After defeating Falcons in the lower bracket of IEM Dallas, Liquid’s head coach zews spoke to a foreign media outlet.
Q: What allowed you to come out on top against Falcons?
zews: We were completely off on the first map, not reacting fast enough and not executing retakes properly. We gave them too many 1v1s. On the second and third maps, we started communicating and trying to figure things out, and I think the team reads the game really well. Twistzz, YEKINDAR, cadiaN, each of them was breaking down their positions, trying to do the little things right, and it resulted in a good outcome for us.
Q: Did you have any specific preparation for Falcons?
zews: We treat every team the same way, prepare for every map. There was nothing special. We did a bit more work on the map bans, knowing they had 0% win rate on Anubis and Mirage, so we wanted to have control, and their Nuke, we tried to prepare for that.
Q: Marco Pfeiffer | Snappi has been known for his exceptional tactics on Nuke for years. Did you have any specific counter-strategies for him?
zews: No, he’s unpredictable, and that’s what makes him hard to deal with. I believe they have a great system, but this match was more about our own issues.
Q: As everyone noticed, Twistzz had an incredible performance on the second map. Were there any standout moments from him before this match?
zews: He said he had a dream start on the T-side, I remember him getting like 20-something kills on the attack. That’s when he gets going, knows how to get those kills, and when you have that game sense, your aim follows, and everything becomes easier. Unfortunately, I asked for a 38-kill game, and he got 36.
Q: We’ve seen Twistzz giving commands during the match. Is this something he’s been working on?
zews: I think everyone in our team is trying to find their freedom, to be able to express themselves and give some commands, understand what’s happening on the map. We’ve been incorporating that for the past few months. It’s not easy, as we have many active voices, but Twistzz is a player who can communicate calmly with his teammates, and he’s in a position where we trust his judgment and what he hears, he has great audio awareness, and that helps the team prepare for retakes.
Q: So he’s assisting cadiaN with retake-related matters?
zews: Yes, he’s helping cadiaN, and he’s helping the whole team. Credit goes to the trio of cadiaN, Twistzz, and YEKINDAR, who are very proactive in engaging the rest of the team. That’s also our challenge, having too many active voices, but Twistzz definitely contributes.
Q: Could you elaborate on the issue of too many active voices?
zews: CS is a game of communication, and if our native language isn’t English, we need to be concise. Everyone on the team speaks English fluently, but in-game, when you’re making split-second decisions, it’s different. If we have too many situations requiring deep thought and communication, it only adds to focusing on finding the perfect solution instead of flowing naturally.
Q: So, you prefer quick reactions?
zews: Yes, there are rounds where I ask the guys to know what’s happening and make decisions based on positional changes. Communication is a process, and I believe our goal, like any team, is to improve it as much as possible.
Q: You fell into the lower bracket after losing to 9z. Any thoughts on that match?
zews: There’s always a loser in a match, and they played well; they deserved to win.
Q: Do you consider 9z a team to watch?
zews: They always have been, they’re a team that can eliminate favorites.
