
G2 Esports rifler Matusz “MATYS” Shimko and Aurora Gaming rifler Yimi “Jimpphat” Salo shared their expectations for the upcoming match in an interview at BLAST Open Porto 2026.
MATYS noted that Aurora Gaming will be a tougher opponent the second time around:
It’s always harder to play against the same team, especially when you’ve only won one game. So, to be honest, we expect this to be a much tougher game than the last one, especially on their end. But we know we’ll approach it with the same mindset—we know we can beat them. We’re not expecting an easy game. We need to fight every second because they’re a good team. They have good players, and we need to fight every second—for each other, against them—and, essentially, stay as focused as possible. And then, I think, we’ll come away with the win.
Jimpphat compared the rosters in terms of individual skill:
First of all, we’ve had a few wins against other teams, so I think that will give us confidence because we’ve shown how we can play when we’re at our best. We can play really well. And I think the last time we played against G2, if I remember correctly, we weren’t at our best individually. And I think it was still a pretty close game—at least I remember Anubis. If today we can, well, in a sense, just be ourselves and play the way we’ve been playing in practice, and the way we’ve prepared—not forgetting the little things, just focusing on our own game, and trying to help the team as much as possible—then I think we’ll have a pretty good chance. I’d say that G2, in terms of skill level, is very similar to us. We haven’t had much time to play together, but, as I said, individually, sometimes it seems to me that we’re stronger. Well, at least in terms of aim. We have a lot of good players, but so do they. So I think today’s match will be very close as well, but of course, I hope we win; I hope we can show everything we’re capable of and qualify for the main tournament in Porto. I really want that—it’ll be my first time there, so it would be great to make it.
Right now, G2 Esports is facing off against Aurora Gaming in the Group A lower bracket final of the BLAST Open Porto 2026. The losing team will be eliminated from the tournament, while the winner will claim the penultimate spot in the tournament’s playoffs.
Photo: Esports Foundation.