Vitality’s coach Remy XTQZZZ Quoniam gave a brief interview to Players correspondent Alex Kharchenko following his team’s victory over MOUZ and their qualification for the grand final of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.
First question about the second map. When you started, it was looking like a confident win for you. But then, the second map happened? What was it?
We were really disconnected. We missed some utilities, like basically the move from the city spawn, smoke, molly etc. I think we... I don't know if it was the pressure or not, but so far our Inferno is not good, so we need to talk about it tonight, because maybe we can play it tomorrow. That's it. When we lost, we discussed it with the team and said OK, fuck this map, let’s go next.
Who is the biggest underdog for you, paiN or The Mongolz? I mean, the team who you didn't expect to be in the semi-finals.
paiN, of course. I think they came from stage 2, if I'm right. 0-2 game, and now they are in the semi-final. It was unexpected, to be honest.
As for The Mongolz, you can expect the Mongolz in the semi-final, in my opinion, because they did pretty well this season. So, yeah, it’s definitely paiN.
So you think, in terms of who will win, you're betting on Mongols, right?
That's the major, we never know. It's also the first semi-final for both teams, actually. So, let's see. Of course, I think The Mongolz are better. They are ready for the major.
Are you not afraid that in the final against, let's say, a smaller team, you can underestimate them?
No, we don't underestimate every opponent. That's why we had 30 wins in a row, etc. It's a major, so you have to give everything. It can be the second best team or top 10 in the world. It's still the same.
It looks like MOUZ was your kryptonite at some point. Who is your kryptonite right now, or can be in the near future?
You should ask the MOUZ what they think about it. I don't know. I think we understand pretty well how to play them first.
Kryptonite, I don't know. They are the second best team in the world, so we play them in semi-finals or only in finals. Of course, we won 6 games in a row against them just before the semi-finals, but we said it, guys: it doesn't matter if we don't win this one.
Is it the strongest roster for Vitality right now, from your point of view? Also, is it the Vitality era?
The Vitality era - I don't like when people use this word. Because for me, the era is at least one year. We haven't won the Major yet. I don't know. It depends on the people. Of course, it's seven finals in a row. It's something really big, for sure.
But we cannot forget 2023 when we won the Major. I can say if we win the Major tomorrow, it's definitely the best Vitality ever.
The weight of the trophy is 35kg. If you win tomorrow, who will lift it? Because it's very heavy. Will it be a team effort?
You will see. I cannot say it. It's a surprise if it happens. I don't want to jinx us.
