After a dominant 2–0 victory over NAVI that secured Vitality a spot in the playoffs, ropz sat down with us to discuss his journey across elite rosters, the emotions of facing FaZe, the team’s tactical approach on Inferno and Train, and the parallels with previous Major runs. He also opened up about Vitality’s current form, the challenges of maintaining top-tier performance, and the motivation behind chasing a back-to-back Major title.
You’ve won trophies in every team you joined. What do you think is the core reason behind your success everywhere you go?
I think every team was very different. With mousesports it didn’t start well — the roster was trying to find its feet in an era with SK, fnatic, and VP still strong. When the lineup settled in 2018, things clicked. With FaZe and Vitality it was different — I joined when the team was ready and I was the final piece. Everyone was in their prime position to win. I won’t talk big about myself, but people are happy to play with me. I provide a lot — strategic utility, good form, and sometimes impact.
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What went wrong against FaZe in the BO1? Why was it difficult to adapt?
It was a bit of everything. We came in cold. Best-of-ones are harsh — two pistol rounds decide so much, and we lost the force buy after that. Then the game becomes really hard because there are only so many rounds you can afford to lose. They had good ideas and good executions, and maybe we were a step behind. Nothing specific — we just didn’t get the start we needed.
How did it feel to play against your former teammates? Was it emotional?
Definitely. Before the game you talk a bit, exchange some emotions, feel the buildup. It’s a fun environment, but of course there are emotions.
Against NAVI on Inferno, you stacked A heavily. Was this a one-off idea or part of your general gameplan?
We had an interesting plan today — we put apEX in pit. The idea was to play with nicknames: I would play more aggressively, they see ropz is dead, and they instantly explode A thinking the site is open — but apEX is there waiting. It worked twice. It was a good plan. Usually, though, it’s not something we always do.
What was the key round for you on Train?
I think the key was the T side after we won the pistol. The rounds were close — they clutched some, but after the force buy I think we took control. We had solid defaults and made sure we could close the rounds. We lost a 2v4 on the eco, which was sad, but overall the T side was key.
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Your run at this Major feels similar to the Austin Major storyline. Do you see parallels?
In terms of storyline, yes. But inside the team, it’s completely different. At the Austin Major, we came in with insane pressure — six trophies already, trying to win the seventh. Now we just try to do our best to go back-to-back. No one has done it in a long time.
How easy was it to integrate into Vitality’s already established system?
Pretty easy. The team was already functioning and just needed a piece like me. We figured out where I fit and it was smooth — they were looking for a player like me.
shox told us that one reason you aren’t as unstoppable as in the first half of the year is personal form. What do you think was the main factor before the Major?
We’re just playing a bit worse than in the first season. Nothing specific — it’s always a bit of everything. Slightly worse individual form, slightly worse decisions, slightly worse strategy. And other teams are playing better.
apEX said it would mean a lot to win back-to-back Majors. Is legacy a big motivation for you?
Definitely. We want to go back-to-back — that was the goal from the beginning of this Major. No one has done it for a long time.
Have you fully abandoned the idea of playing Ancient after trying it earlier in the season?
I think we’re not going to touch Ancient this season. Maybe next year. It was something we toyed around with — if it worked, great; if not, it was worth trying. It wasn’t prepared specifically for the FuRia match — we already had it planned during the winning streak earlier in the year.
SkinClub Pick’em
The SkinClub Pick’em for Stage 3 is now live, giving fans the chance to predict which teams will advance, who might deliver surprising upsets, and which favorites could fall early. Analyze the matchups, trust your instincts, and lock in your own Pick’em for a chance to win the main prize.
