[EXCLUSIVE] “I would want to play against all of the teams” Team Liquid nAts speaks on the team’s strong start to their season

Valorant

23 Feb

Foo Zen-Wen

As VCT EMEA finally gets underway with their Kickoff, Team Liquid had their first bout against none other than Movistar KOI. After the close series, Strafe Esports had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with Masters champion Ayaz "nAts" Akhmetshin of Team Liquid.

As one of the only two remaining members from the previous Team Liquid lineup, and one of the few to have won an international VALORANT event, nAts spoke on his hopes for the new team, their confidence heading into the new season and his thoughts on his new IGL and teammates.

A Strong Opening

In their first bout, Team Liquid faced off against Movistar KOI (the KOI brand was recently brought into the fold under the Movistar brand). Last year, KOI was among the teams that struggled the most during the season while Liquid ended up winning VCT EMEA. With fresh new faces on both teams, Movistar KOI ended up pushing Liquid to the near brink, with two extremely close maps.

“First game means a lot I think -now we get more confidence.”

[Interviewer] Hi nAts! First of all, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to take this interview. Congratulations on the win today.

Thank you so much!

[Interviewer] First off, how are you doing? How is the team doing with the start of the new season?

Team Liquid and I are both doing very well. First game was tough, opponent was very good, but it’s a good start for us. We finished 2-0 that game, and now we have 1 day of preparation. After that we’re going to play against NA’VI. And I think that’s a good start for us.

[Interviewer] I wanted to ask, how is the confidence like for the team, going into the rest of the season? Are you guys coming in confident that you’re going to do really well this season?

So, I think we have pretty good confidence, and after this first win – first game means a lot I think – now we get more confidence. And now the next game is going to be a little bit easier for us, a little bit easier for NA’VI of course. Because it’s the first game, it’s always like this, it’s kind of tough for both of the teams. But yeah, it’s a good start and that’s very good for us.

[Interviewer] I wanted to get your quick thoughts on the game. As you said, it was a really tough game. Liquid was actually behind on both maps, which I think […] I was surprised by for sure. And then you guys came back on both sides. So, what were the adjustments, if you could tell me a little bit, that managed to bring you guys back into the game?

So yeah, to be honest, we had a slow start on both of the maps. But we just understood what the opposing team was doing, so we tried to find the gaps, what we could do, what’s the best playstyle we could show them. And yeah, it was a little bit late, but still, after the 5 rounds, we understood that ‘ok they are doing that, so we need to that’. And that’s how it got better. It took a little bit of time, but in the end we won.

Some Things Are Classic and Timeless

Over the years of competitive VALORANT, the majority of professional players have at one time, or another found it a necessity to evolve their playstyle to remain relevant competitively. Some swap roles. Others take on different responsibilities. But for nAts, he developed a playstyle that had remained almost timeless in its efficiency and impact. Year after year he continues to deliver as the gold standard for lurking, anchoring, and effective plays.

“We are becoming a family and we’re helping each other.”

[Interviewer] This is now your second year in Liquid, speaking on the development of your role. Has anything changed between 2023 and 2024 nAts on the team?

So, I think it’s still the same, but maybe some of the stuff in the team is different. I cannot say that because it’s team stuff. But in general, I think it’s going to be almost the same. You’ll still see a lot of lurks – hopefully. Today we had a little bit of good timings, but in the future games, you’ll see more. Keep watching.

[Interviewer] Also how have the roles on the team been developing as well? How has that all been sorted? And of course, how are you working out with your new teammates?

So, role wise, it’s pretty good for us. Now we have a controller that always plays on controllers. Me that is always playing on sentinels. And we have Keiko who is always on duelist. Enzo and Jamppi, they’re playing on the other roles. If they need to play this, they will play this. So, how the team is working, it’s very good. We are becoming a family and we’re helping each other. We’re helping each other in-game, and we’re helping each other during practice and we’re doing a lot of good work, and yeah, I think we’re doing good.

[Interviewer] I didn’t realize this during the game, but I saw Keiko. He was definitely playing amazingly well, but I saw after the game that he dropped a 37 bomb. Is he going to be the next Demon1? Is he that good?

Keiko is super good player. If I am honest, I didn’t see from his POV how he did that 37 kills. But every time, when I was behind, I was watching on the radar and I was watching him – 1,2,3, and I was like ok, he will get the fourth, maybe he will get the fifth. So, I was 100% sure he was going to just go and kill them. He’s a super good player, and he’s a super confident player, and that’s very good to see.

A Year that Began So Well

In 2023, Liquid claimed the VCT EMEA Playoffs trophy. Unfortunately their jubilation ended there, with two hard-fought but bitter exits at Masters and Champions that same year. Heading into the new season, Liquid is gearing up for an improved performance.

“I would want to play against all of the teams.”

[Interviewer] Awesome, I look forward to seeing more of him. Speaking on performances, last year you guys won VCT EMEA, but you didn’t have the best international runs. Approach-wise, how has that changed since 2023?

So, it’s kind of hard to say on the approach because the team is different. And when the team is different, like it’s two different teams. So, for the two teams, it has to be a different way to prepare, what’s the problems we had. So, with this team it’s a different approach of course. With this team, it’s different problems. But as I said, we’re doing a great job, and we’re improving every day.

[Interviewer] I see. Ok, then within VCT EMEA then, is there a team you would consider the biggest threat? Is it Fnatic from last year? Or do you have another team in mind?

If I was to be honest, I would want to play against all of the teams as I’m always saying, there’s no such special team that I only want to play against them. I’m not that kind of person, but if I was to be honest, I really want to play against Karmine Corp. Because there is the coach. I just want to see how it would be like to play against them. But in general, I don’t have that kind of thing: ‘I just want to play them, I just really want to play them’. Yeah, I just don’t mind, whoever is going to be my opponent, I’ll play against them.

[Interviewer] Interesting! Because ardiis also mentioned that Karmine Corp was also looking dangerous this season. What about them makes them so interesting that you think, ‘wow, this is a team I really want to try against?’ [7.06]

I’m not sure about dangerous, but they’re super interesting. And that interesting is what makes them dangerous. I would say it like that. First of all, their roster is the kind of different that we all want to see. Also, there is Engh as a coach. I worked with Engh for two years, I know what kind of stuff he can do, I know how he can build a team. And that’s why for me it’s super interesting. That’s why in that case I would say it becomes dangerous – just because of what kind of stuff he can do based on what happened with us when we were on the team for 2-3 years.

[Interviewer] I see! I also wanted to ask on your experience because this year, you have Enzo as your IGL. Last year you had Redgar. You’ve had Redgar for a number of years. What’s the main difference been between their two philosophies as IGLs? Do you have an opinion on this?

So, all of the IGLs are different I assume. It all depends on roster. Some IGLs are more comfortable to call on this roster, for some IGLs its harder to call on this roster or that kind of stuff. The difference between Redgar and Enzo is kind of hard to say, it’s also some kind of private stuff I would say. Because if I’m going to say it – the difference – then it’s going to be obvious that ‘oh, they are going to play in that way.’ But I will say, all of the IGLs are different. How one person tries to build a team is different from another person and there is no bad side from both of that. They both have different ways and I’m pretty sure both of them work.

[Interviewer] The format for this Kickoff has also been a topic of a lot of debate. A lot of pros have voiced their opinions on it: too short, too little games. Do you have a take on this? What are your thoughts on the Kickoff format and the games being played in general this year?

I don’t think about that a lot. I will play as much as I can. And if something can go wrong, we’ll rewatch what happens, so we’ll be better for the next matches. But yeah, there is that kind of stuff. You can play less, you can play more, but it all depends on your own results, right? I don’t think about that a lot, I just think about the team’s performance, my own performance, and that’s the only thing in my head.

[Interviewer] Final question. Going up against NA’VI. What’s your expectations heading into this series?

Against NA’VI, it’s always a funny game. NA’VI with ardiis right now. We’re with a new roster. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be super interesting. I’m not going to say 2-0, 2-1, 1-2, 0-2. I’m just saying, I think it’s going to be three maps and you’ll enjoy it.

[Interviewer] Awesome. Thank you very much nAts and I hope I get a chance to speak to you again. Good luck in the rest of Kickoff and speak to you soon.

Team Liquid next faces off against NA'VI for qualification to Playoffs. In what is anticipated to be a heavy-hitter match, there is a lot at stake in the Winner's circle tomorrow when these two team clash.

Follow the VCT 2024 action on Strafe.

For more information on the VCT EMEA Kickoff, check out Strafe Esports' piece on the Format, Schedule, Teams and more. If one of the other Kickoffs catches your fancy, we also have previews for Americas, Pacific, and China.

As an additional bonus, you can catch the VOD for the interview on our new YouTube channel. Also, check out our tier list for the 33 partnered teams (VCT China notwithstanding) heading into 2024's season.

Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games

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