Mihai “iM” Ivan who has been playing for Natus Vincere for one year now and he makes it to the playoffs of IEM Cologne 2024. Last year NAVI with iM failed to make the playoffs and visit the LANXESS arena. For iM, this will be the first participation in the Cologne playoffs and the first appearance on the LANXESS arena stage.

Previously, NAVI won the Esports World Cup and the PGL CS2 Major. Before Cologne, the team had a good showing at BLAST Fall Groups, and at this tournament NAVI easily made it through the group stage, losing only one card in the top final against SAW, which secured them a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament. They now await their opponent from the MOUZ/G2 pairing to be determined today.

In the interview, iM shared his impressions and expectations for the IEM Cologne playoffs. He talked about how his team qualified and why this is of particular importance to him. iM also talked about his feelings before the big game, nervous tension on stage and team strategy. The interview concluded with iM making his predictions for the semifinals and sharing which team he would like to play against.

The interview was taken and written by Sam "AN1MO" McKenzie

How are you feeling about the Cologne playoffs?

I'm feeling good. It's my second time playing. The first time we lost against Astralis in the decider, and then this is the second time. It's very good that we managed to qualify. It's like one of those legendary arenas in Counter-Strike, right? Maybe the most famous one.

Before the BLAST.tv Paris Major, did you ever think you'd get to play in the Lanxess?

I mean, I know only from stories that it's the biggest arena in all of CS. It's amazing. But I just have to experience it because it's going to be my first time there, so I’ll just have to see it. I don't know. I'm excited to be there, obviously.

But like I said, it's going to be my first time there. So I can't wait to experience it.

You've got a lot of big game experience now, do you still feel nervous when you're out on stage?

No, not at all. If there are some nerves, for me personally, it's going to be in the first two, or three rounds, and then I get used to it.

If I'm watching the crowd, like cheering and stuff like that, it's fun for me. But really, It’s just me and my monitor most of the time, and that’s it.

You just go out, hit three headshots, and think, “I'm good now”?

No, it’s not like I absolutely need headshots. It's basically, like I said, just me and my monitor, then nothing can distract me. Not even if someone is coming and punching my chair.

A lot of people are saying NAVI are playing the best CS they have ever played, better than when you won the Major. Does it feel that way within the team?

It's good that people are saying that about us because we still feel that we have a lot of work to do. We see our mistakes, but we see that a lot of teams have mistakes and it's basically the team that does the least is going to win.

But obviously, we play very well with each other, we have very strong chemistry. That’s the strength of this team, but it’s also good that everyone can pop off.

You're through to the semi-finals. Do you think that maybe gives you a slight disadvantage because whichever team you face will have already won a game on the stage?

I think, yes, it's a disadvantage, but also it could be an advantage. Disadvantage because, yes, they're gonna have this experience before, they're gonna feel the stage, they're gonna be probably more comfortable, whenever they are starting the game and maybe most of the times they will not have a slow start, let's say.

But, the advantage for us would be that we see how they are reacting to the stage and then we can prepare for that and also we can easily go to the stage and feel the atmosphere without having to deal with it in the first game. So, I think it's 50-50.

Let’s end it with a prediction, who will you be playing in the semi-final?

G2, but I kinda want MOUZ because it’s siuhy, I want to play against him.