rain on the match against Team Falcons at BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2: “It’s really satisfying to pull off a win like this.”
Howard “rain” Naigard, the CS2 rifler for 100 Thieves, shared his thoughts in an interview at BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 following the victory over Team Falcons, commented on the skills of Jack “Gizmy” von Sprekelsen and compared him to Finn “karrigan” Andersen, and also discussed his new roles on the team.
On his feelings after the victory over Team Falcons
The feeling is truly incredible. It’s very satisfying to pull off a win like this—there’s nothing more to add. This wasn’t our first best-of-3 match today, so I’m a little tired, to be honest. In any case, this is a huge accomplishment for our entire team.
On Gizmy
He’s very good at guiding each player and always makes sure everyone understands where the round is headed. His calls during the match are also top-notch; sometimes he anticipates the opponent’s moves with incredible accuracy. I can say that I’m very pleasantly surprised by this guy’s skills.
On the similarities between Gizmy and karrigan
If I were to compare Gizmy and karrigan, I’d say they’re quite similar in their leadership styles. Both make decisions very quickly during a round and are skilled at anticipating their opponent’s moves. Perhaps our current IGL is even a bit quicker in this regard, since English is his native language.
On my new roles and positions
Right now I feel much more at ease; my mind has cleared up. I used to feel a bit foggy-headed when I was captain—I had to think too much. Now, Gizmy just tells me what he expects to happen in the round, and I try to fill in the gaps and do my job as a lurker. This is a bit new to me—I haven’t played this role to its full potential before, just like I haven’t played as a support—but it’s fun, and I like it.
Yesterday, 100 Thieves defeated Team Falcons at BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 in a best-of-3 series with a 2-1 map score. With this victory, Howard “rain” Naigard’s team secured their spot in the next round of the tournament’s online stage.
Photo: Roman Imperium Cup.
