The Ukrainian team B8 is back in the spotlight after a confident streak of victories at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, where they defeated Astralis and 3DMAX 2–0 to move within one step of the playoffs. Following a turbulent period marked by a leadership change and a brief slump in form, sniper Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov shared his thoughts on Oleksii “alex666” Yarmoshchuk’s new role as in-game leader, the team’s adaptation, and his own path to stability.
A Turning Point After the Leadership Change
The switch in leadership came at a challenging time. B8 competed at the CS Asia Championships in Shanghai with a substitute — kRaSnaL replacing kensizor — which forced the team to communicate in English. At the same time, alex666 replaced npl as the in-game leader.
Despite all the difficulties, Bucharest became the place where the first signs of progress appeared.
I believe that alex666 is a very kind person who knows how to find the right way to talk to everyone. It’s easier to work with him as a captain. And I think npl can show great individual results when he doesn’t have to focus on leading, said headtr1ck.
Judging by B8’s performance in Romania, those words aren’t just diplomacy. The team’s communication and structure look stable, their decisions are measured, and confidence has returned. alex666 shows not only a tactical mind but also an ability to maintain trust and calm within the team — a crucial quality for such a young roster.
read more
From Turbulence to Stability
The past few months have been a test for B8: a third-place finish at StarLadder StarSeries Fall, followed by an unsuccessful showing at the CS Asia Championships, where the Ukrainians finished last. However, as headtr1ck explained, the team learned from these setbacks.
At first, we tried to plan around VRS points and picked tournaments strategically, but we realized that we just needed more official games. We always perform better when we have match practice. After Budapest, we started traveling from event to event, trying to find our comfortable rhythm at LAN tournaments.
That approach has paid off — in Bucharest, B8 look composed, cohesive, and confident. There’s finally a clear balance between structure and individual freedom — something the team had been missing in previous months.
headtr1ck’s Form and the HLTV Rating Puzzle
Despite the team’s overall upswing, headtr1ck admits his recent statistics look more modest than expected. He attributes this partly to the new HLTV 3.0 rating system, which he believes “doesn’t always reflect a player’s real impact.”
The rating system now feels a bit unpredictable. Many AWPers can’t show the same numbers as before. But I feel confident — the stats just don’t always show the real impact.
Indeed, his performances against Astralis and 3DMAX were convincing: consistent entry kills, smart positioning, and a series of clutch rounds. It’s clear that headtr1ck isn’t chasing numbers — he’s adapting to the team’s needs, and it’s already bringing results.
read more
Our Analysis: The Mature Version of B8 Has Finally Emerged
What we’re seeing at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 is the first truly mature version of B8. The team no longer looks like a young lineup still trying to find its identity. They play confidently, with a plan, and still retain the essence of Ukrainian Counter-Strike — emotion, risk, and aggression at the right moments.
alex666 is not a typical leader: he doesn’t pressure his teammates — instead, he creates comfort and trust. And judging by headtr1ck’s comments, that’s exactly what B8 needed after the npl era as IGL.
In the long run, this change could turn out to be the most important decision the team has made in the past year. If B8 finish the Swiss stage 3–0 and qualify for the playoffs, it won’t just be a strong result — it will be a statement that Ukrainian Counter-Strike is ready to set the tone on the international stage once again.
