NAVI jL at ESL Pro League Season 18 – “Aleksib has always been there to help me”

For NAVI, anything below the top spot is a disappointment. It’s been a tough twelve months for the organization, but with its new international roster showing great signs in its first few months, there’s a lot to be excited about.

Prior to the beginning of ESL Pro League Season 18 Group C, we spoke to the impressive rifler jL from NAVI, to get his early thoughts on the upcoming tournament!

The new NAVI roster has already had some ups and downs in its short time together. What’ve you guys been doing to gain some consistency on the server?

The main thing was obviously to practice and fix our flaws in-game, try to polish our way of approaching the game because there were a lot of gaps we would leave on the map or not understand completely. So we tried to work on that, and of course building a solid map pool that we’re comfortable with, that any map can be picked. Instead of banning our worst map, we could ban the opponent’s best map.

You joined NAVI after a great Paris Major with Apeks. Has that been a bit of a rollercoaster for you, with it happening so fast?

Yes. I didn’t expect to be in such a high organization and a good team so fast, because it’s only my third year of pro CS. It’s amazing to be on a team like NAVI – I haven’t expected it, but I’m super happy to be here and I don’t feel more pressure than I used to feel in Apeks.

Now, it’s no secret how some corners of the internet feel about Aleksib. Does playing alongside him give you a newfound respect for what he brings to the team?

Yes, I think he brings a lot to the team. I think the rumors of him micromanaging is completely not true, it’s not happening anymore. I think he’s been really good with players and working with them. I needed some help on some parts of the map because when I joined NAVI I didn’t play the positions before that I do now, and there are some positions that I have no knowledge about. He has always been there to help me, support me, I never had to be on my own. It’s super nice to have a guy like him.

Coming to ESL Pro League, you’ve got 5yclone up first. Does being the favorite change how you guys prepare for a match? 

No, of course not. Being favorite is – you always have to look at the game as a 50/50 game. Not as in, we win 50, we lose 50. It’s just that, the teams are equal and you have to prepare for every single one the same way you would do for another team. So for example, if we’re playing Vitality, we’ll prepare the same way, because you have to respect each other. In CS, anything can happen. I for sure know that they can shoot good headshots, and yeah, it’s just about understanding the game and having better preparation for each other. Yeah, that’s the little edges and gaps you have to take as a professional team.

If things line up you could be playing Apeks in your second match.

Yes! Yes!

How would it feel to bump into old friends again on and off the server?

I don’t want to sound rude, but, they kind of benched one of my good friends, kuben, that brought me up into this game. I feel kind of – I have the chance to do a little revenge for him, so I would really like to face them. It’s gonna be a heated match for sure. I hope they win their games, and I hope we win ours. Meeting old friends, avenging my old friend as well, so it’s going to be fun.

You mentioned kuben, was that the coach?

Yes, he was the coach, and now he has been replaced by mithR, the academy coach, that has been with us through the Major… we’ll see how it goes!

It’s safe to say most would expect you guys to progress from Group C at a minimum. But what would you say is a success for this NAVI roster at ESL Pro League Season 18?

For anything NAVI does, a success is winning the tournament. I mean, of course we don’t expect it but we’ll probably not be satisfied with a 2nd, 3rd, or a 4th because if you go that far, you can go even further. I think we have players who thrive in Grand Finals, who have been there many many times. I think in those kind of situations they excel. Of course I haven’t been in a Grand Final, other people have. I’ve heard that Grand Finals are way different than a normal game, so, I think I have it – I think I should be fine. We have a team of Grand Finalists!

It’s not bad company to keep!

Yes!

Finally, looking a bit further forward – what do you think CS2 holds for this NAVI roster?

It holds everything! Because I have not played this game for a long time and I’m super happy to switch to a new one. It’s like an upgraded version. I think we have what it takes – b1t is young, iM is young, s1mple is… still doing really good. Aleksi is here – I dunno, I think we have everything that it takes for CS2. We’re very motivated, we’re passionate. What’s left is just, have Valve release the game, we play it, then we see, but I’m super happy about it. I don’t think it’s gonna be a tough switch for us.