Heroic Sjuush on IEM Cologne 2023

The morning of the playoffs at IEM Cologne 2023 has dawned and Heroic are going to be making ready for his or her quarterfinals sport. They’re on one thing of a meteoric rise proper now and are in with an excellent probability to take the event general. First, nonetheless, they nonetheless have some mountains to climb. We bought to talk with Sjuush from Heroic about all issues Cologne, CS2 and whether or not they are going to take house the trophy.

Supply: PGL

How are you discovering Cologne thus far?

I believe it’s 50/50, like with the climate, it’s been good and unhealthy. We bought a very good begin on the event, profitable the primary two matches. The final 2 occasions we’ve been right here, we haven’t made it to the playoffs. It’s been a curse for us however this time, it’s been rather a lot higher. We’ve damaged the curse. However then we misplaced the match to go to the semifinals, which I believe we must always have gained however we threw some conditions the place we have been 4v2 or 3v2.

What does it imply as a participant to be at this stage of the event with Heroic?

IEM Cologne is without doubt one of the greatest tournaments and we’ve by no means been within the area. We’ve actually needed to for the previous couple of years so I believe everybody is de facto glad and excited to get this chance to play within the playoffs.

We have been all fairly unhappy about shedding the match final night time, we hate shedding and disappointing individuals. We’re very aggressive however normally, we’re glad. Quarterfinals isn’t unhealthy but it surely’s a bonus to get within the semi finals. We’ll get a minimum of 1 match within the area.

We’ve seen some superb clutches from cadiaN particularly this event, how does that have an effect on the staff’s morale for the remainder of the sport?

It positively provides us vitality. In a few of the conditions, we now have no cash and he simply has a pistol or an AWP however he wins these rounds and simply modifications the entire sport. It’s an excellent vitality enhance and when it’s wanting tough, we will nonetheless win these rounds.

Are there any groups that you simply’d hope to keep away from taking part in at this late stage of the event?

I don’t know if there’s anybody I’d need to keep away from. I don’t really feel like there’s a number one staff. I really feel like if we do all the pieces we will like we observe then there shouldn’t be any bother. I’m taking it one match at a time. You may nonetheless lose for those who don’t do issues like the way you observe. You simply should do all the pieces proper.

How is the preparation with Heroic earlier than every sport on this late stage of the event going?

Our preparation is completely different relying on how lengthy we now have till the sport. Largely, it’s simply preparation towards the groups and specializing in our stuff in addition to particular person observe. You’ll want to get some good meals too to get some good vitality.

Now we have this custom the place we order some spaghetti bolognese earlier than some match days. It’s like a intestine feeling, if we’d like the bolognese to get by, we’ll order it.

Do you’re feeling just like the outcomes from IEM Rio and Katowice after affecting you going into the playoffs at Cologne?

Sure and no, actually. I really feel just like the outcome is just not that vital. It’s extra like our consistency, the place we’ve been in virtually each single semi finals or finals days. That sort of vitality reveals that we might be constant and if we belief the method, all the pieces works. Clearly, it hurts that we will’t win these finals once we get there however we consider it’s going to come.

Have you ever had an opportunity to check out Counter-strike 2 but? How do you suppose that may impression your play?

No, we’ve been so targeted on CS:GO as a result of I don’t suppose it issues an excessive amount of, practising or taking part in an excessive amount of CS2 once we don’t know when it’s going to come back out. Additionally, we actually need to do good in CS:GO, having a adequate sport and season as nicely. I believe when CS2 comes out, we’ll positively grind. They’re going to vary quite a lot of stuff. I imply, we’re actually good at being inventive so I believe it’ll come simply to us when it comes out.

I believe it’s going to vary the sport. I don’t precisely know the way proper now however I positively suppose there are going to be some attention-grabbing techniques and methods to abuse it in some way. I’m excited, I often like being inventive like if I can discover some thrilling smoke lineups or execute in a means that all the pieces simply is smart. I’m excited to only stroll round and have that creativity with some smokes and nades, simply mess around with it.

I really feel like new issues are enjoyable. It’s been the identical for thus lengthy.

Now that you simply’ve taken down some huge opponents like Navi and Crew Vitality, do you’re feeling like that is the 12 months Heroic are going to win Cologne and possibly even Worlds?

I imply I believe we’re positively in an excellent place to do nicely in just about each single event. I really feel like we now have an excellent calmness across the staff. Now we have all the pieces set like the way it needs to be so there isn’t actually something exterior of the sport that we now have to fret about. I believe we’re going to do nicely. It’s onerous to say that we’re going to take the trophy as a result of if we don’t do what we’ve been practising, and that may occur, then we would not however we now have an excellent probability a minimum of.