Exclusive device interview: "It was mostly that I had issues with the way we were playing"

For me, enjoying CS is an important aspect of being a professional, because you devote so much time to the game.

For me, it was mostly that I had issues with the way we were playing. In general, our in-game approach that we were disagreeing on, and it wasn't a nice way of playing that we were playing beforehand.

It's hard to know. It might be related.

I think for some years now I've started out slowly, so I'm not too worried about that. I work hard and give my best. It could have been related to the in-game stuff, but a lot of personal things also happened. I lost a family member at the start of the year too.

For me, I don't really think too much about why. I just know that my performance hasn't been up to par with what I want. It's all about looking forward and learning in-game lessons from both mechanical and decision-making aspects that haven't been good enough.

I'm feeling really good. We've now had about a month of practice coming into IEM Chengdu, so I'm feeling good.

It's a different task. But before, I was helping a lot and trying to dictate the way we were playing to fit my style. I think that's why it was so hard with such a good team, because we weren't aligned with how we wanted to play. I think I naturally tried to, as I have always done, to bring my way of playing into the team.

I'm enjoying it, and I think it's a really good step in my career. On the other aspects of leading in-game, I think I've always tried to set an example for what I see as a professional player.

It definitely didn't start at that point.

As said, I've always done my part in helping with calls and ways to approach the game. It has always been a part of my CS DNA - also when I prepare for games, I don't just look at my own direct opponent on the AWP but also the big picture. So I think naturally it has always been more a part of my thinking.

The idea started when there was a conversation when Kasper Straube joined the team. And, as you said in regards to the way I disliked some of the ways we were playing or approaching some maps, I think it definitely helped me to think about more about how I would like to play CS.

That made it a bigger part of my decision making and forcing me to think more and reflect more about what I envision.

In practice it's been good. The individual level in general has been better. Also, I think a lot of IGLs right now have been star players: karrigan was a star player in 1.6, so I think the narrative is mostly created around the players who didn't succeed in becoming an IGL.

I don't really think too much about it. For me, I know the most important part of the task is leading the team and making the calls. I know the AWP is an important role, so I feel like it fits me naturally to dictate the way we are playing.

On the T side, it's the way that most players are already playing. So I think that's why you see some of the other star AWPers helping a lot with calling - like sh1ro for instance.

I don't want to think too much about the 'what ifs?' but for me, the most important thing is to lead well and improve upon being an IGL every game we have.

I didn't speak to them. But there are definitely aspects from all the guys you mentioned, even hampus as well and also some of the ways blameF was thinking.

I think that all of them have shaped me in a way, some more than others.

What I really liked about karrigan was his way of changing and manipulating rounds mid-gam. That's something I think about a lot when I play.

gla1ve is, for me, one of the best guys at making the meta and making the default work. And also making the decisions from the default feel good for everyone.

As for zonic he already helped me back then in terms of becoming a guy who always does the prep and does it well.

I think I'll take aspects from all of them.

To be honest, I don't really read or hear too much of the things online.

Naturally, I know from doing interviews that people are shocked and surprised and have questions, and I think that's completely fair. But I don't really care too much about people's opinions.

We work in a small bubble in the team that are people who influence me and my decisions and not the narrative online.

For me, it's definitel more than a short-term thing. I think it would be a big risk for me to just jump into this thinking about it short-term because it's something that requires time and you have to grow into.

The long-term benefits for me are that I've been playing professionally for half of my life... That's fourteen years! And I intend to do it for as long as I can.

I'm actually now in a place where I really enjoy it and for me, that's the most important thing to enjoy the thing you're spending the most time on.

If I nail this, which I will dedicate all of my time to, then I think I can prolong my career and develop myself more than just device but also as a person. leadership is an important aspect in life in general.

First of all, having an IGL who is also AWPing is something that they are very used to. So it naturally shifts the pace of the game into something they are used to.

Other than that, moving them into the roles that they were playing before has also shown a really positive impact on them in practice.

I think with the month we've had in practice we've had a really good, steady development.

The two main things are having an AWPing IGL and playing the style of CS that they did before, my interpretation of that and moving them into the roles that they had before.

Ever since he moved roles he's definitely improved a lot. But he's now also having a bit of a role change on some maps again. He's very good at adapting to new roles.

For me, before he even joined Astralis I thought he was one of the biggest talents I've ever played with - so I have a lot of praise for him.

I think he's really, really good, and a lot of the stuff that isn't said as well in statistics goes unnoticed with how little resources he takes up on some maps and how much you can rely on him.

He's a really strong guy mentally as well. I think he's destined for a really great career.

I think that br0 actually fulfils what we need a lot.

He's really good at anchoring the bombsites as CT. He's coming from Monte which wasn't a Danish-speaking team that maybe relied a little more on individual hero rounds more.

They were really good at that. So he has that X factor in the anchor roles that you see that a lot of the top teams have.

I think that he will just continue to grow more and more but he has already surprised me. He's a young guy with a huge desire to get better and he's dedicating all of his time to learning more about CS and making his mechanics even better.

He really believed in helping me become an IGL, so he's been a big part of that. I think he's really good and has been underrated - mainly because you are very much based on your results in the CS world rather than your efforts.

People only see the results and nobody knows the effort you're putting in.

I've known him for a long time. I played with him when I was 14 and our work relationship is really good. It's great to finally work with him again in a truly professional environment.

The year for us has been very much up and down. The RMR in Romania was terrible, and for me, individually I think there was a lot of negativity and hardship at the start of the year.

I envision a lot of development and a positive trajectory for the team, for sure. I think we have a lot to show and prove and we just want to do our best going into the tournaments now.

I think we have a good opportunity in China, Pro League in Malta and also at BLAST Spring Final in London which will be the last event before the player break.

I'm just really excited to be a part of this team and I think we can surprise some people.