ropz: "When people say the scene is weak, it's complete delusion"

After their loss to NAVI in the IEM Atlanta quarterfinals, Nathaniel "Gadj" Singer spoke with Vitality's Robin "ropz" Kool. While Vitality came into the event as big favorites, the lack of practice caught up with them, and NAVI finally won the lopsided matchup.

ropz talked about the team's performance at the event, his thoughts on the current scene as a whole, and his legacy as a player.

A transcription of the full interview is underneath. All questions and answers have been slightly edited for length and clarity.

Commiserations on the loss. How are you feeling after the quarterfinal against NAVI?

It kinda hurts to lose. It's been a while since we lost in the playoffs as well. Yeah, it hurts. But, it was maybe coming because we didn't practice and everything. We just made a long-term investment for the major and hope it pays off. We get some rest, reset, and come with more fire into the major.

You also talked about a lack of practice before BLAST Fort Worth. What went differently here?

In the end, it was only Inferno because that's a map we haven't played in a while. Didn't really play it in Fort Worth either. Just a bit rusty on that map. Other than that, we played NAVI. They are the second-best team in the world and the other trophy contender in this tournament. It was gonna be a tough match.

They got the better of us this time. Not much to say, that's just how it goes.

Does the lack of practice before the event soften the blow of the loss?

For sure, it softens the loss. The thing is, we're not even being that open. It's just that we get this question in every interview. That's the narrative people are pushing, and it's not up to us. We're just here to answer the questions. It's kind of a moment to find a small break because we don't really have other times to find rest.

Now we have the major, and we have to get back and start bootcamping. Just start practicing. If there was time to rest, it was now.

What has been different this year for flameZ that has helped him step up his game?

He's just maturing a bit. He's finally getting into that all-around, experienced player on the best team in the world. That helps a lot when you have confidence in his role because he's an entry fragger. You have to have that kind of confidence. He's just snowballing, event after event.

For him, he's not letting his foot off the gas. Always trying to find new things. He's also finding new ways to improve individually, whether it's mechanically or just checking what other teams are doing. He's just pushing, and it's working for him so far.

Do you feel your style has evolved in the past year to keep up with the scrutiny that comes from being on the best team?

Don't think the style has changed that much. You just keep up with the meta of the game. That's the natural progression of how things go. Some strats you do...they become overused, and you have to think of new things. Sometimes you copy the other teams.

It's never a bad idea to look at other teams and steal some strats. That's how the meta evolves. Teams find ways to be one step ahead or come up with new things entirely.

You've had a uniquely successful career. Where does your drive to win come from?

It's just from competition. That's the thing we're attached to. We have the ability to compete and try to be the best. That's the thing that makes it addictive. You get to compete and find out who's better than the other. For us, it's been going quite well. Winning trophies is a big motivation.

People think we're getting complacent from winning so many trophies, that we're getting tired or bored or whatever. It's definitely not the case. This is the highest drive or hunger for success I've seen in any team I've been in.

Some people say the scene is weak right now, but what are your overall thoughts on it?

When people say the scene is weak, it's complete delusion. I've been here ten years; whenever there's a dominant team, that's always been said. That's kinda bullshit. That's just what happens; if you have a dominant team, of course, they're going to win. Every other team is playing catch-up, making roster moves.

You see a super team like Falcons, you see an insane team like Spirit with donk. Those are not weak teams. Those would probably be the best teams in the world. It's just a weird thing to keep repeating, but that's just the audience.

What do you want your legacy to be in CS?

I haven't really thought about it, but to be remembered. Nowadays, there's a hall of fame. Maybe have a chance at that. With a storied career like mine, I would like to be recognized for all the achievements. It's something you end up caring about. Once you win that many trophies, you probably end up there.

Just to be remembered and to have an impact on the game. Things like people talking about you years down the line.

Any final thoughts before the Cologne Major?

Before the Cologne Major, not many thoughts. Again, it hurts to lose here in Atlanta and go home in the quarterfinals. We're just gonna rest a bit and find some motivation again. That's the one thing we need now. Some practice is well due. We can definitely have a boot camp and everything, prepared accordingly, like every other major.

We're going in as the defending major champions, so for us it's gonna be a big moment. It's actually the number one goal for now, to win this major.

Vitality now have several weeks to prepare before the IEM Cologne Major.