Keoz: "I don't know how I still have my voice"

The Belgian rifler's shouting helped keep the mood up in the GamerLegion camp as they recovered from an 0-2 record to qualify for the Legends stage.

GamerLegion made it through to the Legends stage of the BLAST.tv Paris Major following a 2-0 victory over FORZE, a crucial ace and 1vs3 clutch from Isak "⁠isak⁠" Fahlén helping the European combine secure match point on Inferno to crush the FORZE economy and help them close out the game.

Nicolas "⁠Keoz⁠" Dgus was an incredibly vocal component throughout the series and during GamerLegion's campaign in Paris, shouting after round wins and hyping up his team. It was a stark contrast to his appearance after his team took things over the line, with the player completely drained in his seat while he fully absorbed the victory.

We spoke to him after the match to discuss the impact that his emotions have had on the team during their run, how it feels to make it through after two previous failed attempts, and how it feels to be playing in France.

Keoz, huge congratulations, made it on your third attempt at going through to Legends, first Syman and then GamerLegion last time. Walk me through your feelings right now, I know you said that you're so fucking proud of this team already, but how are you feeling other than that?

It feels amazing because after failing two times to make it to the Legends, I was keeping it in my head that I would not go out again this time, I will make it through, and we made it.

You were screaming a lot. How do you still have a voice right now? The emotion you've been bringing since the first day is pretty insane.

Honestly, I don't know how I still have my voice, but I think it's some secret inside me that I just discovered that I can scream and keep my voice, so I'll just keep doing it.

siuhy told me that the team didn't feel ready on day one when you lost the first two matches, so how much do you think your energy has helped so far?

I think whenever they see me like that, they know that I am in the right mood and that I'm scared of nothing. It helps to push them forward and have the same mentality as I do.

Did screaming that much take it out of you? I saw on the broadcast after you won, you didn't keep screaming, you just sank into your chair and seemed exhausted.

Yeah, totally. I did the opposite, I was not even thinking about my reaction or anything, I just couldn't... I had to relieve all the energy I gave before and just chill out and enjoy the victory.

Does it feel as good as you thought it would after missing out the last two times?

Yeah, it definitely felt even better than I thought. I want to play this Legends stage so badly against the best teams in the world and show what I am capable of.

Can you walk me through that isak clutch to get to match point, what you were feeling since you were spectating?

I knew that the AWP ruins was holding him, and I was like... either he just insta-headshots him and he wins the round, or the AWP just kills him. When he went for the peek and killed that guy, I was like oh, this is the moment isak is gonna bring us through. I was so happy.

Did you find it a little poetic that after losing Inferno twice on the first day, this was where you won it to take it over the line?

It is a poetic way to go through because yeah, I think FORZE thought that we were not confident on Inferno, but it's totally the opposite. We're full confident on it, we showed a good CT side, the T side wasn't that good but we'll do better next time.

You're the sixth European team to make it through, so far all of the teams who've advanced are European international lineups. How do you feel about that, is this the rise of that era of teams?

Yeah, I feel like nowadays mixing up players from different regions is the thing that could bring us to the top, because it's rare that you have a country that has enough talents to make a good team.

We're in France, you have French media also doing interviews with you. How does that feel for you, I mean you are Belgian but still, having that as a little motivator?

It gives me extra energy and an extra boost to do better because I'm kinda playing in front of a home crowd, I would say. It motivates me even more.

How do you feel going forward, looking towards the Legends stage? You say you want to play in front of a home crowd, what is the motivation, what are the goals?

I feel like we can just smash everyone, and no matter who we play I'll play with the same confidence.