Eternal Fire player Samet jottAAA Köklü gave an interview to Players reporter Sofiia Pikhalo during media day ahead of the IEM Katowice 2025 playoffs in CS2.
Hello and congratulations with your first presence at Katowice. I hope you enjoyed.
Thank you.
You enjoyed Katowice as a city. You have a chance to try something new?
Not yet.
Not yet? You didn't have time?
No, no.
You prepared to go into the playoff stage, the arena stage. You prepared and you're ready for the arena, for the crowd.
Yeah, I just see that and it was very good.
You expect to have a lot of Turkish fans?
No.
No? Why? Why don't you?
Maybe like around 100.
100 is already a lot.
Yeah, but there will be maybe 2,000, no? I mean 20.000 people.
12к maybe.
12к?
Yes. I hope everyone (fans) will be close to you, so you will hear everyone.
Yeah, I need their energy.
So you joined the team not so far and you already played in the last final, second playoff year. Did you expect to have such results right away?
I was thinking we will be a good team, but I was not expecting to play a final on BLAST.
How do you feel playing in Turkish team compared to international teams?
International team was for me more confidence because my English was not good, so I can do whatever I want. But in Turkish team, everything is more specific and more clear.
Have you already integrated in the team because of the language, so you already feel free with everything?
Not like international team.
So it's easier to integrate in the Turkish team?
Yeah, it's easier.
Psychologically?
Yes.
Did you expect to show your own results with this team so fast? Because to win everything, you lost on Virtus.Pro, it's really quick for you or you expected that?
I was thinking when I was watching Virtus.Pro, I was analyzing and I was thinking they are playing very slowly, so this can be not good for us. That's all.
So you need to play more quickly., or..?
Yeah.
Nuke vs FaZe was also very intense. Sometimes you were winning, sometimes they were winning and it was not certain till the end who will win in the end with FaZe. So what helped you with that team?
Our mentality.
What else? Preparation for FaZe?
Of course. Every single one of us watched their Nuke demo, so everyone knew what we are going to do on this position. For example, XANTARES killed all the Main three guys because he didn't know there will come three from Main. So he was just playing. Yeah, that's all.
Were you nervous in that match?
Only second half, yes, when they started to come back.
And why do you think you lost to Virtus.Pro?
I think because of... I'll take responsibility because I didn't play good on B. They were always coming 5-B and I was alone. We sometimes tried to hold 3-B, but we couldn't. So we need to fix B.
You feel you can do better?
Yeah, of course, everyone can do better. But the main point is that I don't have many officials on Train.
So you want to have another setup on B?
We need to just learn the main points. For example, we fight with them on lower, but they fight with us on the middle of the site. Do you understand me?
Yes, as much as I can.
I watched a lot of your games and other teams. Do you expect to have an intense fight in these finals with others? You expected to have a match with Vitality, for example. Do you want to fight with them or learn from them?
Yeah, like... From my side, even if we lose, I learn a lot of things. Even if we win, you know.
When we go to the practice room, I insta just watch the demo and see my mistakes.
And for the team, do you also have some improvements for them?
Yeah, everyone is doing the same. Everyone is doing the same.
And do you say some ideas to your team and listen to their ideas as well? Or only one person?
No, everyone. Everyone is talking, everyone is sharing ideas with each other.
What can you say to younger generation and tier 2 teams, as we can say, how can they be better and stronger? Like you and become more and more popular and of course win more.
I think they should never ever grind stop. They need to play CS a lot. Otherwise, it will not be a success.
So, on Friday you have a match against the MongolZ. What are your expectations from them?
I think they're gonna play a little bit YOLO [You Only Live Once]. That's all what I'm thinking. Because when I watch their demo, they like to push early, you know. 1:45 for example, they're out on Apps.
And do you expect to play with NAVI also?
We can play on Grand Final, yes.
It's possible.
It's possible, it's nice. Because Na'Vi won already against Spirit one time. I mean, last match.
Do you watch some demos from Na'Vi that you like? How are they playing style?
Not style, but maybe a bit player, as players. He's a good anchor.
Thank you very much. I wish you the best. And hope to see you more often on other tournaments as well.
Thank you.
