DaZeD: "We expect to win [vs. ESC]"

Last but not least we sat down with Sam "DaZeD" Marine from Quantic Gaming to find out what they've been working on since Copenhagen Games and how they expect to fare this weekend.

Marine is a well known player already from his Counter-Strike: Source days that saw him grab some respectable finishes at events like ESWC, but has really hit the limelight after his switch to CS:GO.

His first international event with Quantic, back then playing under the Area51 name, was ESWC 2012 where he finished top two in our top players article and recorded the highest KPR among other things.

Quantic has cemented their place as the number one American team as they finished the regular season with the first seed, won the last season's finals and defeated Curse.NA at Copenhagen Games.

The squad also finished in a respectable 5-6th place in Copenhagen after a tough loss against Virtus.pro in the upper bracket, followed up by a defeat against VeryGames on de_dust2_se.

What do you think about your performance in Copenhagen? How did it match with your expectations? What did you learn from it?

Quantic DaZeD: I think we did decent at CPH, we lost crucial anti-eco rounds versus Virtus pro, and if we didn't do that our placing would have been a bit better. My goal was Top 3, so I'm disappointed, but not to the point where I'm emo about it or anything, because it was still very respectable imo. We learned that we need to take our anti ecos much more seriously, and use more resources for them. We underestimated the pistoling abilities of teams.

What have you spent this time after your trip to Denmark focusing on? Have you been practicing the custom maps ESEA is using or simply fixing mistakes in your gameplay that you noticed in Europe?

Quantic DaZeD: We have been focusing on just trying to tighten everything up. We're just a step behind, and a bit sloppy with everything, and the only way to fix it is to play and keep learning from our mistakes, and making the correct decision more quickly.

You are the defending ESEA champions, although last season didn't have Europeans or Curse participating. Would you prefer to keep the league North American or do you welcome the European competition?

Quantic DaZeD: I think it's awesome having the Europeans come over and compete, the more competition and the bigger the event is the better. Having said that i think during the off-season ESEA should implement either a LAN, or an online event that everyone can participate in to further the competition in the North American scene. Roster changes happen after every season, and this off season event would give all the teams a chance to try out their new rosters.

You will face ESC Gaming in the opening round followed up by either VeryGames or Dynamic. How do you expect to do in those two matches? Have you prepared for anyone specifically?

Quantic DaZeD: We expect to win, just like if we play ANY team in the world. I think it's a pretty shitty mentality if you go into a match expecting to lose. Having said that, they are obviously one of the most experienced and best teams of all time and I'm sure it will be a very difficult match. We haven't prepared for anyone particularly, I think it's more in line of preparing versus different playstyles that we are preparing for.

How do you expect Curse.NA, Dynamic and FLAMING to do in their own first round matches? Which one of your North American competitors do you expect to place the highest?

Quantic DaZeD: Unfortunately for Flaming they have to play NiP, so that sucks for them. Curse playing n!faculty I expect Curse to win, and Dynamic vs VeryGames I expect to be closer than people anticipate if Dynamic can play aggressively and make VeryGames adapt from their original gameplans.

With your team's history of playing the unpopular maps (dust and aztec at last finals) surely securing the higher seeds to force Europeans to play you on one of the custom maps would be in your best interest. Are you doing anything to prepare for the All-Star game?

Quantic DaZeD: Ah yes, we do love the customs. But I can't give away any secrets on vetos :) For the all star game we are not preparing specifically, but I guess I do ten-man on stream a lot which I guess you can say is preperation.

Many fans expected you to have a bigger impact ïndividually in Copenhagen after your performance in Paris. Is there anything in particular that factored into your shape and have you done anything to change it for ESEA?

Quantic DaZeD: Well in Paris I was playing a lot of different spots and t sided roles than I am now, and I'm also strat calling full time so it's a bit different for me. At CPH though I think as a team we were much better than in Paris, in Paris for instance we tied mousesports 15-15, but at CPH we won pretty easily versus them. I'm just going to try and play more aggressively at ESEA LAN though, and try and impact the rounds from an individual standpoint more than I did at CPH. The thing about strat calling for me is, I tend to play more passive and try and direct people a bit more, but I am going to try and change that this upcoming ESEA LAN.

Is it true your team opted not to practice against NiP during your boot camp in Copenhagen? If so, why? One would think it would be beneficial to get the best possible practice and it's often cited as an excuse by North American teams.

Quantic DaZeD: Well we couldn't practice versus them, because the only time we were both available was during the setup of the LAN and unfortunately the internet was lagging and it was unplayable.

You had a chance to watch SLTV StarSeries V Finals and RC EMS One Finals from home while NiP, ESC, VeryGames and n!faculty took part. Is being able to study their playing styles and practice an advantage over playing in a tournament every weekend or vice versa in your opinion?

Quantic DaZeD: I think playing in a tournament is much better practice then staying home and playing a couple scrims a night for us and just playing the same old pugs every night.

If you had to choose, would you rather place second in the tournament and lose the grand final against an American team or place third behind two Europeans? In other words, how important is being the top placing North American team to you?

Quantic DaZeD: I'd rather place as high as possible at an event, no matter who is infront of us.

Thanks for the interview and good luck at ESEA. Is there anything you would like to add?

Quantic DaZeD: I'd like to thank Quantic and their sponsors, and if you guys want to learn from me about how to improve in counter-strike, check out my website at www.netcodesource.com and watch and follow my stream at www.twitch.tv/godazed. Thanks for all the great coverage HLTV.

ESEA Invite Season 13 global finals will kick off tomorrow at 00:00 with the All-Star match, set to determine which continent will have the higher seeds. Marine will represent North America in the game.