— How did your team come up with the idea to compete in BIGPLAY tournaments?

BETS: We saw a tournament with free entry, a solid prize pool, and its own platform, and it immediately clicked — that’s exactly what we were looking for. The team and player ranking system was especially attractive.

I previously played for PMCS at BIGPLAY events. By the end of the year, we made it into the top 3, but the roster fell apart afterward. Later, I joined TOP TEAM, which eventually reformed into NERVOUS TEAM. We kept pushing on this platform and are now consistently sitting in the Tier-1 top 3.

— Have you ever faced misunderstanding of your ambitions from close ones?

BETS: Of course, everyone runs into that at some point, but we deal with it. My family is understanding, though sometimes there’s disapproval. The main thing is — they don’t forbid it. Some of the guys balance practice with work, but since BPL finals are in the evening, it’s manageable. Same with studies: tough, but doable. And when it comes to parents — once you show them you’re not just playing a “shooter” but treating it as serious work, they start supporting you.

— Which qualifiers were the most emotional for you and why?

BETS: Without a doubt, qualifying for the LAN tournament in Almaty. We were on the verge of elimination: after two poor games we dropped to 8th place, and only top-4 advanced. Tensions rose within the team, but I convinced the guys to lock in and focus on the remaining matches.

I told them: “If you follow my calls 100%, we’ll take back-to-back wins.” And that’s exactly what happened. Thanks to clean teamwork and decisive calls, we pulled off two straight victories and secured our LAN slot. It was an insane comeback and a priceless experience. I was genuinely happy.

— Who would you never want to play with, even for Tier-1?

BETS: From non-pros: Lotos and Shaze. They like to drag mothers into conflicts, which is disgusting — I can’t respect that, maybe they’ll change someday. From the pro scene: ERAGON and FROZEN.

— Which team would you want to face last, and who would you eliminate first?

BETS: Amix — they’re strong. Beating them in a 4v4 late game would be an amazing experience. Senator’s stack would be the first to go — because cats should be treated with kindness and care.

— Have there been emotional kicks from the team that you later regretted?

BETS: The biggest lesson for me: never give second chances. We once brought back a player we had previously kicked for mistakes. Out of pity, I hoped he’d improve. But he kept ruining games, and the tension grew. In the end, we had to cut him again, right before key qualifiers.

It was tough, but the right call. A captain has to carry that weight and make hard decisions, even if they seem harsh.

— Can you describe your teammates during tournaments?

BETS: Oruss is the loudest, Mishka Rewind has a bad habit of dying first, and Kobzon is just a wholesome guy — I trust him a lot. The synergy in our squad is great, and I’m 110% confident in each of them.

— How do you hype each other up before matches?

BETS: After bad games, I just say: “NT, next one’s ours.” At BPL #76, we came in and secured back-to-back #1 finishes, locking down the first slot for the closed finals of BPL S7.

— Do you and your team have a goal for the near future?

BETS: To qualify for the PMCO CA finals, and from there make it to PMSL. That’s both our team goal and my personal one.

— Anything else you’d like to add?

BETS: Fewer toxic and unhinged people in the community, and more offline tournaments in our region — that would be amazing.