Olga: "If [HSG] wants to send us to Europe to get a spot for Season 6 I would be very happy"

Although they were eliminated, HSG fe put on an incredible show as they defeated FlyQuest RED 2-0 to start the day, and then almost finding a 2-0 win over Nigma Galaxy, but ultimately losing. Such a performance coming from a team whose region won't have any spots in the ESL Impact Season 6 LAN Finals has, again, reignited the conversation regarding ESL's recent decision to cut spots from every region except Europe.

Dust2.us' Gonçalo "GoncOak" Carvalho talked with Olga "Olga" Rodrigues about the series against Nigma Galaxy, the level of play HSG fe showed in Valencia, and the future of Olga and HSG fe in Asia.

Let's start by talking about this last crazy series. You could taste the victory in some moments there, it could have been a 2-0 win for you, even a 2-1. How are you feeling after this strong showing despite the loss?

I'm very proud. We worked very hard, we did a bootcamp in Europe, and I could see our team doing better in different situations, everyone doing well, on the different maps everyone was showing up, no one was relying on just one or two players and that makes me very proud because it's something that it's rare to see in a team. This season we lost three maps, all to the same team, which is the champion, and, except Ancient, they were very close maps.

This last series you were very close, yesterday the team did well, today against FlyQuest RED you...

Destroyed them (laughs).

...I can't really say it like that (laughs). You have improved a lot since last season. In the West, Asian events don't get much attention, do you play in a lot of tournaments in Asia, mixed teams events?

Before the pandemic, the scene was thriving. Nowadays, there's only one women's event there that we play in, mixed events are very rare to come by, a qualify here and there, Cash Cups as well. We focus more on practice and scrimming.

Who do you scrim against? The Asian scene is not very big, at least in tier one.

It's a very restrict thing. We don't practice with the best teams in Asia, yet. For example, TheMongolz, there's a lot of ping between us and them, against Chinese teams we have to use a VPN. It's really hard to practice with them. We don't really get proper scrims because it's hard to find teams that practice consistently. Coming to Europe to bootcamp was a way to avoid that, we needed to be in this environment to adjust to the meta. We usually practice in pugs, but very competitive pugs. If Asian players have one strength, it is their firepower.

How long did you spend in Europe before the event? Did that bootcamp boost you to the level we saw the team perform here?

We spent 13 days playing in Europe, then we traveled here [Valencia], we even practiced here, backstage. It was incredible, we had more scrims in PRACC.com during those 13 days than in five months in Asia. We played a lot, even maps like Overpass, which are not picked in Asia. We added Overpass to our pool when we came here, everything new...

And you managed to win that map off Nigma Galaxy.

We knew they were going to pick it because we had a weak Overpass. The Overpass practice wasn't very good, but we got the experience and knowledge we needed to win it today.

Is it possible for you to start doing more bootcamps more regularly in Europe? Do you think that would make you contenders to win a Finals event?

For sure, our owner is amazing. After Dallas, everyone blamed themselves for the underperformance, obviously, we had our reasons, I had to travel back to Brazil and we only had six days to practice then. He took the responsibility and said "No, next season won't be like this. You are going early and will do a bootcamp."

Although you sound very excited to improve and do more bootcamps, ESL Impact has other ideas and will take your Wildcard spot away for Season 6. You also don't get a normal regional tournament like every other region. What's your opinion about these changes and do you think about going back to Brazil or even moving to Europe or NA?

To be honest, when I think about it, I feel very sad because we don't even get a regional league, we only have the Wildcard qualifier, and now they even take away the qualifier from us. It's something that goes through my mind, but it's also something that goes hand in hand with our performance, and this season we showed what I wanted to see from the team. I am very satisfied, and I'm only focused on being here with HSG, regardless of not having a qualifier at the end of next year. I want to, who knows, I'm not talking on the organization's or my team's behalf, but if he wants to send us to Europe to get a spot for Season 6 (shrugs)... I would be very happy (laughs).

Do you believe that your performance here, having very close maps against Nigma Galaxy, beating FlyQuest RED 2-0, can make ESL Impact rethink their decision?

Not this next year, that would be very hard. I think this is more about economic issues. I don't think our performance or even if we try to talk to them will change anything for 2024. I believe that if we maintain the same level in Dallas 2024, they will think about something new for 2025.

During your time with FURIA, you played more as an entry fragger but this weekend we saw you having more of a lurker role. Why did you change your role?

It was about a balance of me adapting to the team and the team adapting to me. While I was playing for FURIA, the team played around me, plays would be defined in freeze time, strats created around me finding the first kill and explore that space. There are some plays I execute, for example on Mirage when I go mid alone, I go with the intention of being the first contact, but Nigma was playing very back, so I turn that entry play into a lurk situation. I still have that entry style, but XiaoWu has been taking that entry role, mainly when we do full executes, I'm looking more for trades, flanks, because I have also more experience in late round situations, she is younger, less playing time, and she also shoots very well and is a player with that "dawg in her" and she fits better in that role.

What do you have to say to your team and your fans?

Thank you very very much, you are amazing. Everyone knows how much we went through to reach this level, we had roster changes, we were disappointed with our Dallas results, we don't have a regional league to show our progression, we have to play a qualifier full of Bo1s, and come here and show our best. We don't have a lot of chances to show our true value, so the pressure is very high and our fans never gave up on us. What the crowd did here, what people told me fans were saying on the stream chat, supporting us, it's something that fills my heart.

Do you believe that pressure you feel, having to go through a Bo1 qualifier to be here, did that help you not to feel as much pressure up on that stage?

We felt less pressure but not because of that. I think it was more because we weren't expecting to win a map off Nigma, or even get a lot of rounds, so the pressure was on their side, but they play very well under pressure, and they proved once again that they are the best. It's a team that always grow during events, they can start slow but they keep studying teams, how they play, and they simply deal very well with the pressure.

I just want to say one more thing, I am very proud of my team. I wanted to see this from us, we fought a lot during the bootcamp but it has been worth it. Our captain, gfi, is wonderful, she does everything, even outside of the game. If someone is sick she give them medicine, takes them to the hospital, she takes care of us like we are her daughters. In-game, as well, if someone's not comfortable with their role, she will take that role, she micromanages us very well, during the last map we were choking and she calmed us down every time. I am very proud of everyone on the team, but what we are today, it's thanks to her. I am very thankful for her bringing me here. On Overpass, we only won thanks to her. Our coach as well, asking for timeouts at the right times, to cool down, to tell us to focus on our own game. Those calls won us many rounds.

Do you think Nigma Galaxy will continue their winning ways and take the Season 4 victory?

I believe so. I don't want to take anything away from Fluxo Demons, because they are well-prepared strategy-wise, firepower-wise, but Nigma have a lot of potential to win this event again. Like it or not, they are the best team under pressure, when it comes to elimination matches they know what to do and they know what not to do. I believe they will again. Obviously, I want Brazil to win, I am rooting for Fluxo Demons, but if Nigma Galaxy win again, at least I can say I only lose to the champions, and my history in Impact has been like that, except for Katowice, I have only lost to Nigma (laughs).