Following the unexpected signings of Santino “try” Rigal and Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold, Passion UA have officially outlined their new direction. In an interview with HLTV, head coach Tiaan Coertzen (T.c) discussed the departures of Grim and hallzerk, Senzu’s adaptation to English communication, and the team’s realistic goals for the coming months.
Roman Imperium Cup and difficult circumstances
Passion UA attended Roman Imperium Cup V with Michael “Grim” Wince standing in, as Senzu was unable to travel in time due to personal circumstances. The team exited in the quarter-finals after a 0–2 defeat, but T.c refused to overreact:
We only had two days of practice — and that wasn’t even with Grim, it was with Senzu. Given the circumstances, it’s hard to expect to win the tournament. But overall, we actually played pretty well.
According to the coach, most scorelines were close, and the mistakes were minor and fixable. Considering the situation, he viewed the performance as acceptable.
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Why the roster changes happened so quickly
Passion UA’s start to 2026 was turbulent: a disappointing showing in Krakow, an early exit at Bounty, and mixed results in North America. However, T.c emphasized that results were not the main trigger for the changes. The key factor was interest from NRG in Grim:
That’s pretty much what sparked all of it — the interest from NRG in Grim. We just had to act fast.
The coach made it clear there was no bad blood. After three to four years together, the split was natural. For Grim, joining a North American team makes sense, allowing him to spend more time at home with his family and girlfriend.
What try brings compared to hallzerk
The switch from hallzerk to try represents more than just a name change. According to T.c, the team had long been searching for a strong “second voice” in-game:
With try, every round he’s talking, he has ideas, good reads on teams.
Try’s experience as a former IGL in Imperial could help stabilize mid-round decision-making and keep the team calm in tense situations. At the same time, T.c stressed that he has nothing negative to say about hallzerk:
He’s a really great guy. A lot of our success came when he was playing well.
Senzu’s “a little bit rough” English
Another key topic was Senzu’s communication. The Passion UA CEO had previously described his English as “a little bit rough.” T.c confirmed that assessment but remained optimistic:
His English is pretty much similar to what Kvem’s was when I joined the full Ukrainian roster — and it improved very quickly.
Senzu has already started taking English lessons, and the team is simplifying certain in-game calls to make communication easier. According to T.c, a full bootcamp environment should significantly accelerate his progress.
EPL, visas, and an uncertain schedule
Passion UA confirmed they will attend ESL Pro League, but the rest of their calendar remains uncertain due to visa issues. Some events may need to be withdrawn from depending on how paperwork unfolds. This uncertainty complicates preparation for their main seasonal objective.
Priority: Major qualification
Despite the ambition surrounding the new roster, T.c adopted a pragmatic tone:
The main thing for us is qualifying for the Major. With all the chaos, we can’t set our expectations too high.
Where previous goals might have included reaching at least Stage 2, the current focus is simply securing qualification. Passion UA are prepared to take what they can get, aiming to stabilize now and build momentum for a stronger second half of the season. With a refreshed lineup, new ideas, and calculated risks, Passion UA enter a decisive stretch of the year — one that will determine whether the gamble on try and Senzu pays off.
