HuNter-: “I regret that I didn’t try to become a captain before”

Prior to the commencement of FISSURE Playground #2, we secured an exclusive interview with Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač from G2 Esports. The squad arrived with significant momentum following their surprising championship run at BLAST London, providing us the opportunity to explore how they achieved this unexpected success, adapted to losing key star players, and their strategic direction moving forward.

— You’ve been serving as IGL for several months now. How has this transition been for you personally?

— The experience has been quite positive overall. Our collective progress as a unit and my personal development as an in-game leader have exceeded initial expectations. The learning curve has been manageable, though I recognize the necessity for additional competitive experience and deeper tactical understanding. Continuous improvement remains the primary focus.

— How significantly has the team’s chemistry changed following the departure of elite talents like NiKo and m0NESY?

— The transformation has been substantial across multiple dimensions. Previously, I never assumed captaincy responsibilities when playing alongside NiKo and m0NESY, and I genuinely wish I had explored this responsibility earlier to understand its implications. The leadership perspective reveals different aspects of your teammates’ capabilities that aren’t visible from other roles. Naturally, the overall team environment has undergone notable shifts.

NiKo contributed extensively beyond his individual performance, supporting not just our shot-callers but every team member. He established himself as an exemplary professional competitor, mentor figure, and veteran presence with extensive competitive wisdom. Meanwhile, Ilya demonstrates extraordinary skill as arguably the world’s premier AWPer currently, and his career trajectory appears exceptionally promising. While the current configuration differs markedly, our commitment to reaching peak performance remains unwavering.

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— You mention regret about not pursuing this earlier. Does this indicate you believe you possess the potential to rank among elite IGLs currently?

— That assessment proves challenging to make definitively. The competitive landscape features numerous exceptional in-game leaders, and I’m not prepared to position myself alongside them at this stage. Substantial demonstration of capability is required before claiming equivalent standing. The regret stems from… primarily recognizing my aptitude for this position and wishing I had tested these waters sooner. Perhaps the experiment would have failed and I’d abandoned the role eventually. Outcomes remain unpredictable. Possibly the timing aligns perfectly with our current circumstances. The decision stands firm now.

— History shows many prominent players experience diminished individual impact when transitioning to IGL roles. Does this concern you personally?

— I maintain confidence when surrounded by competent teammates, which we certainly have currently—players providing substantial support while maintaining elite individual performance levels. Even if my personal mechanical skill declines somewhat, I trust my colleagues to compensate during crucial moments. My dedication to preserving individual form matches previous satisfaction levels through structured practice regimens and focused development. Maintaining performance standards represents the controllable element I can guarantee, while other aspects develop through dedicated effort.

— From gameplay and tactical perspectives, what distinguishes playing alongside m0NESY versus competing with SunPayus?

— m0NESY’s reputation precedes him universally. His youth combined with extraordinary talent suggests an incredibly bright competitive future ahead. Championship victories will undoubtedly accumulate throughout his career. My experience playing with him traces back to his early development stages transitioning from NAVI Junior to G2. Witnessing his maturation process provides contrasting dynamics compared to SunPayus, who joined our organization as an established, polished professional. Our collaboration spans merely two months currently. However, SunPayus brings substantial veteran insight, frequently offering strategic input and maintaining constant communication during matches. Ilya typically concentrated more intensely on his individual responsibilities. These represent the fundamental distinctions between their approaches.

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— Recently you secured victory at BLAST. This represented a significant underdog achievement. What objectives have you established for this upcoming competition?

— Defeating Team Spirit, particularly that dominant 13:1 Ancient performance, naturally provided substantial confidence reinforcement by overcoming such formidable opposition. Our London success stemmed partially from that Spirit victory performance. However, we must mentally move past that tournament accomplishment. The championship occurred merely seventy-two hours prior. Currently, we face immediate transition into subsequent competitive proceedings. Replicating our London execution patterns represents the pathway to success here.

The competitive environment differs now since nobody anticipated our championship victory previously. Current expectations demand consistent G2 performance repetition. Additional psychological pressure inevitably accompanies this situation. Previously we competed without expectations against FaZe, FURIA, Vitality and Spirit. Underdog status provided freedom previously, yet we demonstrated capability. Now we must validate that performance wasn’t anomalous.

— Were you able to celebrate this significant achievement properly?

— We allocated the post-victory evening for celebration, followed by two travel days and today’s media obligations. Limited opportunity existed to fully appreciate the championship accomplishment. Tonight demands immediate refocusing on upcoming challenges. Our next match versus Lynn Vision Gaming. Preparation intensity must match our approach against FaZe or FURIA, or Vitality, or Spirit. Maximum effort repetition remains essential to demonstrate championship legitimacy.

— Does competing in another tournament shortly after major victory present challenges, or does it provide momentum?

— Extended competitive breaks don’t align with my preferences. Successful performances benefit from immediate subsequent tournament participation ideally. However, we required additional recovery time—perhaps one or two days—for relaxation, rest, and family celebration, though scheduling constraints prevented this. Making this event equally meaningful remains paramount. Subsequent strong performance here would then permit proper victory appreciation during scheduled downtime.

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