NAVI 27-year-old captain, Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, led his team to victory at the first ever CS2 Major as well as the Esports World Cup. He and his team are now one step away from the finals of the prestigious IEM Cologne 2024 tournament, a significant accomplishment for the Finn.
“I have never played at LANXESS Arena, so the upcoming semi-final will be my debut on this legendary stage,” Aleksib shared in an interview with Dust2 Brasil.
The hard road to success
Aleksib's path to this pinnacle has not been an easy one. He has represented many teams in his 10-year career, but more often than not, their collaborations have not lasted long. “What was important to me was the confidence and trust from NAVI, which allowed me to build a long-term strategy,” Aleksib admits. Since last year, he has been reunited with the team after a stint at NIP that ended in June. It has been a fruitful year for NAVI, with wins at Major and Esports World Cup solidifying their position among the other teams.
NAVI's path to IEM Cologne 2024
NAVI's journey to IEM Cologne 2024 started well. The team won all three of their group matches. In the first match, they faced the Brazilian team paiN and won a solid 2-0 victory. Then NAVI continued their winning streak, which allowed them to advance straight to the semifinals, bypassing the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. Aleksib emphasizes the significance of this win, “It boosted our confidence. We are proud of our accomplishments and are eager to win the final.”
Vision and assessments
Cybersport experts and analysts have noted the steady development of the NAVI team under Aleksib's leadership. While other top teams such as Vitality, FaZe, and G2 have long been entrenched in the elite, NAVI is rapidly moving towards that status. Aleksib explains why his team is notyet perceived as a clear favorite: “We have players who have not yet had time to show themselves fully. But I'm sure they will be among the top 20 players next year.”
Perspectives and significance of the tournament
The semifinal at LANXESS Arena will be a milestone for Aleksiba and his team. “Winning in Cologne is not just another trophy, it is a symbolic achievement for each of us,” says Aleksib. The Cologne and Katowice tournaments are considered the most prestigious after the majors and NAVI aim to add them to their record. A successful performance at IEM Cologne 2024 could change the perception of the team in the cybersport world and confirm their status as one of the best teams on the world stage.
Source: Dust2 Brasil
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