FaZe and broky want to go all the way in Copenhagen.
FaZe's 2024 has been the most difficult year for the team since the addition of Robin “ropz” Kool in 2022. While their Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Chengdu win showed that the team can still lift trophies, they haven't made a single semifinals since then. After a 2-1 win over Falcons, FaZe star Helvijs "broky" Saukants talked to esports.gg about securing playoffs at BLAST Premier Fall Finals 2024. Here's what the player had to say.
"We are never going to be satisfied until we win the tournament."
With a 24-round game on Nuke and triple overtime on Ancient, the series against the Falcons was a grueling one. A win or a loss can often come down to how the team's playbook adapts to such a long series and whether the individuals have more in the tank. But for FaZe, it was just business as usual.
Esports.gg: It was obviously a super hard-fought series with loads of super intense clutches and nearly four overtimes. When matches take that route, do you keep the original game plan, or are you kind of making calls on the fly and adapting to the situation at hand?
FaZe broky: Yeah, I mean, when the game goes to so many overtimes, you just keep doing the same [things] that worked, and maybe you add some fakes. But I think that karrigan just keeps trying to do the same as usual, and hopefully, it works out.
Esports.gg: How hard is it to hang in there when games are going on that long? Do you feel fatigued? Or is it something you're just used to?
FaZe broky: I mean, it depends on how much energy you have left. If you were half full before, or the energy is running out, then it's hard. But for me, it was fine.
There's a lot of haters right now, and we want to prove them wrong.
Talking about making playoffs at BLAST Premier Fall Finals, the sniper was clear. FaZe is a team that focuses on winning the tournament, and they won't be satisfied with anything less.
Esports.gg: Obviously, it must be a big relief to reach the playoffs after you had a bit of a hard time at ESL Pro League Season 20. Have you achieved your goals, or do you still have a bit more to go to feel like you're satisfied with how you've done at this tournament?
FaZe broky: We are never going to be satisfied until we win the tournament. We want to go all the way and show that FaZe can still win. There's a lot of haters right now, and we want to prove them wrong.
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"It's just Falcons." — FaZe broky
Individually, broky is unhappy with his own performance since the player break. But a series like this against the Falcons, where he brought out key clutches and kills, gives him more confidence for the event. Nevertheless, he reiterates that it is still "just Falcons."
Esports.gg: Looking at your individual performance, there were so many clutches and so many important kills from you across the series that really made a difference in terms of the result. Is this sort of performance that gives you a bit more confidence for the rest of the tournament? Do you feel like you played well?
FaZe broky: Yeah, for sure, I haven't had the best two months, in my opinion. So it's good that I can show a good Bo3 — all three maps.
Esports.gg: You say you haven't had the best two months. Do you think you have a point to prove or have you proved it now?
FaZe broky: Not really. It's just Falcons. We wanna beat the top 5 teams, and I wanna play well against them. Then I'll be fine.
FaZe and broky now move into the quarterfinals at the BLAST Premier Fall Finals, with their opponent set to be the loser of Vitality versus Liquid. If FaZe wants to return to the top, a deep run here will be a key target.
Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest CS2 news and interviews live from Copenhagen.
