LAG ogwizard: "I don't know how we found the energy to do this insane comeback"

The grand finals of Fragadelphia CS/DO was an insane way to end a weekend of LAN action in Philadelphia. While the series initially looked like it would be a one-sided affair for G3, LAG pulled off an absolutely insane comeback to ultimately take the series and $5.5k.

The key moment in this comeback came during the final regulation rounds on Nuke where LAG managed to force overtime on their CT-side while keeping G3 at bay for seven rounds on series point. This shift in momentum in LAG's favor would ultimately see the EU lineup take Nuke 19-16 before taking the deciding map, Anubis, in an equally exciting fashion with a 13-10 win.

LAG's ability to take down G3 and their star players Qihao “C4LLM3SU3” Su and Bishrel "N20AmZ" Tamir in prat came down to their own secret weapon — Bogdan "ogwizard" Savula. The 18-year-old AWPer pulled off a coup in the finals and has continued to prove himself as someone to keep an eye on. Following LAG's incredible win Jeffrey "Mnmzzz" Moore sat down with the Ukrainian sensation to discuss the win, ogwizard's development as a player, LAG's rise through the scene, and his thoughts on G3's stars, among other topics.

Please note that the full interview can be found below on YouTube, while the transcript has some key snippets from their conversation.

That was an insane series, with some so many great moments especially on Nuke. How are you feeling coming out of the finals?

I don't have a lot of emotions because I was so tired. During Nuke I was tilted because we had already lost [Ancient] and I don't know how we found the energy to do this insane comeback. My teammates did a really great job.

The comeback required so much stamina and perseverance from LAG. Who was responsible for rallying the team in the series?

Everyone was responsible for that because if you heard what my teammates just called, they were feeling that the comeback was real. Experative was telling us that every time. He said, 'you remember the comeback against G3 on Nuke,' so the story just happened again.

The Nuke series was one of my favorites ever from a FRAG event. A huge part of that was your incredible play on the AWP, which continued throughout the series. How are you feeling about your own individual performance right now?

I just decided to play more aggro and take everything in my hands because I lost to G3 three times and every time I couldn't frag against them. They like playing a puggy style and it is so hard to counter because they just dry walk everywhere.

I couldn't counter them, but here I decided to do aggro peeks and it just worked against them.

Your AWPing is relatively unconventional in the positions you play. How did you develop your style as an AWPer?

I just watch demos. I watch sh1ro demos and s1mple demos. I play a lot of scrims and pugs and I try to find my own system to play without copying someone else. I want to play unpredictable spots with the AWP and it works.

This has been a very successful six months for LAG with a top-four finish at Fragicago, making ECL, and now winning Fragadelphia CS/DO. Did you expect the team's rise in NA to be so quick?

To be honest yeah we did expect it when Experative joined our team because he's an experienced IGL and Europe and he's a strong player.