pre-EM3 interview with KIKOOOO

The Extreme Masters 3 Global Finals will start tomorrow, but before that we had a chance to talk to KIKOOOO about the new mibr team, the thoughts that went into the team, and their expectations in 2009.

Made in Brazil will be showing the new lineup to the public for the first time at the Global Finals – How much of a different Made in Brazil will the audience see, compared to the previous one?

The old line-up was composed of 5 excellent skills but no command and leadership. The lack of leadership was responsible for the bad 2008 final position at g7 ranking. The new line-up is basically composed with 3 excellent skills, me as tactical command and a promise, our new player Spacca. Hope he can be a surprise like fnx and btt were in the past.

You officially stepped back as active player in Made in Brazil, when you replaced bit at the end of 2008. The European community pointed fingers and said you took out the wrong guy, in order to fir yourself into the team. What are your comments on this and the entire case of becoming active with Made in Brazil again?

I respect the opinion of the community, but I keep thinking I’m not wrong. I picked bit because he was not performing what was expected from his skill in 2008. Since the 5 players have a fantastic skill, everyone I picked up would cause the same pointing fingers. But we decide was more important to have a strong in-game leadership than keep all the top skills.

Mid-February it was time for fnx to leave the team and bring in Spacca from Firegamers. It is not the first time fnx leave the team, is he a difficult member to handle or was it simply a matter of making Made in Brazil into a better team?

Fnx is a great player, maybe the best of the team. I believe we or any other team in the world would love to have him in the line. Unfortunately some time ago the team was facing lots of arguing and he was always involved. It was an unplanned and certainly undesired change. The last arguing in the middle of a tournament was followed by a meeting where everybody discussed and tried to get everything clear between the players, but it happened once again and we get to the conclusion that the best for the team was to replace him.

The replacements of both fnx and bit is being mentioned as “not thought through well enough” by the European scene. What is your comment in this case?

Bit was leaving in order to get an in-game leadership and it was a tactical requirement. Fnx was leaving to give tranquility for the team to practice and compete and this was not planned. Not much to comment.

The Brazilian users following the scene point out that Firegamers will give Made in Brazil a hard time in 2009. Could you see a rivalry coming up, as we all remember Made in Brazil and g3nerationX? 

Yes we see it and we think is great for the local scene to have a strong rivalry. We will be very motivated not just for the international competitions but the national too.

Made in Brazil once again prepare for a big tournament, by going to Sweden and bootcamp at Inferno Online. What have your precious time been spend on and where do see the current Made in Brazil shape (top of bottom of the curve)?

Is good to come to Sweden and practice against all European teams. This is the only way to check what we’re doing right and correct what we are doing wrong. , Unfortunately we cannot stay for a long time here and all the time is spent with practice and sleep. I think we are ascending in the curve, but today we are in the middle.

Made in Brazil will sit out and watch the best European teams fight in the Continental Finals Europe and go directly to the Global Finals. What tricks do you have up your sleeves to fool the European and Americans at the Global Finals?

We will try to analyze the most of our European opponents in their Continental Finals. This is a kind advantage we have. On the other side, the Europeans will come very hot from this tournament and we are not competing since last beginning of December. This is kind of disadvantage that we, the Asian and the Americans have.

2009 is still young and a lot still to come. The year is being said to be a rough year for eSport in general. Do you see eSport and Counter-Strike being in danger of survival?

The crisis is really a problem for teams and event promoters during 2009, but I hope it will not keep happening in 2010. If I’m wrong, it will be very hard for everybody involved with eSports. We’re still a rising – and expensive - competition.

Your expectations for the Global Finals, who will be the hottest name to watch, top 3 and where will Made in Brazil end up?
 
This will be a great oppening for 2009 season and I hope we will perform well. My predictions are:
top1 - mtw
top2 - fnatic
top3 - sk
top4 – mibr