November 22, 2023, was a landmark day in the history of NAVI - Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov debuted with the team at BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2023 in Copenhagen. Going up against Cloud9, w0nderful immediately showed his high potential despite the team's 1-2 defeat.
Aggressive approach and role in NAVI
In contrast to his previous experience at Spirit, where w0nderful played more passively, he proved to be an aggressive player in his first match at NAVI. His initiative and willingness to take risks often paid off, reflecting his confidence and will to win. w0nderful actively intervened in the first duels, helping Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi and Justinas "jL" Lekavicius, and often took an important role in clutch situations, where his two clutch wins on Anubis were key moments of the game.
However, it is worth noting that his aggression stands out only compared to his background in the previous teams. Perhaps it wasn't part of the team's plan, but Ihor's simple desire to prove himself as best he could. Only time will tell, but the match vs. Cloud9 was something else for the young Ukrainian.
Statistical analysis
With a solid K/D of 62-41, including 28 kills with AWP, w0nderful earned recognition as potentially one of the best players in the NAVI. His ADR was 83 and his KPR was 0.91, which indicates his significant contribution in every round. These statistical indicators allowed him to become the best player in the match despite the defeat.
Expert comment
Oleksandr "petr1k" Petryk, a well-known analyst, believed in his latest video that w0nderful can become the best player in the NAVI structure. According to petr1k, w0nderful's role in the team is highly effective, performing critical actions such as trades and participating in clutch plays.
I am convinced that w0nderful will have great stats, I think he will be the best player in terms of stats on the team. Just because of the way the structure of this team is built. We see that w0nderful has a really effective role, in which he always comes out second or third in the rotation, stays in clutch, plays on the help, he is supported and baited. As for me, it's not a bad idea to believe in w0nderful. He definitely has mechanical skill, he hits flicks, he reads the game well, and he moves coolly. And in this regard, he is a good replacement for s1mple.Oleksandr "petr1k" Petryk
Comparison with s1mple
Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev, who has been repeatedly recognized as the best player in the world, is known for his risky manoeuvres and unmatched individual skill. His vast experience and influence on the NAVI game was undeniable.
In contrast to the former NAVI sniper, w0nderful displays a more team-oriented style of play, focusing on justified risk-taking and teamwork. He often doesn't go for overpicks, but simply steps back to save his weapon or wait for help from teammates to play the moment correctly.
Impact on the team
With the arrival of w0nderful, other players, such as Mihai "iM" Ivan and jL, have gained more freedom on the field, although their performance in the last match was not at the highest level. Both of them can now play more aggressively, knowing that the sniper is behind them, not in front of them.
For the CTs, NAVI's structure has remained virtually unchanged, with w0nderful playing as a free artist looking for skirmishes with the opponent and taking up space. As soon as the action starts on some part of the map, he rushes to the aid of his teammates. For the Ts, his passivity frees up space for the creativity and ideas of other players. W0nderful stays behind and stays in clutches, as Vitality sniper Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut does.
READ MORE: Aleksib shared his opinion about w0nderful
Closing remarks
W0nderful's first performance with NAVI showed that he is ready to meet high-level challenges and can become a key figure in the team. His flexibility and ability to adapt to the requirements of the coach and the team open up new opportunities for NAVI's development.
W0nderful has already demonstrated that he has the potential to become one of the leading snipers in the Counter-Strike 2 world. His unique style of play and tactical flexibility have made him an important part of NAVI, promising a bright future for both him and the team. At the same time, thanks to his supportive style of play, the team does not depend on the sniper and gives room for other roster members to perform well.
Header image: Twitter BLASTPremier
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