Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski from FaZe shared his thoughts on the victory over G2, highlighting that every map was intense, with strong game reading and mental resilience being key factors. In an interview with Bo3.gg, he discussed how the team adapted to G2’s unexpected strategies, the importance of individual skill and teamwork, and the upcoming challenge against Eternal Fire.

Congratulations! It was a great game. How challenging was the match for you, and how would you rate your performance from 1 to 10?

It was definitely a tough match. Every map went the distance. I felt good individually, very sharp. I'd rate myself an 8 or 9 because there's always room for improvement.

What was the key factor in your victory?

We had a great read on most rounds. Our macro game was solid on both CT and T sides, and our mental strength helped us stay focused. We have incredibly talented players, and the rounds we managed to win were just incredible.

Did you prepare any special strategies or new tactics for this match?

We always bring something new for each game, targeting the opponent’s weaknesses so they can’t predict our game plan. Kerrigan does a great job of keeping things fresh and keeping everyone on their toes.

Did your opponents do anything unexpected that forced you to adjust your strategy?

Absolutely. That always happens. For example, on Ancient, we were running a lot of fakes, but at some point, they stopped reacting to them. So we had to adjust and play more directly with our strategies.

Are you satisfied with your team’s performance so far?

Overall, it's been good, considering the changes we’ve made. We didn’t expect to become champions instantly, but we have the potential. Swapping a lurker for me, who plays aggressively, required some adjustments. We have three aggressive players now, and we’re still figuring out roles. But I think we’ve done well, especially in this tournament. At BLAST, we didn’t have enough time, but here, things look much better.

Is there anything you’d like to improve before the next match?

Personally, I need to figure out how to have more impact on T-side Nuke. I’ve been struggling to find my rhythm. As a team, I think we’re doing great. If we had won just a few more clutches, the scoreline would have looked very different.

You mentioned struggling on Nuke’s T-side. Do you think it’s due to your position?

Nuke T-side is just tough in general. Ever since they changed how smokes work, it's been harder to break through. Sometimes, you just have games where you can’t get your shots off. We've only played it twice, so I need to figure out how to improve.

Your next opponent is Eternal Fire. What do you think about them?

They’re a strong team. Major has been doing a great job calling and keeping things dynamic, making it hard for opponents to predict them. Wicadia and XANTARES are incredible individual players. It’s going to be a tough match.

How does your playstyle compare to Eternal Fire’s? Is there a big difference?

Honestly, I have no idea.

Do you feel the support from fans even when they’re not in the arena?

Yeah, mainly on social media. The fans have been great, and my fiancée has been super supportive, helping me every step of the way.

What do you think about the CS2 meta, where Tech-9, MAC-10, and MP9 are very strong?

You could do similar things in CS:GO. It’s hard to tell if it’s a CS2 issue or if players have just improved their movement and mechanics. We just have to adapt, like professionals do.

Do you think these weapons are overpowered?

Not really. If you nerf the MP9, for example, CT sides would suffer. The bigger issue is the economy. T-sides have been strong for a while, and with MR12, there are fewer rounds to work with.

Have you tested the latest MP9 and FAMAS changes?

The SMG changes were minor, barely noticeable. I haven’t tested the FAMAS much yet, just a few rounds, so I can’t really say.

What’s the biggest issue in CS2 that needs fixing right now?

The economy. If we’re sticking with MR12, we need more gun rounds. Increasing the bomb explosion radius won’t stop teams from saving; with fewer rounds, they have to be even more careful with their money.

Should the loss bonus be adjusted for CTs?

A good starting change would be increasing the minimum loss bonus to 1900 instead of 1400.

What do you think about Valve’s new ranking system for Tier 1 tournament invites?

I don’t follow it much. It feels like you need a Harvard degree to figure it out. I leave it to others to handle.

FaZe defeated G2 and sent them home. They advanced to the lower bracket final, where they will face Eternal Fire for a spot in the playoffs. You can follow the news, schedule, and tournament results at the link.