Friis: "I want a clean scene"

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen had a very successful run in fnatic at the end of CS 1.6, but hasn't so far been able to replicate similar levels of success in his CS:GO career, which includes a period of inactivity.

Nevertheless the Danish AWPer has made a return to top level competition by joining myXMG earlier this month. His team's new roster will have its international debut at DreamHack Winter on Thursday.

How well prepared do you feel for DreamHack? Did you change a lot of things in how you play or simply focus on refining your current style? Will you be taking part in the official Inferno Online bootcamp, considering the problems having all teams on-site might bring?

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: We are as well prepared as possible at this time. We are a new team, so there has been a whole lot of things we should have mastered. But in the circumstances I feel we are in control. No we are not able to attend to the bootcamp at Inferno Online. Since we have school and work.

What’s your stance on the stickers? Were you surprised at how much money teams made from them for ESL One Cologne? Do you think more of the money should be allocated towards prizes? As things stand, the Legends capsule pays (per Cologne) more than winning the event.

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: Yes I was insanely surprised I thought it was a joke at first. But I really do think it's a smart thing. Especially for all the small organizations as it will allow that you can focus more on the game than on anything else up to events in the future. But it does look like this event will only give "good" sticker money for all the big teams. But that's quite a choice Valve apparently made. Which I really do not understand. Yes you could well benefit some money out of price money.

How do you expect your group to play out? Can you talk about each of the teams in your group in detail, what you expect from your potential match-up against each of them, and how do you expect to fare?

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: I think we have a really tough group. Especially when it was first drawn, with Epsilon still there. But clearly when you have numbers 3 and 4  from ESWC in the same group, you have to show some respect without being afraid of the task. I hope that we can surprise everyone and jump on over to the quarter-finals. It is our major goal. We have to be lucky to hit the day with some maps we feel we are ready to face the big teams on. It will be a challenge, but we must do our best and then see where this is leading.

Our recent article “Major problems” brought up multiple issues such as the online qualifiers (cheating, DDoS), inconsistent format (best-of-one groups) with very few matches, etc. What is your stance on the qualification system and the tournament format? How would you like to improve the majors?

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: It is absolutely terrible that you have to sit and play BO1 matches to decide such a great thing as a major tournament in CS:GO is. I never liked BO1 formats either in group or any other places. I could well imagine that you chose to hold qualifiers on LAN aswell. I think it's the best way two find the team that really should be there. So how I would improve them are well written very well up above. BO3 group stage, LAN qualifiers.

Another big issue for debate right now is the CZ-75. Suggestions for it have ranged from altering its rate of fire and damage, to even making it an SMG while upping its price. Do you think it should be changed, and if so, how would you recommend Valve do it?

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: I do not know where I stand in all of this. All won rounds with it seem fantastic, but as soon as they lose on it, it is ridiculous. I think Scout is at least an equally big problem. Yes they could make it an SMG but for what? People would still buy it and win eco rounds. But then they would of course make AWP play weaker again. So if it were up to me, it should be removed, or remain as it is.

Obviously going into the event the favorites are fnatic and LDLC, but so far the favorites have never won a major. Is there someone else who you think could surprise us and win it all? Who do you expect to place in the top four?

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: I think it is going to be between many teams here this time. I can see for myself that LDLC or fnatic grabs it. But as always, I have a love for the Poles of Virtus.pro. I have always admired their players and games. Way back when I played 1.6, I always thought that they can go on and win the big tournaments. So Virtus or fnatic I would say. So my top 4 would probably be. Virtus.pro, fnatic, LDLC, dignitas.

What do you make of this cheating scandal? Were you surprised players might have been cheating at tournaments, or did you expect it? Do you believe the players caught cheated in LAN tournaments, and do you believe more players cheated who simply haven’t been caught, yet?

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: Unfortunately, I have said from the start of CS:GO nearly that I thought there were some who cheated. I think there are many more. Maybe it comes from a distance the next few months. But then it starts just again. Unless Valve, ESEA and ESL choose to co-operate strongly and eradicate as much of it as possible. I want a clean scene. I hope and believe it can be done. But it is not something that is done from one day to the other. Luckily, there's a hollow on the case now. So now we all look forward along and help to get the scene to be more credible again.

Your team is still relatively new with you and smF having joined only three weeks ago, and AcilioN still being a newcomer. Is your team, as it is, ready to keep working for as long as it takes for you to be ready to compete for top finishes?

Michael "⁠Friis⁠" Jørgensen: Yes I think we show moments of good play, but our bottom level is so terribly low. That's what we have to work very most. If we can raise it, I see a good opportunity to get up and approach some of the bigger teams. There a gigantic way to the biggest. But everything is possible. As long as you believe in it. I take it as it comes now. So we will see how we can carry it off.

Friis' myXMG have been placed in group D together with Virtus.pro, Natus Vincere and Flipsid3. Their tournament will begin on Thursday with a match against the Polish side.