The AWPer shared with esports.gg that her standout moment from the tournament wasn’t about specific kills or even winning an eco round in Dust 2. It was something else entirely that made everything worth it.
After duking it out live all weekend at DreamHack Stockholm, team Imperial Valkyries won the ESL Impact Season 6 Finals! The team has changed names over time, but the core remains the same. This 2-1 victory against FURIA in the grand final not only earned Imperial Valkyries the lion's share of the $123,000 prize pool but also their eighth consecutive ESL Impact title. Esports.gg caught up with Ana "ANa" Dumbravă at the venue for an interview!
Imperial Valkyries interview: ANa at the ESL Impact Season 6 Finals
In her interview with esports.gg, ANa said that it's always amazing to win and make her organization, family, and friends proud. Although these back-to-back victories may seem easy from the outside, the reality is that her team put in a lot of training and effort to qualify in the first place.
"Sadly, we are not trying to share the trophies," she added. "So I'm really happy that we managed to win it."
ANa then shared that in terms of practice, her team really focused on performance, strategy, and quick reactions — similar to the efforts seen in the male CS2 scene. She attributed her team's edge to simply working non-stop.
However, when she and her teammates did need rest over the weekend, they visited the massage machines in the Pro Alliance lounge provided by Logitech G PRO Series and Adamas. After spending long hours in front of PCs — sometimes over eight hours— everyone had to prioritize their health. ANa recalled how her back really hurt, so a teammate helped her with one of the machines.
In addition to physical health, ANa said she received support from her teammates by her side and family back home. She shared that her family wasn't able to attend the event due to her cousin's academic exams, but emphasized that everything she does is for them.
"Everything that I do is for them — is for my family," she told esports.gg. "They sacrificed a lot for me to do what I love the most. So it's everything for them."
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Imperial Valkyries: Together as one
The AWPer also shared what she enjoyed most about the tournament. However, her standout moment wasn't about any particular moment in terms of kills, winning an eco round in Dust 2, or anything of that nature.
"The most important thing I enjoyed is just being with my team, being with them every single day, every single hour, putting the work together, being together, having fun together, laughing, and so on. So for me, they are the top priority, And if they are happy, I am happy, too."
As for parting words, ANa thanked everyone who supported the team — especially those who cheered them on in person.
"I really have to say huge thanks to everyone who supported us on the first day of the tourney," she said, referring to the moment when young fans cheered excitedly and loudly at DreamHack Stockholm Day 1 for them. "And especially people who stood in front of the stage and supported us physically. It means a lot to us. They gave us the best energy possible."
That's all for now. For more interviews about the real people behind their competitive games, stick around on esports.gg.
