ENCE SunPayus at ESL Pro League Season 18

ENCE come into ESL Pro League Season 18 as one of many favorites in Group B, if not your complete event. We sat down with the crew’s talismanic AWPer SunPayus to get his ideas on the event, with varied matters mentioned.

Right here, you’ll learn how ENCE have established themselves on the high of CS:GO, SunPayus’ ideas on IGL Snappi, and the way the crew are getting ready for CS2!

Optimistic indicators, however it was Cologne heartbreak for SunPayus’ ENCE. Credit score: IEM on Twitter

We’re coming into ESL Professional League off the again of two Grand Last defeats for ENCE. How do you guys bounce again mentally from that?

We’re keen to do as greatest as we will on this event, we clearly have larger expectations proper? However yeah, we try to concentrate on smiling, having enjoyable. General, we additionally know that sooner or later there will probably be some tournaments that we’ll simply miss. Like, we won’t be on level, we are going to miss, and it may be no matter event. We try to maintain our type – that’s our probability, and we’re additionally prepared for that, it’s superb.

Since IEM Dallas, you guys have been thought of one of many high groups on the earth. What do you assume has made the large distinction for the crew?

I imply, we fastened it after the last Major in Paris. We fastened a number of issues exterior the sport. We grew to become extra wholesome, and we have now began to work on our psychological as a crew and as people. So I believe that’s clearly the primary change as a result of if you really feel actually good exterior the sport, you feel assured. Like, having good buddies, focusing extra on crew sports activities basically. You’ll be a greater teammate, and also you’ll additionally play higher CS as a person. Should you play higher as a person, you’ll assist your crew extra.

As your outcomes have improved, as you say, expectations have elevated for ENCE. Does that change something about the way you strategy the person matches and tournaments?

I don’t assume it modifications as a result of we already made the change and as we will see it’s working, proper? These particular person routines and stuff we’re fixing as a crew. Meals, and sport, all these items. So yeah, we simply have to maintain going with that. Preserve enhancing in a deep approach on that stuff. However yeah, I believe we’re prepared for no matter tournaments are coming.

SunPayus discovered glory in Dallas. Credit score: Helena Kristiansson | © ESL

I’ve received to speak about Snappi. At 33, he’s one of many top-performing IGLs on the earth. How does his expertise assist the crew on the server?

He helps the crew quite a bit as a result of he’s sacrificing himself an excessive amount of for me, I’d say. He’s giving AKs, AWPs – he’s dropping all the great weapons to us. And yeah, he’s doing the entry roles, taking a number of house. He’s really insane as a result of he’s killing quite a bit really. So I don’t know. Like, for me, he’s the very best IGL on the earth by far. I don’t have any dangerous phrases for him – he’s simply insane.

It appears seemingly that ESL Professional League Season 18 would be the closing massive CS:GO LAN event. Does that elevate the stakes for you in any respect?

No. We simply take it as it’s – one other event, proper? We already talked concerning the targets of the crew and the tournaments. Clearly, this is a vital event for us, so we’re prepared and we have now ready fairly good to play this event. I imply – that’s the purpose.

Are there any groups that you just significantly need to face at ESL Professional League?

Yeah, I imply I want to face Vitality to get revenge from Gamers 8, and G2 for revenge from Cologne.

Cologne has SunPayus out for revenge. Credit score: ENCE on Twitter

As soon as ESL Professional League involves an finish, it seems like we’ll transfer over to Counter-Strike 2. How a lot are you guys enthusiastic about that – are you practising in any respect, or is all of it CS:GO nonetheless?

We’ve been practising solely CS:GO nonetheless, as a result of till there isn’t a extra tournaments of CS:GO we have now to maintain concentrate on this recreation. Clearly me and my teammates, we’re actually wanting ahead to CS2 as a result of I believe it’s fairly wanted – an enormous change with new challenges to develop ourselves just a little bit extra, even.

What are your ideas on MR12?

I didn’t assume an excessive amount of. I believe it’s gonna be an entire change of the meta. Individuals will save much less, they may go extra for the rounds. Clearly, I believe the financial system must change additionally, so that you don’t need to do two or three ecos in a row. Or having two ecos and a extremely dangerous purchase, nonetheless, with out full nades. If there may be MR12, I believe one thing will change additionally.

What’s your one massive hope for this ENCE roster going into 2024, for those who’ve regarded that far ahead?

I don’t assume an excessive amount of about it. I’m that type of particular person that’s really fairly centered on the current. If I’ve to think about one thing, for certain, I want to maintain being a top-3 crew on the earth, with these major targets of making an attempt to realize an period, proper? However I believe it’s actually arduous proper now to get an period as a result of everybody is actually good, everyone seems to be enhancing actually quick, so we simply have to maintain having enjoyable, maintain fixing ourselves when it comes to exterior the sport, and yeah, making an attempt to do our greatest in tournaments.