Reigning Major Champions Astralis Unfazed by Upsets at IEM Sydney
The IEM Sydney tournament has been full of surprises, but Astralis, the current Major champions, aren’t bothered by them.
Astralis did suffer a loss to SK Gaming, who are two-time Major winners, during the Swiss stage. However, they have had a flawless performance otherwise, winning three out of four matches and only dropping 14 rounds in total.
Exclusive Interview with Astralis In-Game Leader, Lukas “Gla1ve” Rossander
In anticipation of their highly-anticipated semifinal rematch against FaZe Clan, had the opportunity to speak with Astralis’ in-game leader, Lukas “Gla1ve” Rossander, about facing former Astralis leader Karrigan, the team’s map pool, and the importance of superstar players.
Mind Games and Map Strategies in the FaZe/Astralis Rivalry
When asked about the mind games and map strategies in the FaZe/Astralis rivalry, Rossander dismissed Karrigan’s claim of hiding tactics in their previous match. Rossander stated that hiding tactics when you’re behind in a game would be counterproductive, and he believes Karrigan is lying. However, he remains curious to see how the upcoming veto process unfolds.
The Importance of Inferno and Overcoming Challenges
Rossander addressed the significance of Inferno in their map pool and admitted that they struggled against SK Gaming’s double AWP strategy in a recent match. He also mentioned that Train and Overpass are often vetoed against them, but their strong map pool allows them to always have an advantage in a best-of-three series.
Rossander also discussed Astralis’ ability to overcome various challenges posed by teams like SK Gaming, Virtus Pro, and Optic Gaming. He emphasized the importance of analyzing and adapting to each team’s playstyle.
The Role of Kjaerbye and Managing “Star” Players
When it comes to Kjaerbye’s role in the team, Rossander revealed that they switched his and Dupreeh’s roles, which led to Kjaerbye’s improved performance. Rossander also dismissed the idea of having “star” and “superstar” players, stating that every player on Astralis has an equal role.
Unseen Contributions from the Entire Team
Rossander acknowledged that every player on the team has their own contributions, although he and Zonic take on most of the strategic work. He mentioned Kjaerbye and Xyp9x’s input on countering opponents and device’s analysis of the enemy AWPer’s playstyle. Overall, he emphasized that each player’s contributions are crucial to the team’s success.
IEM Sydney, Astralis, Major champions, esports, FaZe Clan, Karrigan, map pool, superstar players, strategies, challenges, Inferno, Train, Overpass, Kjaerbye, Dupreeh, team roles