max: "I think 9z can be a top ten team in the world"

9z started IEM Dallas with the absolute bottom seed and came out of their groups at the absolute summit, taking down illustrious names such as Liquid, MOUZ, and Vitality. Their games have been nothing but mind-boggling, yet we have nothing to do but keep watching it happen.

Before 9z's first arena game, Dust2.us' Daniel "Scoobster" Khurgin spoke with 9z's IGL Maximiliano "max" Gonzalez about the team's performance, his role in it, and 9z's future.

When you're in a game against MOUZ or Vitality, how do you keep cool when your entire team is hype and you're about to beat one of the best teams in the world?

We are a team that plays a lot of LANs. We are getting better and I think we controlled our emotions very well this tournament. That helps a lot. The hype was impressive.

Speaking about controlling your emotions, your teammates have said MartinezSa helps to control your emotions. Can you speak to that?

Martinez is a very calm guy. He screams a lot when we win a round, but in the middle of the round, he is calm and he helps me with calling. He is a great player.

In that Vitality game, when ZywOo got the crazy 4k and nearly brought the game back, Martinez was laughing it off. Is that a way he helps the team?

Yeah of course, we knew he is the best player in the world. He made an amazing play, at the end of the round, we just say "okay, that round is over, let's focus on the next".

Your teammates have said you're working with a mental psychologist, can you speak as to how that's helping your game?

Yeah, we have a psychologist, his name is Agustin, and he helps the team a lot. We are a young team so it's hard to control our emotions and he helps us with that.

Teams from South America are having a tough time internationally, do you have an idea as for why?

I think we need more opportunities. Next year, all the tournaments will have qualifications, so we need more opportunities to show the world that we can beat any team in the world.

Speaking on international tournaments, 9z is moving to Europe in the next month or so, what's the reasoning behind that?

The reason is because we need to practice against tier one teams every day, every week, and every month. The idea is to move to Spain move, June or July.

Coming into IEM Dallas, you were the lowest ranked team of the event. Do you think your performance is representative of your teams actual skill or do you think other teams underestimated you?

No, the last few events we just weren't playing good CS. We weren't playing the CS that we want, but coming into this tournament, we talked about it and made some changes and our mindset is now very good which has helped us a lot.

So this is how 9z should be expected to play?

Yeah, I think so. I think this team can be a top ten team in the world. We are working towards that.

Your next game is either against FaZe or G2, do you have a preference?

I think it will be an exciting match. Personally, I'd like to play against FaZe because I have a lot of respect for karrigan and I think it would be a fun match.