— Hi! Can you tell us how you found out about the BIGPLAY platform?

Tommy4: Almost right after it launched. At the start, there was a lot of active advertising and many tournaments — just like now. Back then, it was a great boost for the community, and we immediately started participating.

— How does your training process work, and how does the team balance playing with studies, work, and hobbies?

Tommy4: Honestly, there’s almost no rest — we work like machines. Right now, three players are at the bootcamp. During the day, each of us trains individually, and before tournaments, we gather in the lobby for team practice. Overall, the main focus is on individual training.

— Do you have a training system, and what role does your coach play?

Tommy4: Yes, we have a coach. He helps with analytics, game reviews, and identifying mistakes by role. We discuss in detail what needs improvement. We don’t have individual plans yet, but every player knows what they should work on. In training, we use lobbies, aim ranges, and bot drills — for example, getting around a thousand last-hits per session.

— Do you pick up anything from official tournament teams?

Tommy4: Yes, from time to time. If I see an interesting tactic from another team, we might test it and adapt it to our style to find the optimal system.

— Are there matches or tournaments that stand out in your memory?

Tommy4: Yes, the match in Kazakhstan. In the second game of the second day, we were about 40 points behind the leader. Then we managed to score over 20 kills and take first place. That’s when our comeback started.

— How does BIGPLAY help your team grow, and what do you like about the platform?

Tommy4: Above all — stability. There are tournaments and certain teams that never miss them. This allows us to play, learn about other teams, and test strategies. The platform has a seasonal player ranking with a prize pool, as well as general rankings for teams and players.

— What are the main problems in your region’s esports scene?

Tommy4: The biggest problem is server instability. If there’s even one Ukrainian player in the lobby, ping goes over 100, and it becomes impossible to play. In Uzbekistan and the CIS in general, there’s no structured system for team development. Many teams disband after one bad split. Players often see a team as a springboard rather than a long-term project.

— Are there strong teams in Uzbekistan despite these issues?

Tommy4: Yes, tournaments are held regularly, and there are 3–4 strong teams — UPGRADE, 721, my team, and ArcRed. But overall, the competition is weak. Ego and lack of willingness to improve often get in the way — many play to imitate their idols rather than for results.

— How is the situation with cheaters now?

Tommy4: These days, we hardly see them. At the start of the year, there were players using cheats, who later admitted it. Now they’re gone from the community. If someone appears, it’s obvious from their gameplay. Our region is small, so cheats can’t stay hidden for long. New players get checked quickly through contacts.

— PMNC Uzbekistan is coming soon. Which teams could make a big impact?

Tommy4: From the stable teams, I can only name UPGRADE. I can’t single out anyone else who could “blow up” the tournament. Mentality makes it hard to build strong teams — some players are too sensitive, and others refuse to leave their friend stacks even when a new team looks more promising. There are a few good teams in Uzbekistan, but PMNC will show everything.

— What do you think about BADBOY possibly joining the Turkish club S2G?

Tommy4: He’s considered one of the top three players in Uzbekistan. I wouldn’t let such an important player go to another region, especially given our current problems. He has a good, promising roster and a PMNC slot for Uzbekistan — I think he should stay.

— Which CIS teams and players would you highlight?

Tommy4: Honestly, only one or two teams are worth highlighting. I’d name Spirit and the former Brute Force — they played well before but are now in a slump. As for players, I like Matic’s game. I’d also highlight BUTCHER from our team — he plays a level above many others. The third would be Naomi.

— Are there teams that qualified for PMSL EU or PMSL CSA but, in your opinion, aren’t up to the level?

Tommy4: Yes, some teams just got lucky but don’t play at a professional level. I think such “lucky” qualifications won’t happen again.

— If you could make a dream team, who would you choose?

Tommy4: Hard to say exactly. I’m close in mentality to Regnum — there’s no language barrier with them. For a dream team, I’d take Sara, Order, and Mafioso — we have similar playstyles, which would make teamwork easier.

— Any final thoughts?

Tommy4: It would be great to create a separate region for Central Asia — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. This would solve the ping problem and let developing teams play each other more often. CIS teams already have plenty of tournaments. I’d make it so that players could fight with normal ping. BIGPLAY, for example, could organize a dedicated tournament series for us — that would be amazing.