broky on ENCE 5x OT Thriller: "The playbook just goes out the window"
International sides FaZe and ENCE clashed yesterday evening in the semifinals of IEM Dallas, with ENCE going on to win the entire event. What ultimately played out in this series was one of, if not the most hotly contested maps of the year, as the deciding map of Ancient descended into a quintuple overtime thriller that brought both teams to their limits. After 59 rounds of play, ENCE ultimately came out on top, sending FaZe packing with a 31-28 scoreline.
The day after the loss to ENCE, FaZe AWPer Helvijs "broky" Saukants spoke with Dust2.us' Jeffrey "mnmzzz" Moore regarding the thought process during the match, how being unable to speak with coach Robert "RobbaN" Dahlström may have impacted the result, and the recent growth in his home scene in Latvia.
Please note that the full interview can be found below on YouTube, while the transcript has some key snippets from their conversation.
I want to ask you about that game versus ENCE yesterday. Many fans are saying the final map was the best of the year, and one of the best in CS:GO history. What's the process like when all the strats run out as the game descends into these overtimes?
It's very important just to stay focused. You just keep going, there's no break. We have three rounds and can win the game, but we just don't close it out and then it's harder. The playbook just goes out the window, you try new stuff and do something you haven't done before and just hope it works out. It's very hard to stay focused as well.
Running out of timeouts on round 26 meant that RobbaN could not give any input for the next 30 rounds. Was that tough for you guys?
I would say we just needed a break. Usually, there's a break when there's overtime I think, like three minutes, so I would just need another break after like three overtimes. We just needed room to breathe I think.
Coming from Latvia, a scene recently on the rise, what do you think has contributed to the rapid growth of these smaller regions?
I think these regions just needed more time in the CS scene, and after some time they just started growing and maybe realized that they don't need to be playing with their own country's players and just try to make it on their own.
It seems like you guys are on the road for events almost always, especially since you make deep runs in playoffs. Do you think the schedule is too packed as it currently stands?
It's hard for me to say. I think a break is needed for me, so I'm happy that it's coming here soon so I'm just happy that we get to have a break. I think the schedule is a bit rough, yeah.
Watch the full interview below:
