On the eve of New Year 2025, a journalist from Bo3.gg spoke with Passion UA CS2 captain Rodion fear Smyk. There have been many rumors surrounding the team lately, so we decided to get insights directly from the source. The Ukrainian player also summarized the team's performance at the major and discussed what they lacked to advance to the Elimination Stage.

Read about this and the future of the Passion UA roster in our interview.

Let's start with the most important question: will you be keeping your roster in 2025?

Good question. The thing is, negotiations are underway not only for jambo. I cannot provide a definitive answer as it depends on many nuances. Negotiations are also underway with me, and I will not speak on behalf of the other Passion UA players. I'm not sure if that would be appropriate. 

What personally influences your future with the team? What would make you stay, and what could be key for your move to a new club?

I don't think it's a secret to anyone, but I've already talked to representatives of my organization and the guys that I wouldn't go anywhere if we could keep the roster intact. 

Where I'm planning or negotiating... I can't say for sure. I definitely won't choose a weaker team than the one here. Accordingly, I consider attractive offers for myself. Of course, I want to grow and develop further as a player and captain. Therefore, the proposals I have now are good for me. There is a tier-1 organization and a non-tier-1 organization but with a strong lineup. 

Is it correct to assume that if the rest of the Passion UA players decide to stay together, you will refuse other teams?

Yes, this has been communicated to everyone negotiating with me, and our owner knows; we communicate openly.

In our interview before the RMR, you said that your owner is not very keen on changing the roster. He is very interested in it being permanent and long-term. Now after the major, have you had any negotiations with Passion UA regarding changes in contract conditions?

Yes, of course, we achieved our goal. It was a very good result, and we understood that a review of contracts would follow in terms of conditions, buyouts, and so on. We are now receiving more attention than before the major. 

How do salaries or the conditions you can request change after a successful run at the major?

It depends on many factors. The main one is probably your position. 

I will not disclose how much it was and how much it will be.

How do you and the team cope with these transfer moments? Is there no unnecessary tension between players because of it?

I said this at the beginning, and I'll say it again. If the roster remains unchanged, it doesn't matter how much they pay and who asks. I wouldn't transfer anywhere. 

Of course, other players are negotiating, and they consciously go for promotion, both in terms of gameplay and financials. And they can be understood. In the team, of course, no one takes offense. 

Personally, I am eager to continue playing, and accordingly, it is important for me to be able to continue working with these guys. 

Did your expectations of yourselves change during the major? Were you disappointed after the last match? When did the realization of your achievement come?

There was a strong disappointment. It lasted for many hours, a dozen even. But in time, I realized that it's worth losing a match like this with the emotions we gave the viewers. If I'm not mistaken, it was the best-watched match in the stage.

It was indeed a good match against Wildcard. I would also like to add that we could have beaten GamerLegion and the same Wildcard. We could have taken another step further. I don't know how it would have been with teams like MOUZ, G2, Vitality, NAVI, but we could have pushed ourselves another step.

What was missing? I would say we lacked the tools at this level. I've already told the guys this, but I haven't said it publicly yet. We end the first map with Wildcard or with GamerLegion. They have analytics, a coach-analyst, 8 sheets... What are they writing down there? It seems to me we lacked a bit more staff, maybe a psychologist.

For example, this aspect of sleep. I couldn't sleep during all the first matches of the European RMR. My friend Valera (b1t - editor's note) helped me a lot and gave me a melatonin pill. After that, I started playing CS and getting enough sleep. 

Another detail affected, I think. Nikita [jackasmo] was giving an interview before the game with GamerLegion, there was a large audience, a microphone - everything at that moment evokes some unnecessary emotions. The most toxic thing can be a thought that creeps into your head because you can't control it. It can cause great harm to you. 

I hope things will be better for you in the new season, provided you keep the roster.

100%. I think even if we don't keep the roster, it will still manifest. Financially, the organization has boosted itself very strongly. Accordingly, Passion UA is interested in growing further as an organization.

Did anyone help you deal with the disappointment? Perhaps family, relatives? 

Everyone helped, but I would particularly note Ilya-m0NESY. We spent a lot of time talking about different things, gaming and non-gaming. 

What did he say?

Well, he told me that sometimes it's better to play exactly like we did against Wildcard because it's unclear how it would have been in the next stage, but now we leave the impression of a young, hot team that was just a bit short. Even though it was a loss, most viewers were satisfied with the game. 

In the Legend Stage, we could have lost 1-3, 0-3, like BIG and GamerLegion did, whom we competed against. Although here, I think it's much easier for us as a team to perform against teams precisely from the top-10 tier, because they act rationally and aren't fixated on countering specifically us.

For example, we played with GamerLegion and Wildcard, do you think they played "their game"? Of course not. Both of them studied our rounds thoroughly with 8 sheets. This is our problem; we didn't adapt to it, we lacked experience. These are two teams that directly anti-stratted us. Changed everything in force. 

After the major, what's your impression of the event, China? What can you say? 

Absolutely 10 out of 10. This is my best gaming year in terms of my career, 100%. I'm only satisfied. Life changes for the better after such tournaments.  

What conclusions do you draw for yourself from this year for the future?

That my long-term plan worked. I bet on young players, that we need to progress with them first, rather than join some European tier-2 teams where there are good salaries and experienced players. I realized my gaming vision works. And now, whether I stay or not, I understand that my CS has the ability to beat the best teams. 

I would be interested in working with more experienced players than myself. But it needs them to give me respect, space, and allow me to lead them. I would be interested in how they would perform under my leadership.

Do you feel that you now have this leverage to push your vision within the team? 

Yes, of course. I will not join a team where I don't have the leverage to push my gaming vision. I want everyone to understand, I am not conceited. I need to continue learning and gaining experience. This is simply confirmation that I'm on the right path, where I need to work even more. So there will be no relaxation on my part.

On the side: how did you rest after the major?

I went on vacation with my girlfriend. Nothing extraordinary, we were just in the center of Katowice, rented a hotel. Walked around, talked, ate well. In Katowice, there are good places, a nearby airport, and a train station. There's everything for comfortable living. I hadn't been in a relationship for 6 years, didn't talk to anyone at all, just grinded CS. We talked with my girlfriend for 3-4 months before this. So I suggested we move in together. She came over. Her first semester had just ended, she aced all her exams early. She studies well.