GIANTX Valorant player Tomás "tomaszy" Machado gave an interview to Bo3.gg ahead of the VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff. He shared his thoughts on the Viper nerf, discussed his relationships with the current GIANTX roster members, and talked about his career.

Let’s start by summing up last year. You’ve been with Karmine Corp since 2023. Can you share what worked, what didn’t, and why?

Last year, I joined Karmine Corp after finishing my time with SAW. It wasn’t what I expected, as I had been trialing for other roles. But I ended up taking the Sentinel role, which was fine because my goal was to compete at the highest level. Playing in Tier 1 was a big step for me, and I was excited to gain experience with the coaching staff, especially Ang.

The year started strong with the 2024 VCT season. We won the kickoff event, and early on, we found our unique playstyle. That helped us succeed because we were always on the same page. However, things started to decline after the international event in Madrid. Our form dropped significantly.

Even though I performed well individually, as a team, we struggled. We managed to stay at the top of our group, but that was partly because other teams underperformed. When we reached the playoffs for Shanghai, we lost to Fnatic in the first game, which exposed our inability to maintain form under pressure.

As the season progressed, we identified our mistakes but couldn’t fix them. It was frustrating because we knew our potential, but when it mattered most, we couldn’t execute. This pattern is repeated in Stage 2. While our scrims went well, our performance in tournaments didn’t match.

Eventually, we failed to qualify for Champions. Losing to Fnatic again was disappointing because we had such high expectations after our early success. The team was demoralized since we believed we had the potential to be even better but couldn’t achieve it.

It seems like your expectations might have been too high early on

Yes, after our strong start, we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. We couldn’t learn from our mistakes, which became our biggest issue. By the end of the season, the team decided to make changes. Kitty chose to remove me, and other roster adjustments followed. From there, I started trialing again.

Do you agree with the decision to kick you?

Honestly, I didn’t want to leave because I really liked the organization and the people there. But I respect their decision and understand why they made it. After that, I started trialing for Tier 1 teams again.

It was a bit strange for me because, at first, nothing seemed to work out. My agent mentioned GIANTX, but they hadn’t shown interest before. It was late in the offseason when they reached out, and I started playing with them. At first, I played smokes, which wasn’t my usual role, but it felt special with this group of players. We clicked, and I signed with them.

I didn’t expect to enjoy playing this role so much. I’m genuinely happy working with this team and feel very comfortable. The people around me are supportive, and that makes a big difference.

In your previous organization, it seemed like you were overstressed due to high expectations that didn’t align with the results. Now, in this new team, do you feel a lack of pressure? Is it refreshing for you?

Absolutely, 100%. I feel like I can just focus on doing my job and enjoying the game. We prepare well, but we don’t put unnecessary expectations on ourselves. The focus is on having fun and giving our best as a team and as individuals.

This mindset reminds me of how we started the season with my previous team, which led to good results early on. But things shifted later. Now, I see this as a chance to renew myself, both as a player and a person.

I don’t worry about what others think of me. I’m surrounded by people who support me, including the organization. I just focus on improving myself and doing my job.

What do you think about the new Karmine Corp roster?

I like it. The pickup of Saadhak was a big surprise—he’s a world champion with so much experience. Elite is an excellent aimer, and keeping Martin makes perfect sense—he’s incredibly consistent and shoots like a robot. Avis is the rookie, and while he’s had visa issues in the past, he’s always been highly rated. It’s a solid lineup with a lot of potential.

That’s a great mindset. Speaking of your new team, you’ve already played one tournament together. How was that experience? Any key takeaways or areas you’ve improved on since then?

Yes, we’ve had that “honeymoon phase” as a team—everything feels new and exciting, like flowers and ice cream. It’s been a good start, for sure.

After the tournament, when the dust settles, you get a clearer picture of where the team is headed. What’s your take on this roster?

For us, that tournament was all about gaining stage experience. We approached it with a mindset to learn, bond as a team, and get to know each other better. It was our first time together as a full squad, including the coaching staff. The focus wasn’t necessarily on winning but on building chemistry and enjoying the process.

It was a winnable tournament, but losing happens—it’s normal. We’ve put it behind us and are looking ahead to what’s next. Now we’re back in Berlin for boot camp, preparing for the VCT season. The tournament was a great opportunity to grow as a team and gain valuable experience playing on stage.

Can you give us a look into your team’s dynamics? Every team has its unique atmosphere—some are calm and measured, while others are high-energy and intense. How would you describe yours?

We’re a young team, probably the youngest in VCT, and that comes with a lot of emotion. We’re passionate and eager to win, which means we really feel the game when we play—whether we’re winning or losing.

Our focus is on controlling those emotions, especially when things aren’t going well. But what makes us special is that there’s no ego between us. We respect each other and are united in our hunger to win and prove our value. We know what we’re capable of and just want to show it to everyone.

It sounds like your team environment is full of energy and excitement. Does it ever get too loud or overwhelming during matches?

Yes, I agree with that. On stage, especially in high-stakes situations, emotions can run high, and we sometimes get too loud. It’s different from scrims or practice; the stress of the moment amplifies everything.

We’ve worked on this and are improving game by game. In Turkey, for example, we realized that being too loud wasn’t helping us in certain situations. Now we’re focused on staying calm and communicating more efficiently. It’s a process, but we’re getting better at managing it.

In 2024, you played a lot of matches on Viper. Do you think she’ll remain relevant in the Tier 1 meta this year after the recent nerfs?

I think Viper will still be relevant, especially with Lotus back in the map pool and on Bind. Those two maps are where she shines the most. On other maps, though, I don’t see her being as popular since players don’t use her much in general. Split might be another exception, but overall, Viper will still have her place in the meta.

You’ve already touched on the map pool changes. With Icebox and Sunset gone, have you had enough time to prepare for the new maps? What are your thoughts on the changes?

Yes, we’ve had time to prepare. Personally, I think the changes are good. Ascent, for example, needed to go—it’s been in the game since the beginning. Sunset also felt repetitive, like Icebox, where rounds often followed the same patterns. Removing maps like these keeps the game fresh and interesting. I like the direction they’re taking.

You spent a couple of years in Tier 2 and Tier 3 before making it to Tier 1. Do you still follow the lower tiers?

Yes, I still follow the scene.

What’s your take on the current state of the Tier 2 scene? Do you think it has a future if Riot continues to act as they have?

It’s a tough situation. People often talk about the Tier 2 scene and the challenges it faces. Riot is aware of the feedback, but it’s hard to see what they’re doing to address it. Maybe they have plans we don’t know about, but from my perspective, it’s unclear.

For example, my home league, the Portuguese league, no longer exists. It makes sense in some ways, but it’s had a big impact—there are only a handful of Portuguese players left because there’s no competition. Many players have quit because they can’t make a living from Tier 2.

It’s tough to stay motivated when you’re not earning enough to cover basic expenses. In Tier 2, most people play purely for the love of the game. Without more support, it’s hard to imagine the scene thriving.

I understand. As a journalist covering Counter-Strike, I’ve noticed many players switching back to CS lately. It seems like a trend.

Yes, that’s true. Players like Nuki, for example, have decided to return to Counter-Strike.

It feels like a leak of talent that could’ve been avoided, don’t you think?

I agree. Valorant is still one of the greatest FPS games ever, but it’s a reality that players are leaving. Like I said, many stop playing because ranked isn’t enjoyable, and there aren’t enough competitive opportunities. If you’re eliminated, you might not have anything to play for months, and that leaves players feeling stuck. I completely understand why some decide to move on.

Let’s shift back to your roster. You’re with GIANTX now, and I’ve heard you’ve been having some fun with your teammates lately—like going ice skating together. Do you think activities like that help build team chemistry? 

Yes, we went ice skating yesterday. For me, the best teams are made up of players who not only work well professionally but also enjoy spending time together as friends. GIANTX built this team with that in mind, and we genuinely like each other. We hang out, play chess, and just enjoy each other’s company.

Of course, some players prefer to keep things strictly professional, where they play together but don’t interact much outside the game. I understand that mindset, but for us, bonding as friends makes it easier to handle tough moments and enjoy the good ones even more. We don’t need the organization to arrange bonding activities—we do it ourselves, which is amazing.

That’s great, but doesn’t being so close sometimes create issues? For example, when I lived with a friend, we got along well at first, but living together revealed habits I couldn’t stand, and it affected our friendship. Does boot camp living as friends and colleagues ever feel like too much?

I get what you mean, but we handle it well. When we’re at boot camp, we spend a lot of time together, but everyone values their personal space. For example, when we’re home, we have time apart—some spend time with their girlfriends, others with friends or alone.

If something bothers me, like a messy room, I’ll just say it because I trust and like my teammates. Communication helps avoid frustration. But if it were someone I didn’t get along with, I might just keep it to myself. For us, though, being honest and giving each other space keeps things balanced.

What do you like most about each of your teammates?

Westside feels like the "little brother" of the team. He’s a rookie, and we’re all trying to share our experience to help him improve. He’s open to feedback, mechanically skilled, and has great potential.

Cloud is amazing, both as a player and as a person. He reminds me of my best friends back home, who have very similar personalities. As an in-game leader, he’s confident, assertive, and believes in his calls, which is inspiring.

RunneR is the perfect teammate. He’s humble, always supportive, and genuinely loves the game. You can count on him no matter what.

Purp0 is incredibly funny and mechanically gifted. He surprised me the most with how skilled he is. What I love most about him is how much he cares about the team and shows his support for us.

Let’s talk about EMEA. You won the kickoff last year. Who do you see as your biggest competition this time?

I’d say FNATIC first—they showed last year what they’re capable of. Then Vitality, which looks like a superteam with highly skilled players. Finally, either FUT or KC. FUT is always strong and consistent, and I know KC’s potential well. These are the teams to watch out for.