Thorin interviewed B1ad3, where the legendary Na'Vi coach shared his journey from the beginnings of esports to NAVI's triumphs. He shared his thoughts on his role as a veteran, the influence of iconic teams, and the evolution of talent in Counter-Strike across generations.

The first question in the interview was whether B1ad3 considers himself an esports veteran. To which he responded confidently and clearly.

Yes, I consider myself a "veteran." My first tournaments were in 2001 when I qualified for the WCG in Kyiv. It was a true revelation because I saw the scale of the esports subculture for the first time. Back then, many watched demos of legendary players like HeatoN, Potti, Spawn. It was the beginning of a great era.

 

At one time, B1ad3 was a captain who didn't show the best individual results, but strategically they were not bad. Thorin's question was related to who influenced his career and development as a captain.

Teams like NOA, Virtus.pro, and NIP strongly influenced me. Players like elemeNt and Shaguar showed how a systematic approach could change the game. Their ability to control the map and implement defaults was particularly impressive.

 

During B1ad3's playing days, clubs where local CS tournaments took place were popular. Thorin couldn't help but ask about these, inquiring about popular Ukrainian esports arenas and their influence on the development of esports.

Kyiv had the famous CyberArena, where many tournaments took place. These arenas were centers for developing young talent. Internet cafes also played a big role because many players didn't have internet at home, and they trained there.

 

The questions gradually transitioned to a relatively familiar time for everyone, where Thorin learned B1ad3's opinion about Zeus as a team leader.

Zeus was not only a talented player but also an excellent IGL. His strengths were intuition and the ability to read the opponent. He not only managed the team but also helped everyone maintain concentration even in the most difficult moments.

 

Another question from Thorin was his request for B1ad3's assessment regarding NAVI's early results on the international stage.

The early successes of NAVI were unexpected, but we believed in our potential. Winning three major tournaments in a year was fantastic. It showed that our hard work and belief in the team paid off.

 

He was also asked about talents, where Thorin inquired about B1ad3's thoughts on the similarities between old stars and modern players.

There are definitely similarities. Donk and m0NESY demonstrate a similar level of individual skill, which NEO and Forest showed in their time. This confirms that talent always emerges, regardless of the generation.

 

The next part of the B1ad3 interview will be released soon. Watch the interview in more detail below: