Ropz on facing G2: “It’s going to be down to who turns out and who’s going to have a better day”

After disappointment at IEM Katowice last year, Faze Clan are back for blood. We got the chance to speak to Robin “ropz” Kool about their quarterfinals match up with G2 and how frozen is fitting into the team.

Sophie McCarthy: Congratulations for reaching the stage of the tournament!

How are you feeling so far?

Ropz: Thank you. It feels good. We did miss out last year on this arena specifically. We always want to make it deep in this tournament, so I’m glad we did this time. I would say we have met our expectations of it.

Sophie McCarthy: Next up you’re going to be facing G2. Probably the more difficult matchup of the quarterfinals.

How prepared are you going into this one?

Ropz: We’ve played against G2 many times. I think it’s going to be another classic matchup against them. I think we already know where the veto is going and what maps each team likes to play. There shouldn’t be any surprises. It’s just like, it’s going to be down to who turns out and who’s going to have a better day because I think we are very similar on paper.

Sophie McCarthy: We’ve seen both teams play quite a lot of Nuke in this tournament.

Do you think that you could take them out on Nuke?

Ropz: I think Nuke is a good map for both teams. I won’t really start going into the specifics. I think it’s probably going to be part of the map pool but we’ll have to see before the match.

Sophie McCarthy: Previously with G2, you have had quite long series against them. We often see it go to over time.

Does that change the way that you prepare when you go in knowing that you might be in it for the long haul?

Ropz: No, you never prepare for over time, I think there’s no point. You just, usually it’s your standard procedure. It’s just a bit of anti-stratting. If you can get an edge of a few rounds, maybe three, maybe five max, but then you did do preparation for your own game to see that make sure that all your own strats, everything.

All the timings are good, all the grenades are good. Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do, I think that’s the most important part.

I think when it comes down to the over time, you start improvising. So you can do kind of just a lot of mixed things.

Sophie McCarthy: Okay, cool. So maybe over time is a little bit more creative and a little bit more fun.

Ropz: Yes

Sophie McCarthy: Frozen is the newest member of Faze Clan after Twistzz left.

How has he fit into Faze Clan and how has he changed the way that you guys are playing?

Ropz: I think it’s all around just great. The game brings good vibes to the team. He is very talented and now he also has the experience of playing for a long time on a good team in MOUZ and coming into Faze.

So I think the guy has no bad side, I would say. And I think that’s exactly what this team needs. We need a guy like him to fill the gap was left by Twistzz. And he’s done a good job. He’s done a phenomenal job so far. He has been playing really good in this tournament. So I think there’s a lot more to come.

You’ve been playing with Faze Clan for quite a long time now. Is this the strongest iteration?

Ropz: I’m not gonna say it’s the strongest yet because I think that come down to results. I think results speak for themselves. When we achieve greatness, I think you can easily say that but I think it’s not there yet. Obviously, we haven’t got to play many tournaments yet. So we’ll have to see.

I think it’s a very strong core and much of it is still the same as before. You only change one player so far. So I think we’re still having the strongest of the core and the ability of each player is still kind of the same and adding a new player is just going to bring some more uniqueness and we’ll see how it develops.