TeSeS: "We want to end CS:GO as the No. 1 team"

HEROIC have their sights set on making sure they leave a legacy in CS:GO, according to René "⁠TeSeS⁠" Madsen.

HEROIC have been the most consistent team during past two years, constantly making deep runs in tournaments and even picking up a few trophies along the way. As such, they were one of a precious few teams that made no changes in the off-season, instead backing their current squad to continue to fight for titles.

TeSeS is convinced that the fact his team has a settled roster is an advantage, and he wants to run with that advantage as we enter the final months of CS:GO competition. Fresh from a convincing win over BIG, the Dane had a quick chat with HLTV to discuss his team's preparations for the season, their goals moving forward, and the impending release of CS2.

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Audio version: If you cannot see the Soundcloud embed below, head over here to listen to the interview.

First off, congratulations, how does it feel to come into the new season with a win?

It feels great. We had a lot of plans going into the start, what we wanted to do, the last two times where we have come off a break we had a bad start. Today we brought extra intensity and energy, so that worked good.

Do you think it had anything to do with your bootcamp? Apparently you had a little nature getaway, was it good to get away from the game and not be so intense with the bootcamping?

It definitely gave us something else. We got closer as friends and teammates, got pushed physically and I think that was very valuable for the whole team. We showed that we were there for each other and so on, it was a lot about outside of the game, and not so much inside.

You are one of the few teams that haven't made changes in this off-season, does it make it hard to prepare for a new season when pretty much every team has made more than one change?

Yes, in the first couple of games where you don't have that much information to go off, it's more difficult to prepare. But I also think it's kind of an advantage when you get through the first five games for example, because then there is information out there and their playbook is not that deep yet. In that way, there's both pros and cons.

So do you see it as an advantage being a stable roster, your playbook is very deep? There's no worry teams have figured you out?

For sure, the teamplay you have when you have been together for a long time is more valuable than anything.

Looking forwards to the rest of the season, you have had a great year so far anyway, arguably the best team of the year next to Vitality. What are your goals for the rest of the season?

We want to end CS:GO on a high note, we want to go out as the No. 1 team in the world. Being those who were the best at the end of the game is cool to say, and something we want, that is what is motivating us.

Looking ahead a little bit further, CS:GO is coming to an end and CS2 is on the horizon at some point. How much have you guys spoken about CS2, have you done any planning for it? What's that been like for you?

Yeah we have definitely talked about what the best plan for it is. We believe that when the time is right and it's coming out, and everyone is going to play it, then of course we are going to change. Until then it's full focus on CS:GO, you can't just waste energy on CS2 because you don't know when it's coming out.

Does it make the off-season a bit harder, when you don't know how long you will be playing CS:GO for and you don't know when the first CS2 tournament is?

Yeah. It's definitely easy to go crazy with wanting to be ready for CS2 when it is released, but you need to use your break time properly and completely cut off CS. For me, personally, it's coming out when it's coming out.