MAJ3R: “I want to keep playing as long as I still have that fire”

Did the move to CS2 give you additional motivation?

Yes, the new game gave me motivation. I enjoy working every day and discovering new things in it. A new game means new things to learn, and that was important for me. From that perspective, I really like CS2.

— MAJ3R

Why were Eternal Fire unable to remain in the world’s top ten and maintain the form you showed after the Major? What do you need to do to regain it?

After the Major, every one of us was at an individual peak, including me. During the player break, we lost that form—both individually and as a team. First of all, we need to practice and become individually strong again. We are still making mistakes as a team as well. Doing something exceptional at a single Major is relatively easy, you can produce that kind of result once. Staying at the top afterward is much more difficult. People begin studying you and preparing specifically for your game. I feel that we now need to prepare just as hard as we did for the Major, or perhaps even twice as hard. We are working a lot, and we have many tournaments ahead of us.

— MAJ3R

Do you believe that men and women will eventually compete together on the same professional team?

Yes, I believe that it will happen one day. Esports does not have to work like football, where men and women compete separately. Women can be very good at video games. I think that one day we will see mixed teams where every player is competing at the same level.

— MAJ3R

I have heard many different opinions about women in professional Counter-Strike. Some people believe they cannot compete at the highest level, while others say that genetics make it impossible.

You have to believe. I encourage every female player, first and foremost, to believe in herself.

— MAJ3R

Do your children already understand Counter-Strike? Would you teach them to play if they asked?

I have a six-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. My daughter understands roughly what is happening, but she cries when I get killed in the game. Of course, they do not fully understand it yet, but I try to explain that this is their father’s job, that it involves traveling, and that it is not easy. I think my daughter will play, and I will teach her, but I will make sure that the choice is hers. I will definitely teach my son. He is going to be the next donk.

— MAJ3R