Techno: "I think it will be tougher in this RMR"

On the day before the fight for two Paris Major spots begins at the Asia RMR, Sodbayar "⁠Techno⁠" Munkhbold says this time the increased competition will make it more difficult for The MongolZ.

The MongolZ are about to start their campaign at the BLAST.tv Paris Major Asia RMR. The Mongolian squad, who recently left their former organization IHC, are heading into the competition as one of the main favorites after they have dominated the region and won the previous two iterations to make it to the Majors in Antwerp and Rio.

However, there are question marks hovering over the team after they decided to make a lineup change despite recent successes on the international scene, parting ways with Tengis "⁠sk0R⁠" Batjargal and bringing in former Clutch member Chinguun "⁠hasteka⁠" Bayarmaa to the surprise of many.

Speaking to HLTV.org in an interview on the day before the competition begins in Ulaanbaatar, Techno shared his belief that this time around it will be a more difficult task to make it to the Major, but not because of the recent lineup change and the fact that The MongolZ are debuting with the new team at the RMR. Instead, he says it is due to the larger pool of competition, increased from four teams to eight in Asia for this Major cycle.

Date	Matches
BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 Asia RMR
06/04/2023	The MongolZ 08:30 Twisted Minds	Match

We are now at Asia RMR in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. It's not your first RMR, but it's the first RMR to be held in Mongolia. Do you feel pride for Mongolia hosting such elite competition?

Yeah. We feel so confident because we're competing in our country, in Ulaanbaatar.

It is also a perfect place to ask you about Mongolian scene. Do you feel like the quality of talent is good enough to support another Mongolian team that would be competitive on the global scene? Do you think Eruption, who are your local rivals and also here at the RMR, can be that team?

I think they can be. If everything goes right, I think they have a chance here.

Now, it has obviously been an eventful month for your team. sk0R was replaced with hasteka only two weeks ago. Can you speak on why you ended up going with him?

It was a big change for us because we'd been for one year with sk0R. About hasteka, he was our former teammate in Checkmate. We know his playstyle and we know him.

The other news that broke recently was your team parting ways with the organization, IHC. How do you feel being orgless again?

We're trying not to think about it because we have an important tournament. We're trying to focus on matches and not to think about it.

Now, let's get to the RMR. You won both of the previous iterations. Are you confident that you can score another win, or do you feel it will be tougher this time given it was extended to eight teams?

I think it will tougher in this RMR. It's not about sk0R and roster change. It's about the RMR rules, it's eight teams now. Other RMRs were four teams with one each from region, and now it's two, and that's why I think it will be tough.

Your team is part of a trio of obvious favorites that also includes Rare Atom and Grayhound. Who of them has the highest chance to clinch the second spot at Challengers stage?

Of course the favorites are Grayhound and Rare Atom, but I think that Rare Atom might have more chances, they can make it.

Who, except these two teams, has the highest chance to clinch the second spot at Challengers stage?

Maybe Eruption and TYLOO, I think.

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