Refrezh “proud” of Heroic’s PGL Stockholm Major run after tumultuous 2021

Ismail ‘refrezh’ Ali’s Heroic are out of the PGL Stockholm CS:GO Principal, nevertheless after a 2021 crammed with triumph and tribulations, the Dane was “proud” of the workforce’s excessive 4 run at their first Principal.

After refrezh stepped off the Avicii Space stage and into the media room, he was coming down after Heroic’s tight 2-1 sequence loss to G2 Esports at PGL Major Stockholm 2021.

Inside the second, it felt like a bitter disappointment ⁠— having been so close to a Principal closing nevertheless not having a chance to play on a very powerful stage Counter-Strike has to provide.

“For those who occur to ask me correct now, no. I’d have beloved a grand closing [appearance],” he told Dexerto after being requested about whether or not or not he was happy with the tip end result.

Nonetheless, with a little bit little bit of reflection, Refrezh’s tact modified a bit.

“If I tried to take a look at it objectively, I consider this run is excellent. Coming excessive 4 after failing on the ultimate LANs ⁠— we didn’t get the outcomes we wished ⁠— and making a excessive 4 at our first Principal, it reveals the resilience of this workforce,” he talked about.

Heroic put up an admirable effectivity in the direction of G2 Esports, stunning them on Nuke with a robust 16-12 win to begin out the sequence sturdy.

“We was as soon as in all probability the best teams on Nuke and we talked about to ourselves ‘let’s exit and present that on the large stage,’” refrezh talked about.

“I consider our T aspect confirmed good rounds and we managed to close it out on CT aspect. We had an excellent be taught on them and folk have been hitting images, so the first map was the best one.”

Then, it went downhill from there. G2 Esports comfortably obtained Mirage over the street with a strong second half, after which on Inferno, the nerves started to set in. Order descended into chaos, and since the map pushed into overtime, G2 Esports merely had the sting to take the win.

“It’s a Principal, it’s a third map, no means increased to complete it than on Inferno,” he talked about.

“It was a crazy sport, it went to overtime, so many shut rounds.

“I consider on Inferno we tactically outplayed them in numerous the rounds, nevertheless numerous the chaos rounds they managed to win, notably in overtime. I assume they carried out increased on Inferno, nevertheless when it’s overtime you’re on a regular basis contemplating you had your prospects.”

Heroic’s excessive 4 placement at PGL Stockholm CS:GO Principal 2021 is a stepping stone for the long term.

⁠Heroic have been saved throughout the sequence thanks largely to Rasmus ‘sjuush’ Beck, who laid down the regulation on CT aspect with some very sturdy defenses.

“Sjuush is a really sturdy anchor for us. Some people might suppose he’s solely good on safety nevertheless he could possibly be explosive on the T aspect. It’s a strong stage for our T aspect when he’s popping off, then the rounds are gained so merely,” refrezh talked about.

Whereas there have been some question marks above captain Casper ‘cadiaN’ Moller’s effectivity on the day, refrezh claimed everyone did their job throughout the server ⁠— it’s merely an inconceivable course of to stop an on-fire Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kovac, who topped the server with a 1.48 rating and 101.2 ADR.

“[Niko was] really annoying, notably on the ultimate rounds on Inferno. If he didn’t hit just a few of those fast headshots, the spherical might need been completely totally different and presumably all the sequence,” he talked about.

“Correct now, he’s really in-form, and folk have been asking this question for a really very long time from NiKo, and I really suppose he’s performing at a extreme stage correct now and is probably going one of many excessive riflers in the meanwhile.”

NiKo needs to carry G2 Esports — and additional — within the occasion that they want to beat Natus Vincere, says refrezh.

Finally that’s occurred this 12 months for Heroic though, most notably former coach Nicolai ‘HUNDEN’ Petersen’s two bans, there’s a lot of positives to take out of the sequence for his or her subsequent most important.

“I consider everyone stepped up proper this second though, everyone communicated properly, and I consider we are going to solely be pleased with this workforce’s effectivity,” refrezh talked about.

G2 Esports will face heavy favorites Natus Vincere throughout the PGL Stockholm CS:GO Principal grand closing on November 7, and in refrezh’s eyes, it’ll take rather more than a NiKo carry to topple the CIS giants.

“I’d say correct now, individually, they’re on stage, nevertheless they need larger than that to win the last word. I consider NAVI are having fun with beautiful CS:GO and have very good individuals,” he talked about.

“In order that they each need NiKo having fun with like a god as soon as extra or presumably they need to shock [NAVI] a bit. Probably throughout the vetos, presumably of their playstyles a bit, because of NAVI is a strong workforce that doesn’t give up merely.”