PoseidoNN on ECL chances: "This is probably one of our best shots"

For Touch Point, Fragadelphia 16 was quite a success, with the Advanced squad going all the way from the Last Chance Qualifier to a respectable quarterfinal finish before falling to eventual runner-ups Apeks Rebels. Between Fragadelphia 16 and the ongoing Fragadelphia 17, the squad has seen a number of roster moves following an unfortunate run in Season 41. With this new-look lineup, Touch Point headed into Fragadelphia 17 looking to see if they could replicate their showing from earlier this year.

Unfortunately for Nikolaos "PoseidoNN" Antoniou and co., Touch Point were unable to find their footing, with the team ultimately getting sent packing from the Last Chance Qualifier after losses to Victorum and Zenigma. PoseidoNN sat down with Dust2.us' Samuel "Draik04" Popkes following Touch Point's game against Zenigma, as the two discussed the team's run in the event, Touch Point's new additions, and the state of Advanced following this season's ECL move-ups.

First things first, you went to the last Fragadelphia with Touch Point and you guys made quarterfinals. Obviously, this time the tournament was a lot tougher, as far as format and teams here. What were the expectations for the team coming into this event?

Our expectations were pretty high with the first bracket that Fragadelphia released with the LCQ. But after they changed it, it was obviously really hard, like ECL teams wouldn't make it. So the expectations were just to play and have fun, and that's what we did.

Was it daunting to see that once you guys got knocked down into the lower bracket you would have had to win three BO3s today?

Yeah I mean, it was a little daunting. If we beat the team we just played we would have had to play both EU teams, and it would've been really hard. I really don't like the bracket that they did just because they added Detonate late, but it is what it is.

Moving on from Fragadelphia, I want to talk a bit about the players on Touch Point. First, starting with Livid, he joined in April with zim and rezy1on. Those latter two guys are gone but Livid is still here; what value does Livid provide to the team as both a player and a caller?

Pretty much every version of Touch Point we didn't really have an IGL. Adding him, we actually have an IGLing presence and someone who's really committed to calling and learning. So it's added a lot of value to us and a lot of pressure is relieved because Beastman would call, but he's not really a true IGL, so it would be really hard with him, but Livid just relieves so much stress from us, and he's a really good player.

You and Beastman have been on Touch Point for a long time now, over a year at this point, and you've seen a lot of players come and go. How have things changed for you two as individual players?

Towards the beginning of the roster I wasn't AWPing, I was never an AWPer. Then we felt like we needed an AWPer so I decided to pick up the mantle, and ever since then nothing has really changed, I'm still AWPing. We're trying to put Beastman in more active spots because he's a really good player, but other than that it's been the same with me and him.

With the last two players, gir and Drewtheshrew, what brought you guys to bring those two on? Drewtheshew pugged out last season of Advanced, and gir sat out the season entirely, so what led you guys to choose these two players?

Every season gir has played he's been really good, he shoots back really well. I'm also friends with him, I've teamed with him before, and we really needed some firepower, and I thought, he's LFT, I'm friends with him, I'll just ask him, and he wanted to join instantly so we took him because it's a really good opportunity. We needed a really good support player and Drewtheshrew is probably one of the best support players in all of Advanced, and he wanted to join so we got him.

Quite a few Advanced teams got moved up to ECL this season. Have you felt the consequences of this in Advanced; is the quality of play any lower?

The move-ups make it an easier season in Advanced for people that never really get a shot to make it far, and a lot of really good teams got moved. Honestly, it makes it way easier to make ECL now in Advanced, but obviously, the play isn't as good because a lot of the top-tier Advanced teams moved, but it's made it easier for us.

Do you guys think you have a pretty good shot at making relegation this season?

I feel like this is probably one of our best shots because there's no smurf team. Every team is basically equal level, so we can definitely make it.

As Touch Point have been eliminated from Fragadelphia 17, the squad will return to focusing on ESEA Advanced, where PoseidoNN and co. will be looking to improve upon their current 5-1 season record.