MAJ3R: “Counter-Strike has become much more competitive these days.”

Yes, we do have a new sports psychologist—a woman. But I’d say our mental issues stem not from the opponents we’re facing, but from within ourselves. Perhaps there’s already a degree of fear of our opponents in our actions on the arena—that kind of thing happens. And, of course, there are a number of areas we need to improve. But none of this stems from the fact that we’re playing against Vitality or, say, BetBoom—it’s simply due to our own personal issues. If we can perform at the same level we did in Stage 3, we’ll be able to beat any team. To do that, our communication has to be excellent, our reactions to in-game events have to be quick, our rotations have to be on point—there are a lot of factors involved. That’s exactly what I tell my guys every day—I explain the ins and outs of everything. If everything works out, we’ll win; if not, we’ll just become an ordinary team that doesn’t stand out in any way.

Looking at all our problems from the perspective of my many years of experience, I can say that, on an individual level, we don’t play in the playoffs at the same level we show in the group stages. Sometimes communication even breaks down when we’re on stage—meaning I don’t get the same amount of information from my teammates. Perhaps even I myself start speaking too quickly at times, and there are situations where the guys ask me to repeat myself or slow down so they can understand. I’ve talked to Wicadia about this, and it seems to me that we’re really starting to get scared and hold back. When that happens—when you retreat into your comfort zone, stop taking risks, and stop looking for opportunities—it doesn’t help you or your team at all. It’s as if you start overthinking things, and because of that, you gather less information on the map, which literally makes the game harder for yourself. At some point, you stop controlling your own fate and influencing the outcome of rounds to the extent you should—your opponent starts doing that instead. I think this is our main problem, and I hope it will be resolved—at least partially—in the near future, because we’re working very hard on it.

Yeah, sometimes I put up unreal stats. Spirit was really strong in the third stage, but on Dust2 I really gave it my all against them. I’ve been thinking about this, and I realize that Counter-Strike has become much more competitive these days—you know what I mean? And even on an individual level, if you’re the captain, you need to not only keep an eye on the game and your teammates, but also on the personal contribution you’re making in terms of your aim. Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty confident in that regard, and I hope that carries over to the arena.