As NRG mada expressed, the haters only fuel the team’s confidence. Their next challenge is MIBR at VALORANT Champions 2025.
NRG has been on an impressive run at VALORANT Champions 2025, defying the odds as underdogs with big wins in the Group Stage and maintaining their Upper Bracket push in the Playoffs. Their next challenge is a North American clash with MIBR, with a spot in the Upper Bracket Finals on the line, happening on Sept. 28, 2025.
In an exclusive interview with esports.gg, Adam "mada" Pampuch reflected on NRG’s performance, his impact as a standout operator player, and why he believes NRG has mastered Corrode, claiming the team is the true architect of how to play the map the right way.
Champions' debut and calling out the haters
Sofia: Your first map was just unbelievably good, you and brawk were smashing that Haven. How did the team prepare for this series against a team that you have never played before?
NRG mada: All brawk, not me. We knew they played a little bit strangely compared to other teams, so we focused on our things, our setups, our strats, and just playing our own game. That's what it looks like.
Sofia: I saw a tweet from m1xwell recently about how having a strong operator player can be disruptive in high-pressure games, like the ones at Champions, forcing the enemy team to waste many resources. Do you feel you've learn this kind of impact in NRG matches as an operator/outlaw player?
NRG mada: Yes, definitely. I think I'm kind of an operator merchant. They [the team] kind of mess with me a little about it, like I can only play with the operator. I love using the outlaw because it's just broken and it's so fun, I take a lot of value from it.
Sofia: Did Ethan give you some advice ahead of your first Champions Playoffs?
NRG mada: No, he didn't.
Sofia: You're a rookie debuting at Champions 2025. How does it feel to be here?
NRG mada: It feels amazing, and I've waited to be here, in this position, for such a long time. I'm glad to finally be here for sure.
Sofia: These champions have been called the "comeback kings," winning against two teams when NRG were the underdogs. What do you have to tell everyone who underestimates NRG?
NRG mada: Keep doubting us. We genuinely love it when they expect nothing.
NA versus EU
Sofia: After two European teams have been defeated today, do you think that NA is better than EU?
NRG mada: Well, I think the EU has always been a region where FNATIC kind of carries them. I think Heretics is also very good, so... I don't think it's fair to say that we're better than Europe, but I think both regions are very strong. It's just nice to see us, MIBR, and G2 doing well in the playoffs. It gives us a lot of confidence for our region.
Sofia: How do you evaluate your journey since the beginning of the season until this Champions?
NRG mada: Maybe more knife kills in the games. I feel like everything that we needed to work on, we've kind of ironed out. We're just in our peak form, and all we need to do now is keep our energy consistent and keep playing.
NRG mada: "We are the best Corrode team in the world."
Sofia: You will now have a clash against another NA team, and you can even go to the Upper Bracket Finals. How do you feel about the upcoming match against MIBR, and do you feel confident you can win it?
NRG mada: Yes, I am. I think MIBR is looking great, but they also took a lot of things from us, especially on Corrode. They copied a lot of our playstyle, so that kind of tells us everything we need to know going into this next game. They're kind of thinking what we're doing is good, and we're the ones who made it, so hopefully we just play Corrode against them.
Sofia: Corrode is a very NA map, as we saw from this tournament. You are confident you can win it?
NRG mada: Respectfully, without sounding like some kind of egomaniac, I feel like we are the best Corrode team in the world, and we've shown that time and time again. Teams kept picking it into us, and we just keep beating them on the map.
Sofia: I don't know if you are aware that you have been growing a fan base online. What message do you want to leave for them?
NRG mada: I love the support. Everyone always messages me nice things on my Instagram and Twitter. Just keep showing love. We feel all the energy, and we're using it to our advantage in these games.
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