After the successful qualification of B8 Esports for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, we had the opportunity to speak with the team's sniper, Daniil "headtr1ck" Valitov. In an exclusive interview for Bo3.gg, he discussed his time with Ninjas in Pyjamas and his transfer to B8. Daniil also shared his experiences during and emotions after qualifying for the Major in Austin, as well as the team's goals for upcoming events.
Let's go back to 2022, when you were playing for the NAVI main team at BLAST. Back then, you had good statistics against the top 1 teams. But you didn't seem to have a chance to gain a foothold in the roster?
Yes, NAVI had a very strong lineup back then, and s1mple was playing. It was almost impossible to secure a spot. However, it was a great experience for me and positively impacted my future career.
Like m0NESY, you decided not to wait for a chance in the main NAVI roster and went your own way. Was that the right decision?
Yes, I requested to be put on the transfer list. I wanted to see what options I might have. Before that, I was just playing, standing in for some players when needed, and streaming. Then I decided to go my own way.
When the offer from NIP came, did you agree quickly? Were there other options?
There weren't many offers, but there were a few. NIP was the most prestigious among them — a strong organization with a competitive roster. It was a choice without a choice: I wanted to play in an international lineup and knew English well. The transfer happened in the winter of 2022–2023. It also depended on the results with NiP. Negotiations began, and I joined the team.
You made it to the Major in Paris with NiP, but then failed to qualify for the first CS2 Major. Results in other tournaments were also mediocre. Sometimes it seemed like you were playing 1vs9. What went wrong? Were there player issues? Or maybe management mistakes in forming the roster?
I think it was a combination of problems. Firstly, I think our players didn't mesh well. We looked good in practice but couldn't play our game in official matches. I'm not sure why — maybe mental blocks. I think the players in the team didn't fit well together.
Then there were roster changes. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly wasn't working because things looked much better in practice. But in tournaments, we lost almost without a chance. I think the roster just didn't click.
Do you regret moving to NIP?
No, not at all. It was a very good experience for me. I played my first Major — which was very important as a player. I also attended many LAN tournaments in different countries. This period was interesting and beneficial. No regrets.
How did your transition to B8 go? Can you share some details about this transfer overall?
After the failure at RMR, NiP wanted to change the roster. For a few days, I didn't talk to any teams that were interested in me. Then npl contacted me, and later, NiP's coach explained that they wanted to sign r1nkle, but I wasn't ready to give a final answer. I hadn't yet recovered from the changes, so to speak.
But honestly, it wasn't exactly a player swap. R1nkle signed earlier than I did. Later, I played a bit with B8, realized I liked the team and the people, and decided to fully commit to this group.
In my opinion, you only benefited from this transfer. Do you think moving to B8 was the right decision?
Yes, absolutely! I believe I benefited. At that moment, I really needed a "breath of fresh air." It gave me huge motivation to play at a high level again, to achieve new goals with new players I hadn't played with before. I think it was very beneficial for me.
It seems like you're playing more freely in B8. Is that just my impression, or have you felt the change yourself?
Maybe so. With each match, I gradually regained confidence in my game. I tried to play better and better because things weren't going well in NiP — neither for me nor for the team overall. So I needed to somehow regain my form and reach a decent level.
I think r1nkle in NiP is going through the same path you did: there's some roster confusion again, and sometimes he seems like the only one playing on the server. What do you think about this situation?
Actually, I like their current lineup. Compared to previous versions, it's one of the strongest. But of course, we need to look at the long term. They've not been together for long, but there's definitely potential. All the players are experienced, so if they show their game and fulfill their roles, they'll do well.
After moving to B8, you started grinding tournaments. Initially, things went well — you looked like a solid tier-2 team, winning some tournaments, but there were no invites to big events. Then came the RMR before Shanghai Major, and you were eliminated with a 0:3 record. It was unexpected for me because I spoke with npl before the qualifiers, and he was very motivated. What went wrong then?
We were all positive about that RMR because we had shown good play on LAN before, even beating strong teams. But I think our biggest mistake was mental preparation. We couldn't fully prepare ourselves. Maybe we even got scared.
In the first match, we played against Spirit — and didn't show our game at all. Then another loss, and the third match was against Astralis — we had a chance there, but they outplayed us with experience. Overall, stress took its toll. We didn't show the level we had demonstrated before. It was a failed tournament for us.
You successfully qualified for the Major in Austin, and for you, it's the second, but for other players and the organization, it's the first in history. You lost the first two matches, just one step from elimination. Almost identical to the previous situation. What was the atmosphere in the team then?
But then we talked with the psychologist, gathered as a team, and realized: if we continue playing like this, nothing will work out, and all our dreams will just vanish. So we decided to play round by round, match by match, without thinking about the result. And you know, it really worked. We played freely, confidently, believing that everything depended only on us. And I'm glad we managed to do it.
You had less than 24 hours to regroup after the losses. You talked with the psychologist, with the team. How did you personally prepare for the next day, which was already decisive?
I tried to relax a bit. In terms of thoughts — not to overthink. What's done is done. I set myself up for progress and understood that there was still a chance to fix everything.
Actually, understanding that it wasn't over yet helped. Yes, the score was 0:2 — difficult, but there was a third game ahead. We always play better when we trust each other and aren't afraid to take the initiative. Moreover, the match was best-of-3. We had two maps before elimination. It's easier when there's still a "buffer" — we had room for error.
You won five bo3 matches in three days. That's not easy. How did the team handle this period? Constant tension and stress, I assume?
Yes, mentally it was tough. Thoughts of elimination were there, but we constantly reminded ourselves: while playing — focus on the game, help each other. Don't think about what will happen afterward — win or lose. We had to show our game because we had prepared for a long time. A lot of work was done. We supported each other, reminded ourselves that each round was a new chance. And it worked.
The conclusion of the match for the slot against Astralis was very tense. Alex666 won an incredible clutch, and you won. What were the emotions at that moment?
It was a huge relief. We all watched that moment with hope, and when he won — everyone shouted. For many, it's their first Major — it means a lot. Especially considering that after that round, we would have played on the weaker side. Who knows how it would have turned out if he hadn't won that clutch.
Did the fact that the qualification was online work in your favor? Because it seems like B8 faces difficulties at LAN tournaments.
Maybe partially, but not globally. Initially, we were 0:2 and had to turn things around. Overall, I think the psychologist helped us more. Also, the comfort of playing at home: the same computer, familiar surroundings, no distractions. I was also a bit sick at the start of the qualifiers — so it was easier at home. But I wouldn't say it changed things drastically.
Do you think Major qualifications should be held online or on LAN?
LAN offers completely different emotions, different nerves. It's a real test. I think in the future, it's better to hold qualifications on LAN. It's more exciting to play and watch.
After qualifying for the Major, has the team's motivation changed? Maybe new goals have emerged?
Our motivation was high before, but now it's even higher. We have a very important tournament ahead — the Major. But before that, there will be online tournaments, an event in Mongolia. It's like a boost of energy for us — to believe in ourselves and the team. Because there are moments when things don't work out, and you start to doubt. After such a comeback — only forward.
How do you view these upcoming tournaments? CCT Global Finals and the tournament in Mongolia. More as preparation for the Major, or should you also play to win?
Of course, these are important tournaments for us because we've played a lot of CCT before and would like to perform well at the Global Finals as well. We have time, we will have a bootcamp, and we will have some time to prepare. But right now, the focus is only on each upcoming tournament. You can't think only about the Major because a lot still depends on VRS — where we will get invites. So every tournament is important now. If you fail at one tournament, it can take a long time to recover your ranking.
Have you already discussed preparations for the Major, and there will be a bootcamp, right? Where will it be held, if it's not a secret — in Europe or already in the USA?
We're planning in Serbia, but I don't know exactly where it will be. It's still in the plans.
Are you planning to arrive in the USA a bit earlier to better cope with jet lag?
I haven't really thought about it. BLAST handles the tickets, and I think they will want everyone to arrive at the same time so that everyone is on equal footing. But overall, I think we'll have some time to adjust. The main thing is for everyone to be in the same conditions — that's what I believe.
Teams from North and South America will still have an advantage.
Well, yes, it will be easier for them. But I think there are methods. If you think about it earlier — maybe there's an option to arrive earlier. But it doesn't fundamentally change the game. It's just comfort.
How far do you think you can go at the Major? Your prediction. The first stage looks quite passable.
It's actually hard to predict how we'll play right now. But overall, of course, we want to go as far as possible — to the second and third stages. But it will all depend on how we play on LAN. Because we haven't played there for a while. If everyone catches that team vibe that we always have — then I think everything will be fine. But reaching the arena — that's already very far. There's still a lot of work to be done before that.
Would you like to say a few words to the fans?
Thank you all for your support. Honestly, your support was very important. So many people supported us — and it was really felt. We wanted even more to prove that we were worthy of this and to thank them for their support. Keep cheering for B8. We will try not to let you down.
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