Vitality player William mezii Merriman gave an interview to Players special correspondent Alex Kharchenko after winning the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 in CS2.
Coming back to the game, what went wrong on the map that you lost?
I think there's obviously a couple things, but mainly individual were not too strong on this map. I think for me, I was a bit shaky at the start. And also clutches, I couldn't win a clutch pretty much all series until, till the very end, on Dust 2. And yeah, I think if we wouldn't have one or two of these clutches, if I could have closed them out, then maybe that it would have been different.
But overall, individual one, we're not too too the best. They shot really hard. There's a lot of headshots and makes it a lot harder. But yeah, I think we could have been a bit better in the aiming and the mechanical side of things.
Can you just give a bit of details? What did you talk about during the pause? So were you like, okay guys, let's do it or what are the thoughts?
I think first it was refocus on the preparation, I think we had really strong preparation on Dust 2, we knew exactly how they like to play, what they want to do, and first it was just focus on that, forget about Mirage, it's over now and something we've done so far throughout this season let’s do that as well. Refocus, don't care about the map we've lost or the rounds we've lost. Let's go again. And that's our main thing. I think we've done really well.
Were you stressed because the last game was Inferno and Inferno for you guys were not so good?
Yeah, I mean, we weren't really stressed. I think we really come to this map even after two losses that were pretty strong for the other, for the opponent, we knew we could come into this map and play super well. We knew after that Dust 2 if we continue to play all that as the individuals, as a team, we know we have a stronger inferno and 22 losses in a row. I think they obviously had some losses as well on this map. And yeah, we knew anything could happen if we play, play as well as individually.
What it means for you because it's the first major for you to play? And say something to the fans as well.
Yeah, I mean it's insane. I think the success we've had all year, as a British player, is insane. I don’t think there many players who’ve had this. Just winning the Major, dream comes true, whether come from England or somewhere else, as a player, that's what you want to do and now I have it as a UK player. It means everything.
It's so much hard work for this moment and I've finally done it. So I just hope it motivates other UK players. That's what I really want.
I think there's a lot of talent in the scene and just need that extra push. And I hope the guys watching me win these trophies and win this major, it kind of pushes them as well because that's what I really wish for is a strong UK scene. And I really hope it motivates them.
What did you eat before the match? Raw meat or because your stats were amazing?
I mean, just the usual. To be honest, I didn't eat too much before the game. I think the sleep. The sleep wasn't the best before this. It's the first night I haven't had the best sleep before a major final.
I'm not surprised. And then even before there was, of course, there's always the pressure and the nerves that gets you. So there wasn't, I didn't eat that much before the game.
I'm pretty hungry now. Once the adrenaline goes down, I think I'll definitely have a good meal.
This is your seventh consecutive tournament win. Do you think you'll be able to keep the winning streak?
Yeah, I mean, I hope so. I hope so.
I think we'll see after the season. But I think as players and as a team, we do so well to reinvent ourselves and put a lot of time into the game. So I don't see why not.
We need some rest, some recovery after this, but going to the second part of the season. Yeah, I think we work so hard that we can have just as much success, but it's never guaranteed. That's what we want to do.
Previously, we talked and there was like rumors that you can be kicked out of the team because your stats were not so good at the time. But now you proved that it's wrong. So what can you say about it?
I mean, it always feels good to prove the haters wrong. I think even me as a player or this team could never expect this success we had.
But yeah, it feels so nice to prove them all wrong and to improve and play better as an individual. That's what I want to do is have impact for the team. And I'm just happy I could have that today and cross this tournament and the previous tournaments as well.
That's the main thing. And yeah, I'm just happy that I'm here with this team. It's the best team I could ever wish for and I hope for more success as well.
