After FURIA advanced to the ESL Pro League Season 24 playoffs, we spoke with YEKINDAR. The Latvian player talked about the team’s current form, the packed tournament schedule and mental fatigue after competing in numerous events back-to-back.
YEKINDAR also commented on the upcoming retirement of FalleN, who announced the end of his career, and answered questions about a possible move to NAVI after the Brazilian’s retirement.
Alongside the serious topics, we asked YEKINDAR several unusual Marvel-style questions — about a possible s1mple comeback, the best map for humanity to survive on, Spider-Sense among professional players and the most chaotic player on the scene.
The full interview with YEKINDAR is now available on YouTube!
Hi YEKINDAR, congratulations on making it to the playoffs! It wasn’t easy, but you managed to push through and secure your spot at the Spodek arena. How would you assess the team’s form right now before the playoffs?
Well, I think throughout this year we had our troubles, we had our problems, and it’s a never-ending cycle of trying to fix things, trying to figure out how to play and what are the problems. I think specifically before this tournament we encountered a little bit of complaining and mental fatigue, which is kind of obvious because we go to many events in a row. And in our Aurora game, we didn't really showcase our best from our individual side. After that game we had a talk, and it was very important for us to get this win against 9z, which we were able to get in a very confident fashion. So yeah, it gives us confidence before coming into the playoffs, but MOUZ is a strong opponent, and I'm just happy to be in the Spodek.
The team is obviously not in the best shape right now. You have a very packed schedule, you’re playing in almost every tournament, constantly traveling and flying from one event to another. How does that affect you mentally and your overall morale as a team?
Yeah, I mean it's hard, you know. Because there's many things that we can't really control, and in this case, the schedule. And you just have to find peace of mind in terms of not thinking about it. But it's hard not to think about it because at the back of your head it just piles up, piles up, piles up, and then eventually some problems on the server appear. But this is our life, this is our job, and this is our dream. So we take all the problems that are coming and we are trying to figure them out step by step.
I also wanted to ask you about FalleN. He has confirmed that he will be ending his career. How does that affect the team as a whole and the players individually?
Well, I think we knew this is gonna happen one day. I don't think we're like, sad or like, kind of, we are sad, but we're gonna be even sadder the day he's gonna retire. But right now we're trying to enjoy all the last moments, we're trying to be a team for the last period that we have, and be the best versions of ourselves.
Mareks, we’re a Ukrainian media outlet, so we couldn’t not ask you about something that a lot of people in our community are curious about. Would you consider joining NAVI once FalleN retires? Just hypothetically, of course. Do you like B1ad3's system, let's say like that?
I respect B1ad3 a lot, I respect how NAVI thinks and how NAVI plays, and the scale of the organization is just huge. So I don't know what the future exactly holds and how it's gonna be, but of course I'm open to many different possibilities. But at the same time, yeah, it's gonna be hard to kind of understand what's gonna be happening, and we're only gonna see after FalleN retires.
And now some Marvel-style questions. Which former player could make a shocking comeback and become the villain of the scene, like Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom?
Damn, become a villain of the scene? Well, I hope s1mple would be able to come back.
Yeah, that's good. Imagine that Judgment Day has arrived in CS. Valve deletes every single map except one. Which map would you save for humanity?
Mirage. Well I mean, I would not save it for myself, because my favorite map is Inferno, but I also like Overpass and Nuke. But I just understand that if I'm gonna be playing with people one map for the rest of my life, I would rather play Mirage because at least they know how to play it, most of them.
Everyone knows smoke window.
Yeah exactly.
Which player on the pro scene has the strongest Spider-sense?
ZywOo, I think. I don't know, that's the first sense that came to my mind. But there were many moments when I played against ZywOo which, "why? how?" you know? And those are the questions I'm asking always.
A 1v1 clutch that determines the fate of the world. Which player would you trust to save humanity?
KSCERATO
Your teammate, of course. Which player gets better when they let their competitive anger take over, like Hulk?
Oh, that's a good question. I would say s1mple. I think s1mple had the demon inside of him. Out of other players, for me I would also say Twistzz. When I played back in the days with Twistzz, if he was getting a little bit irritated and angry, he would take the game into his control, into his own hands.
Which player is the most chaotic and unpredictable, like Deadpool?
I think there's a couple of players that can be like that. A couple years ago maybe it would be me or arT. Nowadays I think though, Makaze maybe.
And the last question: who do you think is the favorite in this tournament in the playoffs?
From personal feeling, I think MOUZ are in very, very good form, and it's gonna be a hard quarterfinals against us. Hopefully it's gonna be a great game. I think MOUZ have a very good chance. I also think that Falcons and Vitality look very good this event, but Falcons and Vitality look good almost every event. Spirit are having troubles, and it's a matter of their opening game, how they're gonna do their opening game. But I think these teams are the strongest ones here.
Yeah, that's it. Thank you, Mareks.
Thank you
For FURIA, the most important part of ESL Pro League Season 24 now begins — the playoffs at Spodek. The team will face MOUZ, whom YEKINDAR named as one of the main favorites to win the tournament.
As for the Latvian player himself, he does not yet know what awaits him after FalleN’s retirement, but he openly says that he is open to different possibilities, including a potential move to NAVI.
As a reminder: “We are ready for this” — Spinx on young players, xertioN, the new sticker system and the ESL Pro League playoffs.
