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Pre-CPH Games interview with Xyp9x: "We have never been more prepared than now"
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Wed 16th Apr 2014 - 4:00pm
I sat down with the Team Dignitas CS:GO player Andreas 'Xyp9x' Højsleth, who was kind enough like to spare few minutes of his time to share some thoughts with our readers before Copenhagen Games 2014. I spoke with Andreas about the first major event under Team Dignitas colors EMS One Katowice, the Danish event which will take place this week starting tomorrow and more.
At EMS One Katowice Team Dignitas finished 3rd-4th after losing against NiP in semi-finals. Looking back, what were your expectations of the event?
Xyp9x: Looking back before the event started, I think we were all happy to make it out of the groups. We had been placed against IBUYPOWER, Fnatic and Reason. Prior EMS Katowice we played at Dreamhack Stockholm Invitational, where we placed 4th after a big loss against Fnatic, and then later NiP. And IBUYPOWER had won ESEA lan. But it turned out to be a quite easy group for us. Later we met HellRaisers, and we had so much confidence and we just played solid, that we won that match. I´m still dissapointed that we lost against NiP with such a huge margin, but a 3rd-4th place was acceptable.
Do you think there would have been another outcome if you would have played the match against NiP right after you've beaten HellRaisers?
Xyp9x: Narhh, maybe we could have had a little more momentum but not much. I think NiP played great, and once we got behind, they were not to stop.
After EMS One Katowice your team managed to win probably the most prestigious online tournament at the moment, fragbite Masters 2014 Spring. How did you feel after you've won the first title?
Xyp9x: It's all ways great to win a tournament, but since it is online there isn't really that much prestige in it. But since it was so huge im sure every team gave all they had, atleast we did. Now we just have to do that again on lan :).
Can your team repeat the fb Masters performance at Copenhagen Games 2014?
Xyp9x: Well atleast I hope so now that it's lan. There is a tendency that a domestic team wins events, so maybe it is us this time :).
How have you prepared for Copenhagen Games? Do you feel ready for the competition?
Xyp9x: We weren't able to get a bootcamp in, although that would have been great. But we have been playing as much as possible online, and tried to fix our mistakes in practice. We have never been more prepared than now.
You've been placed in Group 5 alongside two local teams (Falconax and Bango-I-Karise) and a Swedish team called KapinA. Do you know these teams? Which are your expectations for the first phase?
Xyp9x: I know some players from Bango-I-Karise, but the others is someone I don't know anything about. We expect to go trough as number 1.
Do you see any upsets taking place in the other groups?
Xyp9x: Mhh, I don't really know, but I think Group 12 and Group 14 is pretty stacked because there is 3 teams in each group that can beat each other pretty much.
How important is that the event will take place in Denmark? Do you think that the crowd can help your team to perform better?
Xyp9x: I'm not sure how big of a crowd there will be, but I think crowds for a hometeam is a bit over-hyped. Maybe it can give you a little advantage, and feel yourself more comfortable, but if you're a good player, you don't need a crowd to be comfortable.
Do you like the new format of Copenhagen Games (GSL groups format and best-of-three single elimination playoffs) or do you like more the old format (best-of-three groups, best-of-three upper bracket and best-of-one lower bracket)?
Xyp9x: I would love to have the lower bracket back, since that is what Copenhagen Games was known for. Also the only reason why every other tournament don't have a lower bracket, is because there isn't enough time for it, which isn't the case with copenhagen games. Fix it please! :D
Anything you want to tell your fans or upcoming opponents before the competition?
Xyp9x: Much love to all our fans and a big thank to our sponsors!