NAVI finished their run at the Esports World Cup 2026 in CS2 following a crushing 0-2 defeat to Legacy. The Ukrainian team failed to make it to the playoffs, and the second map of the matchup practically left them with no chance for a comeback.
After the match, our correspondent Oleksii Kharchenko spoke with Arseniy "ceh9" Trynozhenko about the reasons behind NAVI's unsuccessful performance, possible roster changes, the captain's role, and the team's prospects. They also discussed rumors regarding potential transfers and when NAVI might return to competing for the top 3 of the world rankings.
Here is the full interview with ceh9 after the NAVI match on our Telegram.
Senya, welcome to Paris. Tell us, what did you think of NAVI's match overall? They lost 2-0, with no chance. Why wasn't it enough, what was missing?
Well, as you saw, it really was with no chance. While on the first map they took a few rounds but couldn't quite push through, on the second map there was no chance at all. They actually started the tournament reasonably well, but somehow everything went down the drain.
In reality, Legacy isn't, you know, just a walkover team. About four months ago, they won a championship against Falcons in the finals, and Falcons ultimately went on to become world champions at the Major after that. So potential-wise, Legacy definitely has it.
Maybe someone was underestimated somewhere. Although I talked to NAVI's general manager, and he says: "Nah, with B1ad3 it never happens that he underestimates anyone." But B1ad3 is the coach, and then there's the team. And here, you know, maybe he didn't set up the team properly somewhere, and they crumbled after the first map.
And it's bad that they couldn't gather themselves on the second. I mean, on the second, the result was even worse, and that is actually telling.
There is a lot of talk right now about replacements, about changing the roster, one or two players. In your opinion, is it worth it, not worth it, or should they wait longer? What do you think?
Well, as B1ad3 himself basically said in comments before this event, they were considering replacements. Meaning they understand that replacements are needed. But it's a business. And it all came down to the fact that there was no player who cost what the organization needed him to cost, and who, from the perspective of the coach and management, would improve the team's gameplay enough for it to be tangible. So they decided not to make changes right now. But overall, if you just, you know, pick any player without constraints and finances, then yes, they themselves understand that they need these roster changes.
I'll ask one tricky question. From your point of view, who should be replaced in NAVI?
Well, I think either the captain, so that he doesn't actually just complement B1ad3, as always happens in NAVI. In fact, NAVI needs to move to a different play structure, where B1ad3 shares his experience, but the captain has his own point of view, and together they somehow build a completely different game. Because from what I see and know, NAVI has been playing all this time in a way where the captain, meaning Aleksib, simply conveyed what B1ad3 built and understood. Meaning B1ad3 is—roughly speaking—a sort of player behind their backs, and Aleksib plays in his place. I don't think that's entirely right.
So probably Aleksib, on the one hand. If not Aleksib, well then iM, meaning everything somehow boils down to him. Although in reality, you have to be inside the team. But as I understand it, makazze is a star player, b1t is also such a legendary figure, a star player, but with experience. Well, and that leaves w0nderful as the AWPer. Finding someone better than w0nderful right now is actually hard. I mean, of course, there are guys in the top 5 who are probably better, but you can't buy them out. So w0nderful will definitely stay on the team. And that leaves only Aleksib and iM.
So summarizing: why didn't it work out for them? Because there wasn't enough time, maybe the right player who was supposed to be on the roster couldn't be found. And as I know, some teams—I won't name the player right now, but it's actively circulating on the internet—whom NAVI strongly wanted simply refused to sell. So all of this together, and it turned out like this?
Well, frozen, as far as rumors went, though whether it was true or not is unknown. But here everything can be quite mundane. Meaning either underestimation, as I said, which happens in CS. Plus such an early game, they started at 12, didn't wake up. Or the start of the season. That's the main thing. The start of the season is always vacation time while you prepare and arrive at the event. If you actually recall the start of the last half-year, NAVI didn't perform particularly successfully there either. But somewhere from the middle, they found their game. Meaning, roughly speaking, somewhere in October, drawing certain analogies, perhaps NAVI will return to the world's top 3.
So we are still waiting for the peak?
Well, yes, we'd hope so.
The Players editorial team thanks Arseniy "ceh9" Trynozhenko for the interview, candid conversation, and time spent. We wish him success in his future work and new professional achievements!
As a reminder, CS2 EWC 2026: Three Quarterfinals Will Determine Three More Semifinalists.
