Eternal Fire player Engin "MAJ3R" Küpeli shared his thoughts on the team’s journey, challenges, and goals for the season. In an interview with Bo3.gg, he discussed the impact of roster changes, the importance of team synergy, and the adjustments needed to compete at the highest level. MAJ3R also reflected on balancing professional esports with personal life and shared insights into the evolving competitive CS2.

Hello, Maj3r. Nice to meet you. Congratulations on making the playoffs in Katowice! Let’s talk about your season. Last year, Eternal Fire started strong but slowed down toward the end. Have you figured out why?

Yeah, I think it’s about spending more time together as a team. When you lose, you learn the truth. We started normally in the first month, peaked at the Copenhagen Major with a playoff run, and played our best Counter-Strike. But by the end of the year, we lost momentum. I think mentality played a role because there were many tournaments ahead. For this season, we’ll see, but mentality will be the key factor.

You’ve had a packed schedule with constant travel. Has it affected you?

Not jet lag, but traveling between tournaments is tough. We played the BLAST final, didn’t go home, and flew straight to Katowice. We’ve been here for 10 days, making it 20 in total. It’s not easy, but it’s our job. For me, it’s even harder since I’m married with two kids. I miss them a lot, but I do this for them.

Eternal Fire made many roster changes last year. How did you decide when to stop? Was it results-based, or did you know in advance?

There were a lot of changes as the team tried to find the best five players. We wanted to see different lineups quickly. Last season, we replaced XANTARES with jottAAA, and now we feel we have a solid five. Last year, we were good with XANTARES, but we needed something extra to compete with the best and maybe lift a trophy. I hope jottAAA can help us with that.

How has jottAAA adapted to the team? What helped him integrate faster?

On CT side, he plays the same role as XANTARES, so it was an easy fit. But on T side, things changed. He’s a more aggressive entry fragger, so we had to adjust tactics. It was chaotic at first, but after two months, he’s adapting well. He has a great personality, strong work ethic, and watches a lot of demos. He also brings humor, which helps during stressful matches. I really like his energy, and I believe he hasn’t shown his full potential yet. With time and experience, he’ll improve even more.

Who works with jottAAA the most—coaches, teammates, or psychologists?

I talk to him after matches to help him improve, but we all support him. Sometimes it’s the coach, sometimes his teammates, or even his best friend, Wicadia. It’s a team effort.

What are your goals for this season in terms of rankings?

Right now, we’re ranked top six or seven in Valve’s ranking. The main goal is to stay in the top five to secure invites to big tournaments.

And in tournaments, what’s your ultimate goal?

Lifting a trophy, of course.

You’re one of the oldest players competing at this level. What advantages do you have over younger players?

Experience, for sure. I might be more mature and understand things better. But younger players have advantages too—they’re hungrier and more motivated. It depends on the individual.

EliGE mentioned that MR12 needs more gun rounds. Do you agree?

Maybe he’s right, but the game is faster now. Even in MR12, matches can last over an hour, like our game against FaZe. The balance seems fine for both players and fans.

Is there anything you’d change in CS, like the economy or specific mechanics?

Maybe the economy. If you lose the pistol round and don’t start well, it’s tough to recover. Something could be adjusted, but that’s for the developers to decide.

You’re married with two kids. How do you balance your career and personal life?

I try my best. My wife takes care of both kids alone while I’m away, so we both make sacrifices. It’s not easy—I miss them a lot. Some nights, I can’t sleep because I feel alone. I’m still searching for the right balance, but hopefully, I’ll find it with time.

You and The MongolZ had a similar rise to Tier 1 and play with national rosters. What will determine the winner in your quarterfinal match?

It will come down to firepower. Both teams have strong individual players. Whoever has a better day will win.

Will you prepare specific strategies against The MongolZ?

We’ll analyze their demos and might introduce some "signature rounds" just for them. We do this against top teams, like we did against FaZe.

iM said the top five teams are very close, even the top ten. Do you agree?

Yes. CS is very competitive right now. Spirit, NAVI, and Vitality are slightly ahead, but anyone can beat anyone.

What does Eternal Fire need to reach the next level?

Experience and consistency. We’re close to teams like Spirit, but we need time to refine our mistakes and improve.

What do you think about tools like Skybox for strategy analysis?

They’re great for the game. CS is about shooting, but it’s also a deeply tactical game. Tools like Skybox help teams prepare and improve their strategy.

Turkish players always bring energy to tournaments. What’s your take on trash talk? Does it make the game more exciting or promote toxicity?

There needs to be balance. In competition, you can trash talk and hype yourself up, but outside the game, we respect each other. It’s part of the job.

You’ve played for many teams over the years. What do you miss the most from your early days?

Back then, it was less stressful. We played purely for fun and love of the game. Now, there’s social media, money, and pressure. It’s more professional, which is good, but those early days felt like our first love. That’s what I miss.

Has that experience helped you today?

Absolutely. I’ve spent years playing, and that’s why I can still compete at 34 against younger players. My past experiences made me who I am today.

Eternal Fire defeated FaZe and advanced to the quaterfinals of IEM Katowice 2025 playoff. You can follow the news, schedule, and tournament results at the link.