After joining G2, r1nkle continues to adapt to the new roster and is gradually finding his place in the team. Despite the high expectations surrounding one of the biggest brands in esports, he emphasizes that the most important thing right now is not to pay attention to external pressure, but to focus on the work and the team’s progress.
In the interview, he spoke about the differences between G2 and NiP, the pressure of playing for a top organization, his performance at EWC 2026, and the mistakes the team still needs to work on. The player also shared his expectations for G2’s future form and explained why he believes the team’s peak should come before the Major.
In one of your interviews, you said that, so to speak, it was unexpected for you that you joined G2. Have you gotten used to the... well, the news that you are now on this team?
Yeah, I really have gotten used to it. It’s already been a few months. But I wouldn’t say that from the very beginning I was in some kind of wow effect. Maybe for the first two days or the days when I signed the contract, but... No, I wasn’t. I just focused and continue to focus on working, that’s it.
Could you please compare G2 and NiP in terms of how the organization itself operates? What has changed, let’s put it that way? The scale?
I’d say there are a lot more fans at G2. And I don’t want to compare the organizations, nor do I want to compare the teams. I think it’s simply a different level. It’s different. It’s much clearer.
You said that it’s still a different team. G2 is a big brand, it has a lot of resources. Do you feel pressure when playing for such a club now?
Yes, I feel pressure. I’d say it’s not because of the team, but because of the brand, because it’s a global brand, and, as I said, there are a lot of fans. Of course, you don’t want to lose, you don’t want the fans to be disappointed, but this is a game. You have to work, and we will work, and I think that we’ll have better results at the next tournaments.
And how do you deal with that pressure in general? Do you work with a psychologist, for example? Maybe you talk more as a team? Perhaps the coach helps you adapt more?
I wouldn’t say it’s a lot of pressure and that I really think about it that much. I think it was like that at first, at BLAST, at our first tournament, when we played our first official games. But now I don’t really think about it or work on this issue in any way. I simply don’t think about it. I just try to focus on what I need to focus on: the rounds, the game, my individual play — and that’s it. I don’t think about what people are saying or how they feel. Just keep working, just work, that’s it.
And in terms of your performance at this tournament, how would you rate it, and how would you rate your individual performance as well? Your performance overall.
It’s difficult to evaluate. I think we didn’t play at 100% of our potential. I think not even at 50%, because even in the games we won, we made a lot of mistakes that we shouldn’t be making. I think it takes time and we need to work. I think, yeah. I don’t think there are any major problems that we need to, how should I put it, tilt over. I think everything is going naturally for now, and we simply need time and a lot of work.
I’ll ask the last question about time. When do you think this synergy between you and your teammates, and the team as a whole, will fully develop? I’m not saying, you know, let’s say it will be the end of this year, but based on your feelings, how much more time do you need to be playing together at a good level?
I think our peak will be before the Major. I think we’re playing pretty well right now, but I think that with every tournament we’ll keep improving, because I feel that with every official game, with every tournament, we’re getting better. But, as I said, we have six maps, and we need to play all six maps at a good level. We need all five players to be on the same mindset. So I think our peak will be before the Major, and before that we just need to... Of course, for G2, we need to focus on results, we need to make the playoffs, but I think that if we just keep working and don’t think about these factors outside the game, then everything will be fine and we’ll approach the Major in good form.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you to the player for the conversation and his candid answers. We wish G2 success at the upcoming tournaments, steady progress, and the best possible form ahead of the season’s biggest competitions.
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