Xyp9x: "BLAST changed their veto system so it's hard for us to prepare like we usually do"

We interviewed Andreas "⁠Xyp9x⁠" Højsleth ahead of the first day of BLAST Pro Series São Paulo to hear how the Major champions spent the last month and what they think about the recent CS:GO update

Xyp9x has been a standout player for Astralis since the start of the year, and was a pivotal part in the Danes Major victory in Katowice. As his team arrived to Brazil looking for their second title of the year, we sat down with Xyp9x.

The 23-year-old touched on the format here at BLAST and the changes to the map veto, which is no longer done more than a week in advance. Xyp9x, who is also one of the standout AUG players, touched on the weapon, admitting it should receive some additional nerfs to become a more risky purchase.

Did you do anything special after the Major, and how much time did you get off?

I think we took like 5 days off after the major and then it was full on preparation for this BLAST. Obviously, BLAST changed their veto system so it's kind of hard for us to prepare like we usually do for BLAST events. So, now we know all the maps only the day prior, which is today, we're playing four Dust2 games, which is kind of nice for us, but it's kind of hard to prepare for this tournament because it's so hectic. It is a really packed schedule and usually, we would get the maps a week before the matches to prepare leading up to the event and we would be prepared. Now I feel like it is really hard to prepare for us, so it will be a tough task.

Do you see the group stage here as one of the tougher formats in the current scene, as it's a best-of-one with little time to prepare?

I guess it depends on what team you are, for us, we just work around every format. It's not like we think one format is better than the other, we just find a way through it. We've got a plan here for this event but obviously, it isn't ideal for us, but it's the same for every team so it's not like we can blame it on the format. We're just looking forward to playing tomorrow and it'll be fun to play four Dust2 games on Friday and Saturday.

Was playing four Dust2 games part of the plan to deal with the format in a way that you can focus on one map?

I guess so, but they could have just picked other maps than Dust2, it wasn't really in our hands either. Obviously, it's great for us as we only have to focus on one map and it's not spread around. But when we go up against another opponent we can't just watch the other opponent and then go into the next match thinking we are prepared, we need to watch every opponent on all the Dust2 maps.

I talked to zonic back at the Major and he said something along the lines of: "any change that comes into the game doesn't really help us" because you are the number 1 team, so it helps other teams catch up because it levels the playing field. With that in mind, what do you think of the most recent CS update?

I don't agree with zonic because I actually think this update is better for us. Also, I think we are the ones being the most adaptive and innovative. So it's not like I feel it's a change for the worse, it's a change for the better for us, I feel like. If they decide to do something in the game which might nerf us, we will just find ways around it.

The economy change was a huge update as it had been the same for a lot of years. What positives do you think it will bring to the game?

To be honest, I didn't really like the eco rounds or the force buys and stuff like that, I think we will see more economy in the game. I'm not sure how it will pan out exactly, or how teams will save, and maybe there might be more force rounds, but I feel there should be more buy rounds, which will be better for the game. More intense games in the latter part of the match, where both teams might have some economy instead of leading 15-13 and the other team not having any money and it's over, you know? So I feel like it is a change for the better for CS.

Your individual form at the start of the year has been pretty good. You've been enjoying the AUG, memeing with the zoom-in, but what do you think was key for your individual form? Do you feel anything is different this year?

I feel like I just got a really good start to the year as my preparations were great individually as well. I think I'm also one of the better AUG users, I don't know why, it just feels natural to me to use it. I'd also like it to be changed because right now it is overpowered, but for the change, I don't know what should be done exactly. Maybe the fire rate could be reduced. I think the gun has a place in the game, but I think the gun needs to be riskier to buy as right now I would never pick an M4 over the AUG.