tournament, one hundred percent”

After G2 defeated BIG at FISSURE Playground 3, MATYS discussed the difficult series, the team’s struggles on Cache, and their loss to Astralis the previous day. He also assessed G2’s title chances, compared SunPayus and r1nkle, and named f0rest as his greatest example of professionalism in Counter-Strike history.

9 September 2026 at 20:47AndU

InterviewExclusive

nqz: “At paiN, we were working together rather than playing together”

After MIBR defeated 9z at FISSURE Playground 3, nqz discussed adapting to his new team, switching to English communication, and his first impressions of tomaszin. The AWPer also compared the atmosphere at MIBR and paiN, explained the team’s football routine, and named the best teammates of his career.

9 September 2026 at 20:47AndU

InterviewExclusive

yuurih: “We need to give FalleN a trophy and enjoy our time together”

After FURIA defeated PARIVISION at FISSURE Playground 3, yuurih discussed the team’s switch from Anubis to Ancient, named the future of the Brazilian scene, and spoke about FalleN approaching retirement. He also explained his tattoos, and expressed his appreciation for Chinese fans.

9 September 2026 at 20:18AndU

InterviewExclusive

MaSvAl: “sFade8 is the strongest IGL I have ever played with”

After magic defeated FaZe at FISSURE Playground 3, MaSvAl discussed the match and their performance on Cache, praised sFade8 as an IGL, and explained the team’s rapid progress. He also spoke about their lengthy bootcamps and answered several quick-fire questions.

9 September 2026 at 15:52Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

zweih: “I can’t say that we are going through some major slump”

After PARIVISION defeated TYLOO at FISSURE Playground 3, zweih discussed avenging their previous loss in China, rated the team’s current form, and explained why he does not consider their results a serious decline. He also spoke about his individual statistics, the club’s jersey, and winning IEM Cologne 2025.

8 September 2026 at 21:34Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

FalleN: “Winning one final Major would be the perfect cherry on top of my career”

After FURIA defeated GamerLegion at FISSURE Playground 3, FalleN broke down the series, named his favorite teammates, and discussed the most expensive purchases of his life. The Brazilian also explained why he considers himself an example of professionalism, compared Ronaldo and Messi, and spoke about his main goal for the final stretch of his career.

8 September 2026 at 21:34Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

NEO: “Repeating what they [Astralis 2018] achieved is almost impossible”

After Astralis defeated G2 at FISSURE Playground 3, NEO discussed the series and the Mirage comeback, his first steps after joining the team, and his coaching approach. The Polish coach also spoke about the possibility of recreating Astralis’ legendary era and assessed the competition at the event.

8 September 2026 at 21:20AndU

InterviewExclusive

S1ren: “Not going to the Major had a pretty negative effect on my mental state”

After BETBOOM TEAM defeated BIG at FISSURE Playground 3, S1ren discussed the team’s goals for the rest of the year, the reasons behind their post-Major slump, and how he felt while watching the Major he missed. He also reflected on EWC, outlined his personal goal for the event in Suzhou, and spoke about the next Major.

8 September 2026 at 14:58Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

bobeksde: “If we play like we did today, we can definitely win Legacy”

After Alliance upset FaZe at FISSURE Playground 3, bobeksde discussed what helped his team prepare for the favorite and assessed their next opponent, Legacy. The Swede also named potential future stars from Sweden, and explained Alliance’s expectations for the event.

8 September 2026 at 14:08AndU

InterviewExclusive

LNZ: “tomaszin has crazy mechanics and huge potential”

After MIBR defeated The MongolZ at FISSURE Playground 3, LNZ discussed playing in a roster with four South American teammates and the differences between European and South American Counter-Strike. The Swede also named promising Swedish players, and explained why MIBR believe tomaszin has a bright future.

8 September 2026 at 12:22Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

dumau: “The game itself was insanely stressful”

After Legacy defeated magic at FISSURE Playground 3, dumau discussed the technical issues that plagued him throughout the series and explained why the match was so stressful. The Brazilian also said he wants revenge against FaZe, reflected on the best and worst moments of his career.

8 September 2026 at 10:57AndU

InterviewExclusive

BIT: “Our Cologne Major run was really special”

After 9z defeated 5star in their opening match at FISSURE Playground 3, coach BIT discussed the team’s preparation for the event in Suzhou, assessed the roster’s form, and reflected on the best and toughest moments of his career. The Brazilian also named a promising South American player and explained why Vitality should still not be written off.

8 September 2026 at 10:15AndU

InterviewExclusive

tikuak: “9z knocked The MongolZ out of the Major, so the team wants to play them even more”

At FISSURE Playground 3, tikuak discussed his first months with The MongolZ, adapting to tier-one Counter-Strike, and the constant travel between events and recalled how his parents reacted to his decision to pursue a professional career.

8 September 2026 at 10:13Maxim “MN” Garkavenko

InterviewExclusive

sFade8: “We are not setting expectation, we are improving step by step”

After magic’s run at Esports World Cup 2026 came to an end, sFade8 compared the event with the team’s first tier-one playoff appearance at PGL Astana, reflected on the close series against FUT, and discussed how stronger opponents now approach magic. The captain also explained why the team is not yet rushing to compare itself with the world’s leading rosters.

23 August 2026 at 13:28Timofei "waynay" Zhuravlev

InterviewExclusive

Boombl4: “Any team can win any tournament”

At the BETBOOM BAZA 2026 festival, Boombl4 discussed the current level of competition on the tier-one scene, compared prime Vitality with NAVI’s 2021 roster, and assessed BETBOOM Team’s level. The captain also shared his thoughts on s1mple’s new team, named an underrated player who could prove himself at tier one, and picked a potential Russian lineup for the Esports Nations Cup.

23 August 2026 at 12:37kyotostxr

InterviewExclusive

Neityu: “I think someone from the lower half of the bracket will win EWC. Maybe it will be us”

Ahead of the Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs, Neityu discussed FaZe’s mood after a demanding period of practice and a possible meeting with Falcons and the team’s former captain, karrigan. The French player also shared his prediction for the decisive stage of the event and suggested that an unexpected team could make a surprise run.

18 August 2026 at 15:11AndU

InterviewExclusive

AquaRS: “This victory was very important to us”

Virtus.pro became champions of the WINLINE MPKBK CIS LAN Season 5. waynay spoke with the team’s player, Alexander “AquaRS” Kovalev, after the organization’s first trophy with its new roster.

29 May 2026 at 00:29Timofei "waynay" Zhuravlev

InterviewExclusive

z1k4: “Of course, we want to qualify for the Singapore Major”

After Nuclear TigeRES defeated K27 in the third-place match at WINLINE MPKBK CIS LAN Season 5, z1k4 reflected on the team’s performance, discussed their motivation at a home event and their goals for next season, and shared his thoughts on Cache.

28 May 2026 at 20:25Timofei "waynay" Zhuravlev

InterviewExclusive

Kondrat: “The next six months for us are either Major or no Major”

K27 CEO Kondrat reflected on the team’s first half of the season, discussed fame’s impact on the roster and its future, and outlined the main goal for the next six months: qualifying for the Major.

28 May 2026 at 18:09Timofei "waynay" Zhuravlev

InterviewExclusive

Get_Jeka: “I would like to finally win at least one of MPKBK's tournaments”

After reaching the grand final of WINLINE MPKBK CIS LAN Season 5, Get_Jeka discussed his desire to face Virtus.pro again, synyx’s return to the roster, shg’s plans after military service, and his thoughts on Cache.

28 May 2026 at 15:43Timofei "waynay" Zhuravlev

InterviewExclusive

MPKBK: “I want to hold LanDaLan around the Major”

LanDaLan and CIS LAN tournament organizer Andrey MRKBK Ermakov discussed the return of LAN events to St. Petersburg, plans to hold another LanDaLan in the fall, the challenges of organizing international events under the VRS system, and CIS LAN’s role in developing the regional scene.

27 May 2026 at 16:25Timofei "waynay" Zhuravlev

InterviewExclusive

senka: “I would like to play against ARCRED and get revenge”

After Nuclear TigeRES reached the semifinals of WINLINE MPKBK CIS LAN Season 5, senka discussed the difficult series against PsychoFace, his desire for revenge against ARCRED, working with Polt, his aggressive style as an in-game leader, and Cache’s possible return to the map pool.

27 May 2026 at 15:12Timofei "waynay" Zhuravlev

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