chelo about Vitality opener: "Easy game"

Imperial's first half of the season is coming to an end in D.C. and, despite some bad results in international competitions, the team has claimed a spot in ESL Pro League Season 18 just a couple of days before arriving in Washington. Marcelo "chelo" Cespedes is currently Imperial's highest rated member, but health issues prevented him from joining the team in Europe and have been bothering the player since then.

Dust2.us' Samuel "Draik04" Popkes talked with the 24-year-old about his health, about playing with Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo and Jhonatan "JOTA" Willian, about the opening game, and the goals for BLAST Premier Spring Final 2023.

You guys just won the Brazilian Premier League, and have qualified for ESL Pro League. How important is that?

It was very important for us to get that EPL spot because we don't know what's going to happen in the next semester, and starting the next phase of Counter-Strike with a tier one tournament is very important for us. It was very cool to win that spot.

What is it like playing with JOTA again? You guys played together in MIBR.

It's a lot of fun playing with JOTA, I like to say and I have said it to him many times, that he is the one who saved my career because when a lot was going on with my life and I didn't want to play, he was the one who brought back my will to continue playing. To be able to play with him again is a lot of fun and he is a very good person.

What about working with zakk?

(laughs) For me, zakk is the best coach I have ever had, for sure. He shows us a lot, he chews and then he gives it to us, basically. I never had that on any team I have been with. Today, he is the best coach I have ever had and a good friend.

Last time we spoke to you, at the Rio major, you said that being able to play with FalleN was really important to you. How much have you learned playing with him since then?

It's still a learning process. Every day you learn something new with him, it's impossible not to learn, you just have to pay attention to him and you will learn. I'm absorbing every instant, every minute, everything he tells me, not just regarding the game, but regarding life as well. Every day I get better with him.

There are a lot of rumors FalleN might leave. He's got a meeting with FURIA, do you have any comments about the possibility of FalleN leaving the team?

No comment.

As far as the first half of the year goes, really up and down results, did well at the Showdown, but not so good at other events. How do you feel about the results so far?

I think it was a bad year for us relative to our expectations. Not just us but the Brazilian community as a whole were disappointed, I believe. We worked hard to win everything and unfortunately, we weren't able to do that, but that's the competition, sometimes you lose more than win.

One of the successes for you was the BLAST Showdown, which got you qualified here. What do you think worked well for the team at the Showdown?

I have no idea (laughs to zakk). Coincidentally, we prepared for it just like any other tournament, but this time everything went well and we tried to do the same at the RMR, but it didn't work, so we are looking for the magical formula.

The rest of the team went to Europe recently to play Brazy Party, and you missed it due to issues. Have things gotten better with the issues?

I didn't go to Europe because I had a lot of stomach pain. I would wake up vomiting, with very strong stomach aches, and a lot of pain. I asked the organization if I could take care of that health problem and they, obviously, said yes and that they would support me. I am still seeing some doctors because the exams didn't show anything, so we are seeing other specialists now. But I'm still very bad.

I believe you commented, recently, about the possibility of retirement. Are health issues a driving factor for that?

No, when I talked about retirement, I have always joked about that. I have never thought about retiring, it was just a joke that people took to extreme levels.

What would you say your goals for this event are?

Particularly, I have always wanted to play in a BLAST stage, for me to get to play there would be another dream come true. In general, the team wants to send some people home and try to reach the semifinals and the finals, God willing.

How do you feel about the opening game about Vitality?

Easy game (laughs). Nowadays, Counter-Strike is very 50/50, we have a shot against them, they have a shot against us and everything will be solved in the server. Who's more mentally prepared and with the performance up to date, is going to overperform the other, as always.

Do you have any goals and expectations for the second half of the year?

Not yet, we are waiting to see what's going to happen with CS2, we don't know yet what's going to happen, so we are just waiting for the semester to end, we will try to reach our goals and during the player break we focus and see what happens with the Brazilian scene and the World in general.

Any plans for the player break?

Play Diablo (laughs).

chelo and the rest of Imperial will begin their BLAST Spring Fall Final campaign later today, with their opening match scheduled for 10:00AM versus Vitality.