Jame: "I can be a captain or just a player, but I feel more comfortable handling the game"

In the second part of this exclusive interview, the Russian sniper talks about AVANGAR's rise to the top and the team's first year under Virtus.pro.

After discussing several topics of a more personal nature in the first part of the interview, conducted by Aleksei "⁠OverDrive⁠" Birukov, Dzhami "⁠Jame⁠" Ali now goes over some of the most important chapters of his career, including AVANGAR's Cinderella run at the StarLadder Major.

Jame says that the team were optimistic about their chances in Berlin following the addition of veteran Dauren "⁠AdreN⁠" Kystaubayev, a player who "gave us a lot". He also notes that, unlike other teams, AVANGAR didn't feel any pressure to perform at the Major, and dismisses the notion that the second place at the German event was a fluke, though he admits that the team "got lucky here and there."

The Russian player also opens up about the team's struggles after joining Virtus.pro — "initially, we were losing due to one set of reasons, later a different one, and by the end we had an atmosphere that just made it hard — and explains why the team have enjoyed a sharp uptick in form lately, moving up from 39th in the world in August all the way up to 10th following their victory in the $1 million Flashpoint 2.

How did you join AVANGAR?

Despite the organization assembling a full Kazakh roster, one of the owners of AVANGAR had long noticed me. My former teammate dimasick was part of the team, and he recommended me. The guys were bootcamping in Kiev, but I didn't have my passport, so I had to play with them from home. We played scrims, FACEIT and even tournaments, but I was only able to join them two weeks before the Minor.

How were you able to become the best CIS-based rising team of the year?

We finally had good ping, great conditions, good management, and experienced mentors, and we were fully dedicated and completely focused on the game. Had we missed any one of those things, nothing would've worked out.

What were the strengths and weakness of AVANGAR as an organization?

The organization did absolutely everything to ensure we could have good results. We had all of the necessary conditions, we just needed to put the work in. The players and management had a friendly vibe, but at the same time, both sides understood that we weren't together just to play games, that substantial effort and money were invested in us, and that our goal was to justify this investment to the organization that believed in our capabilities. I can't name any weaknesses, other than the fact that the organization was young and that it carved its path in esports alongside us. It's worth noting that it managed to do better than some of the more experienced organizations.

There was a rumour going around that you were told not to waste your emotions during a match, and that it was because of this that you became a calm team.

No. In fact, we were told that we were acting like vegetables, and that emotions are pure energy that we need to release. It just so happened to be that we were naturally calm people, and at the time we rarely lost and didn't quite realise the significance of each match. Even the emotional dastan (AVANGAR's coach) absorbed our aura of calmness and only shouted during super important matches.

Tell us about the first CIS Minor that you won.

At the time, we were working with a psychologist that set us up really well for victory. I can't say I have any extraordinary impressions from the event, other than trying the tastiest Coca-Cola I've tried in my life, it was the sweetest I've ever tasted. The Minor went pretty calmly. I remember the final against Quantum Bellator Fire, where we managed to come back on the final map from a 1-9 deficit. It's worth noting that we didn't even practice against tier-one teams at the time, and we only created a Facebook page during our preparation for the Major. I remember during our first scrim against NiP we were nervous that this opportunity would be taken away from us if we played poorly.

What do you remember from the Major [ELEAGUE Major Boston]?

There was a possibility of us missing the Major entirely. buster only got his visa on his third try, dimasick got it on his second. It was all hazy, five guys from humble backgrounds suddenly flying out to America, where there were a bunch of popular players walking around, and we had to play them. We kicked off to a 0-2 start, losing Mirage to both mousesports and Space Soldiers. We thought we played well on the map, but they showed us that wasn't the case. When we managed to claw back to 2-2 we lost the slot to QBF, but we had the chance to play for an additional slot afterwards. The games were going on one after another, and during our last match against Liquid we just lost it. We lacked experience, mechanics and resilience, a bit of everything.

What conclusions did you come to after the Major?

Initially, probably every single one of us thought about replacements, and who we thought was the weakest link, but we quickly realised that things weren't as bad as they seemed and that we needed to keep working. Our management team was quite worried about us and always reacted emotionally. We had a WhatsApp chat that was better left unread during matches. We would frequently make comebacks and half the things written there were deleted after matches. I don't think we really even understood what was going on at the time. dastan had been striving for these heights for so many years, and after that loss to QBF he nearly broke in tears, it really meant a lot to him.

Why were you benched?

I was removed after Katowice. Three players were under threat, but I was the only one to be removed. When you're placed on the bench, it's basically the same as being kicked. I understood that I was burned out at the time and that I needed to sort out a few life issues. I returned after I stood in for Ramz1kBo$$, and qikert was the captain at the time, so I was able to focus on my individual game and I had decent showings. dastan and dimasick assembled the team, and after a long discussion they asked the management to bring me back to the starting lineup.

After you returned to the roster the team lost at the Minor. What happened?

We were organizing visas in Almaty for around three weeks. We were training, but not with the best teams and it seems we burned out. The atmosphere in the team wasn't particularly great either, and it wasn't that we were arguing, rather that we were tired and lacked focus on the game.

Why did you replace dimasick?

We were introduced to fitch and told that he'd be part of the team, but that doesn't imply we didn't want it to happen. We realised that things weren't going too well and that we needed changes, but nobody wanted to take responsibility for them. Besides, we could've just tested it out, and if it didn't work out we'd revert to how things were in the past, as had been the case with me.

Weren’t you against kicking dimasick? Hadn’t he helped you out on many occasions?

When the conversation around kicking Dima came around, and really any conversations revolving around kicking a player, I would assume a neutral position because every player has his pros and cons. At the same time, I understood that we needed to change something, but it wasn't like Dima was the problem, maybe he just needed to work on some of his weaknesses and things would've been fine. We had the management collect everyone's opinion and make a final decision.

How did the team replace fitch?

It was the same situation that we had gone through with Dima, just a year down the line, literally identical. There's always someone from management watching over us, and that's good because you get a different perspective. As soon as there are even the slightest issues in the team, our managers know about them. When negative moments reach a critical point, the management starts to resolve the issues.

What did AdreN bring to the team?

He gave us a lot. We would talk a lot about both in-game things, like combinations, gimmicks, nades, tactics, and mentality, such as our goals, confidence and what it means to have a work environment. We also spent a lot of time just chatting.

Walk us through the StarLadder Major, where you finished second.

Despite our online results being so-so, we were prepared for the Major. With the arrival of Daur (AdreN), we all subconsciously believed in our victory, even if the game wasn't going the way we planned. We didn't bear the burden of responsibility off the back of it being a Major, and unlike most teams, we didn't have to worry that we would disband if we didn't get a slot [at the next Major]. The majority of teams aren't as confident playing at Majors as they are at other events, as not everyone can handle the pressure. When we were getting on the bus before our match against Vitality there were French fans outside chanting 'Vitality', which put us in a good mood and gave us additional motivation. When we got to the semi-final against Renegades, on the one hand we thought they were the perfect opponents to have at this stage and that the final was ever so close, but on the other hand, we tried to cut these thoughts out, as the Australians were faced with an identical situation and they'd give their best to win this match. Astralis were totally at home in the final, they knew our tempo and our pattern. Plus, they had a lot more experience.

Was that second place a streak of luck or did you actually play well?

It was something in between. You can't say that we lucked out, and you can't say that we played our minds out. We worked and we trained, got lucky here and there and that's how it all turned out. Things are quite unpredictable in CS, and it seemed like a match against an opponent that wasn't the strongest, for example Syman, had more pressure on us than a match in the playoffs.

How did you find out about your transfer to Virtus.pro?

Initially, we read about it online and we thought it was fake because the management hadn't told us anything about it. Some time later, we were assembled in Almaty and we had a conversation about it. We weighed the pros and cons and came to a mutual decision. We could've stayed, as we weren't chasing a popular tag or a big salary, but it just so happened that, at the time, a transfer was the best decision to make, both from the perspective of the players and of the organization.

Why did your results suddenly tank after you transferred to Virtus.pro?

It's difficult to say. I can name 10 different reasons, but in reality, none of them had an impact. Initially, we were losing due to one set of reasons, later a different one, and by the end we had an atmosphere that just made it hard. The atmosphere was bad because you get fatigued from losing, you're suppressed, and you don't have that burning desire to play. You can't sit through a 12-hour-long practice session, at a certain point you say, ‘That's it, I'm done. I'll catch you tomorrow’. When we had good periods, we'd happily sit there until the end, because we wanted to grow far past the norm. That's the thing about negative atmospheres, it's not a matter of whether player X doesn't want to play with player Y, or someone doesn't like the captain's calling or thinks we need to focus on the individual component, while the other thinks our tactics aren’t good. If there's no dedication you don't have the necessary atmosphere to win.

Why did you have shuffles in the team?

When you lose a lot, the question of replacements always tends to pop up. Initially, we tried to swap around our captain but that didn't work out. Later, buster went inactive because he was burned out. He let us know around two months in advance, but we had such a packed schedule that he had to play it out until we had an open window so as to not let the team down. When we competed in Road to Rio, we knew that Timur (buster) would leave right after the tournament. We started playing with YEKINDAR after the event.

Did you want to take a similar break?

No, I may have been tired and wanted to take a break, but going inactive was not even a topic of conversation. Everything you've worked for can be lost in a moment.

Why did you replace AdreN?

We didn't know who we'd end up replacing until the very last moment. Together, we had made it through the Major, and every single one of us had had a crucial impact over its course. Together with the management, we decided to go ahead with a replacement, making a list of players we'd like to sign. At the time, Mareks (YEKINDAR) won an FPL season and beat us in ESL One: Road to Rio, so everything pointed to the fact that we needed to sign him.

Who else was on your shortlist?

We were interested in Norbert, and as a candidate that I personally proposed we had JIaym, with whom I played a lot of FACEIT, but things didn't come through and we signed Mareks pretty quickly.

Why did you have a sudden spike in performance?

We had fresh blood in the team, and Timur (buster) moved from Almaty to St. Petersburg, so we started training thoroughly, with a new sense of strength. I'd say it was the most productive training period in our entire careers.

Tell us about the victory in the most recent CIS RMR event [IEM New York].

We were confident in our capabilities and we tried to play every match with the utmost dedication. Prior to the RMR event, we hadn't participated in any tournaments, so for us it was important to win in order to demonstrate our team's level of play. It was also very important to get RMR points again after losing a chunk of them with the changes.

What about your victory in Flashpoint?

That victory was a result of hard individual, team and psychological work. We played every single match until the very end. Even if the opponents had ten match points we weren't fazed by the fact and we calmly continued according to plan.

What will you spend the money you made from Flashpoint on?

I haven't decided yet, but I'll probably be saving up for my flat.

Why did the team change captains?

Every situation has its own story. It was either an attempt to improve our play without any major changes, which means replacements, or just an attempt to freshen things up.

What do you enjoy more, being a captain or a player?

Being a captain. Even when Daur (AdreN) was captaining, I realised that I had been playing this role for a long time and that I was used to making decisions and building the game around myself. I can play either way, but I feel more comfortable handling the game.

Have you ever initiated replacements?

I've had my doubts about players, but I’ve always tried to stay neutral.

Do you have a rivalry with s1mple for the title of the best AWPer in CIS?

I don't compare myself to anyone, as team results are the most important thing for me. I obviously respect his talent, work ethic and dedication to his craft. I've adapted a lot of his interesting moves to my own repertoire.

Do you have a favourite sniper?

There isn't an AWPer that I haven't followed, and I can even tell you which players have borrowed whose gimmicks. But I like a lot of them: xsepower, sh1ro, syrsoN and cadiaN.

How do you feel about AWPers copying your playstyle?

People don't copy my style, they just see what works and what doesn't, and adapt it to their own game. It's important to understand that a person's AWPing style comes from his personality. There are some that need to justify every single spawn position, making sure to land nasty flicks, and then there are those that would rather hold back and play out a 5v4.

Which teams do you enjoy facing the most?

I enjoy playing against teams that have their own style. I like facing FURIA, for example.

Which region would you be interested in playing in?

It would be interesting to play in the US. It wouldn't be as interesting to play in Europe. I live in St.Petersburg, my ping is the same as it is in Sweden, and I'm playing against European teams. Things wouldn't change much in the way of gameplay.

Who were your best and worst teammates?

You can't categorize it like that, everyone has their strong and weak sides, and with time everyone changes. At some point, someone's weak sides become their strengths and vice versa.

Have you ever considered ditching CS:GO and going into another industry?

Maybe I've toyed with the thought for a second, but where would I go? Where would I be able to get what I get from CS? Nowhere.

Are big buyouts good or bad?

In the past, not many organizations could afford a large buyout. They could buy out a key player from a smaller organization, and in turn that team would just crumble. I don't like being a part of these discussions because I'm not an expert and I don't know the nuances, and I'm not particularly interested in them at the moment.

How frequently did you get invites from other organizations?

The only invitations I received were during the time I was benched on AVANGAR. I got two or three invitations, but I was asked not to name these organizations. I'll put it this way: all of the teams were of a level lower when compared to AVANGAR. Any such conversations I would immediately transfer to the management.

Did you know that NAVI considered you as a candidate for their roster?

No. There were rumours here and there, but there were no specific conversations with me.

Would you have joined NAVI?

That depends on the circumstances. When it comes to such decisions you have to consider all the factors.

Tell us about the impact of a coach on a team.

It's a super important component of the team. In young teams, a coach contributes about 50% to its success. A coach has a massive workload that isn't restricted to any specific rounds, contrary to popular belief. dastan grew as a coach alongside us, and, initially, he had one set of strengths, and later a different one. Now he has reached his peak as a coach as he's well developed all around. There isn't a single issue he can't resolve within the context of our team.

Have you ever been asked to fix a match?

No, I have a negative attitude towards anything concerning match-fixing.

Have you ever cheated?

When I was a kid, out of curiosity I booted up cheats a couple of times on pirated versions of CS 1.6 and Source.

What are your thoughts on the spectator bug?

Abusing the coaching bug and crushing the fates of teams is bad. After our loss against Hard Legion, we didn't understand how they were able to read us well and how they were waiting for us as a four-man stack, even though we tried our best to stretch our defence and reworked a lot after reviewing. It's unfortunate that it fell on AdreN when he was captain. That whole hype wave passed me and I didn't read any comments or tweets, I was focused on the game.

Could you name a dream team you'd like to play with?

I find it difficult to make a dream team because I don't consider anyone special. There are many interesting players who you can take some things from, but that doesn't mean I want to play with them. I can name a few teams that I find interesting to follow, like Gambit and NAVI, and I always follow the top-rated teams, Vitality and Astralis.

Which CIS teams impressed you this year?

I can't say anyone impressed me, but a lot of teams really picked up form, such as Nemiga, Espada, Gambit and Spirit, but all of these teams had been on a long journey to solid results, and sooner or later they had to ascend to a good level. The CIS scene is growing, and even a team like NAVI Junior shouldn't be written off.

Do you have teams that you have a tense relationship with?

A lot of people have said bad things about me, but that's usually from teams from the second and third tiers. None of the top teams has ever expressed anything similar towards me or my team.

Read the first part of the interview here.