Twistzz: "There was no doubt in my mind, I was 100% sure we were going to win"

时间：2025-04-20 14:52:58 来源：网络整理编辑：case drop

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After awarding him with the MVP award by HLTV.org and betway, we sat down with Russel "⁠Twistzz

After awarding him with the MVP award by HLTV.org and betway, we sat down with Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken to hear about Liquid breaking the "Big Event curse".

The 19-year-old rifler earned his second MVP award in a tight competition, this time doing so in his team's trophy-lifting campaign, unlike at ESL One New York 2018. Twistzz stood out on the final map of the grand final, Inferno, which swayed the decision his way.

Losing Dust2 so quickly helped Liquid preserve energy, Twistzz says

We sat down with Twistzz in the aftermath of the grand final and went through the tough series against fnatic, his rise in form as it progressed, and difficulties of dealing with the BO5 format.

This is your second MVP, but this time it is something to really be happy about because you also broke the deadlock of winning Big Events with Liquid, so can you give me your initial reactions after lifting the trophy?

I'm just super proud of us for being able to have such a convincing result on Inferno after such a big loss on Dust2. Yeah, we recovered well and we knew what we had to do. I am thankful that Dust2 was such a big blowout because I feel like that allowed us to preserve energy. If it was strung out, like a 16-14 loss, that would've harmed us a lot more than a 16-6. Going into the final map was a lot easier.

I am thankful that Dust2 was such a big blowout because I feel like that allowed us to preserve energy. If it was strung out, like a 16-14 loss, that would've harmed us a lot more Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken

Going into the match, it is a BO5 against fnatic, in some ways it plays to your map pool, since you should have a better map pool than them, but at the same time, there is a disadvantage of playing a very long series and it is also hard to prepare for all five maps. So going into it, what did you think of the BO5 aspect of it?

In our minds, we are the better team and our map pool is definitely superior to theirs, even though we were going to pretty much play all maps anyway. But we know our maps are stronger. And I think they were smart with their first pick, Cache, I had a feeling they were going to pick it, we lost to compLexity on it, we said in a couple of interviews that we stopped playing it a bit, so it was good by them to exploit that.

Regarding BO5s, they are a true test for who is a better team overall, who is going to endure more mentally, who is going to be able to keep the team up, the vibes. On some of the maps we didn't feel like the better team, but definitely, in the end, we showed that we were are the undisputed number two in the world.

On some of the maps we didn't feel like the better team, but definitely, in the end, we showed that we were are the undisputed number two in the world Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken

NAF had a comment in the mid-series interview, after Overpass when you were 1-1, saying that fnatic were playing like the better team, but you were winning the key rounds and clutches. So you think that, as the series progressed, you showed that you were the better team?

Yes, definitely. On Mirage as well, we definitely showed that we were the better team, we moved a lot more than we did on Overpass. I completely agree with what Keith said when it was 1-1, we just won the crucial rounds, but their teamwork was definitely on point, constantly flashing for each other, their 2v2 were excellent, honestly, they were playing great CS. As the series progressed, I felt it was going more in our favor, our support was great for each other and our team play ended up being on a better level than theirs.

You individually started the series a bit slower and then as it went on you played better and better. Did you feel that any of the old issues with closing out would be propping up again? Did any of that come into mind?

No, not at all, as I said, the Dust2 loss, if we choked it and went into the last map... you never know, you could've seen a similar situation like against mousesports at ESL One New York 2018. But there was no doubt in my mind, I was 100% sure we were going to win. Especially after we closed out T pistol on Inferno, I was like, yeah, this is ours for sure, 100%.

I started the BO5 pretty slow, I felt like my energy was low in the first and second map and I feel like I play worse when I don't talk as much Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken

Yeah, I started the BO5 pretty slow, I felt like my energy was low in the first and second map and I feel like I play worse when I don't talk as much. When I'm not hyped, when I'm not trying to keep others up, not giving positive vibes. I perform my best when I'm keeping everyone up.

After you won Inferno, what was the first thing you said to each other, what did you share between yourselves?

It was pretty much like "we worked for this, we deserved this win". We all cherished the moment, instantly huddled, all proud of each other. I guess everyone was just speechless, smiling, being happy and laughing, you know? It was good.

What do you think is next for you, with this win and breaking the deadlock? What can you do next?

I think anything short of a final would be disappointing for us at the next events. I think DreamHack Masters and the EPL Finals. We are going to go straight back to practice after this, maybe a 2-3 day break, and then back into it. Keep it on, progression.