malbsMd⁠: "The last four months were terrible for me"

Earlier today, a below full strength G2 roster managed to stay alive at PGL Astana, defeating M80 in the 0-2 pool.

The event is the first for G2 since the departure of Ilya "m0NESY" Osipom, and the team is also playing without Nemanja "⁠huNter-⁠" Kovač, forcing coach Wiktor "⁠TaZ⁠" Wojtas to step in next to short-term signee Olek "⁠hades⁠" Miskiewicz. The start of the year has not been easy for Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa, but the former M80 star stills feels confident, as he told HLTV after beating his former team.

"I want to be the best I can, and I think I'm finally starting to show my true capabilities, because the last four months were terrible for me. I accept it and I acknowledge it, but I think it started from our last bootcamp. I think I've never felt this comfortable before. I just started a little bit shaky at this event, but yeah, there's no huNter-, we have to play with TaZ, it's like a shit show, but it's fine. I think I'm coming back, and it's good, I feel happier."

There's admittedly been little to be happy about if you're malbsMd or a G2 fan. Even the grand finals appearance at PGL Bucharest last month is especially bittersweet as it was the swan song for a departing m0NESY, and to further rub salt in the wound, he left for a Falcons team that beat G2 and lured away Nikola "NiKo" Kovač months earlier.

It's also not ideal for G2 to be competing without their full roster just weeks ahead of the start of the Major. But at the same time, there's no better time for malbsMd⁠ to start feeling more capable and happy. With m0NESY and NiKo gone, he has to be the one to step up.

To progress in Astana, G2 will have to play and defeat BIG tomorrow in the 1-2 bracket of round four.