JUGi: really good IGLs in Denmark

The Danish duo of Jakob "⁠JUGi⁠" Hansen and Nikolaj "⁠niko⁠" Kristensen won their first match against the EnVyUs team which consists of Adil "⁠ScreaM⁠" Benrlitom and Vincent "⁠Happy⁠" Schopenhauer, and will now play against the Space Soldiers duo, Ismailcan "⁠XANTARES⁠" Dörtkardeş and Buğra "⁠Calyx⁠" Arkın for a spot in the playoffs.

JUGi and niko chalk up the healthy state of Danish CS to experienced IGLs

The Danes talked about some of the current hot topics, getting invited to the event, and how they rose through the ranks in Denmark and what helped them on their path to HEROIC.

Let’s start with how it feels to get invited to a tournament like this. What was your first response?

niko: Snappi got contacted that they wanted JUGi and someone else. My first response was not like “I want to do it,” but we were talking and picked me. We were on a road trip for like three weeks and I just got home, so I wanted to be home, but it was also a big opportunity, and it’s fun.

And how has the first day here been, the atmosphere, are you enjoying it?

JUGi: Yeah, I think we’re enjoying it. Just chilling in the lounge.

Let’s move to some more general questions about CS, what do you guys think about online CS against LAN?

JUGi: The only thing that matters to us is ESL Pro League. Other online tournaments don’t really matter to us. Of course, qualifiers and such are important, but LAN is what matters.

Lately there has been talk around female CS, and here nobody wants to lose against the girls. What do you think is kind of what’s stopping female CS from becoming bigger?

niko: I think guys started a lot earlier, and put in more work or more time. I think most of Team Secret could get better if they play against boys as well and in boys’ tournaments. But I really don’t know why they’re not at the same level. Maybe men just want to win more, give it all sometime

Lately it has become a bit harder to predict results, and smaller teams have been getting big upsets, why do you think that is? Do you think it has to do with the meta, or more teams are becoming better?

niko: I think the teams are getting closer to each other in terms of skill, and if the better teams underestimate smaller teams just once or twice you can get in front, and then you can get confidence, and it’s hard to get back from it. Some teams may get nervous when they’re behind.

JUGi: People are playing full time now, I think it’s one of the reasons why the top players are growing.

Talking about full time, what do you think of academy teams, do you think it’s a good thing for CS?

niko: I think it’s a good thing, but the rule that just came out in which academy teams can’t participate in some tournaments is pretty bad for them. Before the rule it was good, because if the main team wants to change players they can take them from the academy team for free.

Let me ask now a couple questions about you guys. How has the adjustment from Tricked to Heroic been?

niko: When I was playing in Tricked there weren’t that many tournaments, we didn’t get any invites, and sometimes we didn’t qualify. When I joined Heroic there were like five or six tournaments in a row so there was no room for almost two months. It was just playing and playing and playing, there are more tournaments and opportunities here.

That’s a good thing…

niko: Yeah, that’s a good thing.

JUGi: As niko said, we were playing a lot of online tournaments, like quickshot, and stuff like that, but when I joined Heroic, three days later we went to Katowice and it was one of the bigger tournaments Heroic have ever been at. I really like playing on this team.

niko: Yeah, the fun fact was we only played with JUGi for one week before we went to Katowice. We only knew we had him one week before.

And what have been some important moments that have helped you get to where you are? Maybe some people, or specific moments that pushed you to the next level?

niko: I was playing with some older guys like BERRY, and HUNDEN, of course. I think that was a good step for me because I learned a lot playing with them. They allowed me to look good going into sites and getting kills. People look a lot at stats and ratings, but that’s not always the thing. I think that’s why some people don’t get higher.

JUGi: I was playing with MODDII and haste in my first team, and they taught me how to play and think and then I just trained my aim to be better individually. I also then played with BERRY and HUNDEN.

What do you think has been the key for Danish CS to become so good. Not just at the top, but also in the depth of the talent pool?

JUGi: I think we have some really good in-game leaders in Denmark who can teach younger players how to play. I think that’s one of the reasons.

niko: Yeah, I think the same as JUGi. There are a lot of in-game leaders that were in the top tier before and fell down a bit, and then they took some younger guys and taught them a lot of stuff. I think that’s why Danish CS is also good at the lower level.

Lastly, what is the most satisfying thing in CS? What makes you feel the best?

niko: Winning, of course. Winning a clutch is a big deal. Or winning an important round that ruins the other team’s economy and lets you gain momentum, that’s always nice, because then you think “I did a really good thing there.”

JUGi: I agree with niko, for the most part, but when you hit a nice shot or something, a really nice shot, yeah… you just get such a good feeling inside.