Pre-KODE5 with lurppis

In the next edition of our pre-KODE5 interviews and last, we were lucky enough to interview lurppis - the leader of finnish powerhouses, roccat.

You have been seeded 8th for KODE5, are you happy with this seeding, do you feel its a fair representation of where you are in the world at the moment?

I don't really care about our seed especially seeing as they are for a group stage (in SE/DE it would actually matter a bit more), we haven't performed that well lately so I guess that'll do.

How have you been preparing for KODE5? Have you been boot camping like many other teams? How has your practise been going? Do you feel you are prepared for the event?

I don't think we are as prepared as we should be because our plans of having a bootcamp before the event didn't come through so we've just been playing online, which sucks, because I don't think we have integrated tihOp 100% to our teamplay/playing style yet. However, there's nothing we can do about that so we'll just have to do our best and hope to catch a break for once.

A little while ago, you changed Samu "plastE" Aalto for Tino "tihOp" Puumala, how has he fitted into the squad, are you happy with the direction of the team now? How has this move affected the group dynamics?

Well seeing as we haven't attended a tournament with Tino yet it's impossible to say how it'll work when it really matters even though things seem to be going well, I would say a couple of tournaments down the road we'll know for sure. He fits in fine both ingame and socially so it's just a matter of time until we get our game clicking with him.

We understand that Roccat have been moved to Group B. This is a group that contains mousesports, HellRaisers, TeG and DarkPassage. Would you say this move has made your path to the knockout stages easier? How does this move affect how you will approach each game? Do you think you can win the group and event?

Mousesports is a top notch team and we lost vs HellRaisers in Ukraine so their definitely a team not to be underestimated, but I guess comparing to the group of death (A), this looks easier on paper. I hope we have learned by now not to underestimate anyone but go 110% into every game, so hopefully our approach will be the same. Of course we can win our group, it's just a matter of how we play on Saturday. If/once we get through to the single elimination best of three bracket I think we'll be fine so the group stage will make or break our tournament. Our goal is to win as always, but I'd be happy with a top three placing.

The event features some underdogs, such as dignitas from the UK and The Elder Gods from Romania, do you think that their may be some major upsets?

There's almost always upsets in CS tournies and this one will probably have its own share of them.

That said, the event also features some of the worlds major teams such as fnatic, MYM and SK Gaming. Who do you think will win the event overall?

Impossible to say right now but if I have to name one I'll say SK

HLTV.org will be your home for the entire event, providing you with up-to-date news, results, demos and IP's so you can watch your favorite teams battle it for the crown of KODE5 champions!