MAJ3R: "We still lack something to win tournaments"
2026 has been good to Aurora so far. Playoff attendees of every event they’ve competed in, it reminds their IGL, MAJ3R, of the first half of 2025.
Anubis, of course, has been a key factor in that, something he is aware of as being a potential problem in the future if they look to avoid a repeat of the second half of 2026, but so too has the arrival of soulfly, a player MAJ3R says is “yet to show his full potential”.
“[soulfly] still needs to adapt”
It's been a strong start to the year for Aurora, how are you finding the year so far?
It's good. It's like 2025, we're still getting into the playoffs in most tournaments, but we lack the thing to win it. We're searching for that, and hopefully this tournament will be the key.
The last time we spoke was when Anubis got removed from the map pool. Are you happy to see its return? It's been really good for you so far.
Yeah, of course. It's one of our strongest maps as a team and individually.
With it back in the pool, does it feel like this is the strongest the map pool has ever been for the team?
Yeah, but we also liked Vertigo. If they were both in the pool, that's where we could do the biggest damage.
soulfly came into the team at the beginning of the year and looks to have really gelled in the team. Do you think he's more suited to what you need than jottAAA?
Yeah, I think it took some time to adapt him, but it's been three months now, and he's doing a great job. He has things to learn and ways to still adapt; he hasn't shown his potential yet, but hopefully, we can be better in the coming days and months.
Is he helping to facilitate other players better than what you had before?
Yeah, he plays smarter, and that helps everyone. But as I said, he hasn't shown his potential yet. In CS, we play a lot, so it's easy to have one good match or a good tournament, but it's hard to do that in every tournament. So he has to find a way to do it in every tournament.
Is that something he needs to find in himself, or is that where you look to help as the team's IGL?
It's both. I can help him, but it's more in his hands. As a player, you have your fate in your hands. It's the work that you are willing to do, and I try to teach the work ethic, what you need in terms of intelligence and not making mistakes, but it's still in his hands.
Is that where you also look towards the experience of XANTARES and woxic?
Yeah, the coach and I try to explain to them that they're experienced, so they need to show the way to the younger generation. They try their best, and we try as a team, because it's important.
In terms of the results so far this year, they've been very solid and a lot like last year, but looking at the second half of last year, those results tapered off. What have you learnt from that to prevent it from happening again?
The first six months of last year, we had Anubis, and we made eight playoffs in a row. We went down when Anubis went out, and I think that's the main reason for it. Now, Anubis is back, and we're back in the playoffs, so I think the map helps a lot.
We're still missing something to win tournaments, though.
If Anubis was to go again, though, what do you do to stay in this spot?
We need a better map pool, for sure. But, generally, if we want to be champions and get to the level of Vitality, individually, we need everyone to be 20% better. Better mentality, fresher, more intelligent. If we want to be better, we have to raise it.
I say to the team, if we want to win these pressure matches, individually, we just have to be better in every way.
With other teams struggling, do you think this is the best time to take control and do that?
Yeah, this is a good time to shine and get close to Vitality. They're above every team right now, and we're in this six or seven-team group that are at the same level.
In terms of one of those teams in particular, you don't have the best record against NAVI, so what do you think the reason for the struggle is there?
I don't know, to be honest. Maybe it's mental. Individually, I think they maybe outsmart us, but I also don't feel the same energy from the team when we play them, so maybe there's a mental barrier there. It can be the same for The MongolZ, too.
Is it a confidence thing then?
Maybe.
A while ago, you guys had a favourable record against Vitality. Do you feel confident you can be the guys to take them down?
I really believe that we have a good system and individuals to face Vitality. Playing Vitality is something we like to do, and I don't know why. We never lost to them back then, but now they're so much better than the other teams, so it could be very different.
Natus VincereFUT EsportsAurora
