MIBR zekken: “I don’t care about being in a super team, I’m just excited to play with them.”

Facing the reigning Champions winners brings no added pressure for MIBR Zachary “zekken” Patrone. His focus is solely on winning. With Masters Santiago qualification within reach, his objective is clear: secure the victory and take the final step forward. Standing in his way in the Upper Bracket, however, is FURIA.

In an interview with esports.gg, zekken reflected on the matchup against NRG, bouncing back after dropping a map, returning to his Yoru pick, his growing comfort in the controller role, playing under Verno’s leadership as IGL, and more.

We rarely see MIBR zekken miss his shots, but when he does, Roberto “Mazino” Rivas is there to back him up. “Every day I thank Mazino,” he joked with a laugh. Against NRG, MIBR looked like a completely different team from past seasons, playing with renewed confidence.

This was not a revenge match from Champions 2025. For zekken, it was a regular match. "Well, not a regular because we are trying to qualify, that's my main focus, but it is fun to play against a good opponent. I like close games, so I was very excited for this one," he said.

The first map was a tough one, with MIBR falling behind 1–11 early. Resetting after such a rough start is never easy, but zekken believes the team has learned to recognize when they’ve been "destroyed" and use it as fuel to come back stronger. As they moved into the second map, MIBR not only acknowledged what went wrong but also focused on the positives.

"We were playing much better towards the end of Abyss. Our communication was better, and we are landing the shots. So, we decided to bring those positive things into the next match. All we needed was to solve the problems," zekken explained. "In the next map, we were already refreshed and played much better."

However, to win matches, MIBR cannot wait until the 10-second mark to do something in the round. That was one of the big problems that coach Daniel "fRoD" Montaner identified, especially on Split, and the team ended up working after the timeout. "He said something like: You're doing the right thing, but please just do it faster," he recalled.

There is nothing that made the fans happier than seeing zekken bringing back his signature Yoru. Not only did he choose him, but he also popped off in that double duelist composition with Erick "aspas" Santos. The duo was insanely good on both Split and Breeze, securing their victory over NRG.

However, MIBR zekken is proud of his growth as a controller player, assuring is way more comfortable in that role now. "I don't think I'm at my peak there yet," he stated. "I definitely think that my ceiling on the controller is higher than people think."

While many describe MIBR’s new roster as a “super team,” zekken stays focused on what matters most to him. For him, it’s about playing with an incredible team and enjoying the experience.

Yoru’s comeback reminded fans of zekken’s golden era with Sentinels. While he still holds a special place in his heart for the team, he appreciates MIBR’s lower content demands. “I’m a little antisocial, so it’s actually nice that MIBR doesn’t do much content,” he laughed. “Of course, I’ll do it if we have to, but I’m not complaining that it’s less frequent.”

For zekken, both fanbases are incredibly passionate about their respective teams. They enjoy watching their favorites play and celebrating their victories.

At just 18 years old, Andrew “Verno” Maust took on the IGL role for MIBR. Nearly a year later, zekken has praised his development, even describing him as experienced in the position. “He’s calling well against strong teams and always keeps his composure,” zekken explained. “He doesn’t get nervous or make bad calls. He’s doing a great job.”

While he may still be relatively new to the IGL role, MIBR zekken believes Verno doesn’t look inexperienced in the role. Even when opponents manage to read their strategy, he stays composed and searches for ways to guide the team back into the game.

In a lighthearted moment, MIBR joked about Verno’s new look ahead of their match against NRG, his former team. While zekken admitted he doesn’t know who Verno’s barber is, the team has been teasing him to go fully bald so he can “look like a 10-year-old kid.” For now, though, it seems Verno is sticking with his current haircut.

The highly anticipated Upper Bracket clash between MIBR and FURIA is set for Feb. 13. While both teams still have time to prepare, zekken is eager for the matchup. The winner will secure a spot in the Masters Santiago tournament in Chile, the first international event of the year, taking place from Feb. 28 to March 15.

The losing team will drop directly to the Mid-Bracket Grand Finals for a second chance at qualification. Even if they lose again, a third and final opportunity awaits in the Lower-Bracket Grand Final. We wish all the teams the best of luck!