We sat down with Vladislav "Kataomi`" Semenov from BetBoom Team for a quick chat before BLAST Slam I. He talks about his departure from Cloud9, how he joined BetBoom Team, their recent performances and struggle to win a tournament despite being consistent, and more.
Why did you leave Cloud9?
I left Cloud9 because I didn’t think this roster could win tournaments.
How did you end up joining BetBoom Team?
After The International 2024, I explored a few options, including BetBoom. I reached out to Pure about potentially teaming up, either with BetBoom or elsewhere. After successful discussions, I joined the team because of the strong roster and its potential to win tournaments. Our performance at BetBoom Dacha and DreamLeague S24 has shown that this potential is real.
What went wrong at The International 2024 (TI13) for Cloud9?
The atmosphere at Cloud9 was quite laid-back. It was pretty chill, but some guys got really stressed and nervous. That’s probably why we couldn’t go beyond a particular point at TI13. We had a good team but I wasn’t content with getting top 4/5 in tournaments. I needed something more serious because I wanted to win and thus I ended up leaving Cloud9.
BetBoom has been consistently strong, but what's stopping them from winning tournaments, a problem they faced last season too?
Defeating Team Falcons is the key to tournament victory. If we can overcome them, then the path to victory is clear. We need to stick to the basics and execute our strategy, something our team is entirely capable of doing and not let Team Falcons get the better of us. Until then, we’ll be the top 2 or top 3 team.
What is your team’s weakness compared to Team Falcons?
Team Falcons have been playing together for quite some time compared to us. They have good chemistry and know how to win. Their laning stage is comparatively better than ours. We often struggle to execute team fights near Roshan or capitalise on early-game leads. However, when comparing individual player skills, the skills are quite similar. Ultimately, it all boils down to our ability to coordinate as a team.
What are your expectations for BetBoom at BLAST Slam I?
Our participation in BLAST Slam I was uncertain until just a few days before the tournament. We received our visas just one week back and were sure about our participation four days back. The absence of our regular mid-laner and limited practice time [with two days of scrims] coupled with our coach's inability to attend has significantly impacted our preparation. We don’t have any expectations going into the tournament. We'll just try to have fun and see what happens.
What are your thoughts about the BLAST Slam format?
This format is pretty chill for us players. I really like this format and it is super comfortable. We'll be travelling a lot this year due to the many tournaments so it's nice to have a five-day tournament. The majority of tournaments last for two weeks and that can be mentally exhausting. And with Copenhagen being only two hours away by flight [from our destination], we can fly back home and relax.
What is your aim this year on the professional front?
My goal is to be one of the best position 5 players like Sneyking, Miposhka, and others. I also aim to win tournaments with my team and keep being consistent.
We hope you're ready for a BLAST! Stay tuned to our website for more interviews, features and the latest updates from the tournament. You can watch the streams on our website for a pleasant viewing experience.
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