TaZ: "We feel in good shape"

We sat down with Frag eXecutors veteran Wiktor "TaZ" Wojtas just one day before the Extreme Masters IV World Championship Finals kickoff, and questioned him about the upcoming tournament.

The two-time ESWC and WCG champions have been placed in Group A following the late dropout of Taiwanese side UMX, having to take on fnatic, mouseports and mTw in the opening phase.

Frag eXecutors' last LAN appearance came during the European Championship Finals, where they failed to impress, crashing out of the tournament at the group stage with just two victories.

In this exclusive interview with HLTV.org, Wojtas comments on his side's chances in Hannover, their move to Frag eXecutors and also the removal of Lukasz "LUq" Wnek, among other topics.

When did you learn that your team would get the last spot at the Extreme Masters World Championship Finals?

We got contacted by ESL on Thursday, saying that no other team from Asia could go to the Globals and asked if we wanted to go in place of UMX. It was a straight yes.

How has your team been practicing for the competition?

We've been practicing for the World Finals for three days now, I mean we had been practicing all the time since our last flop at European Finals, but we didn't have the mind set on attending a big tournament any soon. It was a nice suprise.

Do you think that such short notice will affect your team's form at the tournament?

I hope not. We feel like we are in good shape, at least a lot better than during the European finals... so with a bit of luck we might do some nice damage in our group. Things will come down to form durring 02.03.2010... one day will decide who's in and who's out, not a dream scenario, but if you want to redeem yourself you need to face it and hit it hard.

You have been placed in Group A, along with fnatic, mTw, mousesports, oXmoze and Evil Geniuses in what is arguably the group of death. What is your opinion about the teams you will meet?

Each team has equal chances of advancing to the next stage. On the other hand it feels good to have such good teams in our group, because you stay equally motivated, and you are not letting in your mind toughts that some teams are better or worse.. five games of the highest level is what we expect, how hard it will be will only depend on us.

What are your team's goals for this tournament?

Redemption.

At the Extreme Masters European Finals, your team placed fifth in the group with just two victories and three defeats. In your opinion what caused such a disappointing campaign?

Last-minute message that we would attend, line-up changes and little practice. We also played pretty bad individually, at least I did, so this time I am three times more motivated than during our last tornament. I'm just hoping that we will show better CS this time around and show some good games.

You and your team mates have been announced as part of a project called Guns Are Drawn. Can you shed some light on what this project is about?

The Guns Are Drawn project is targeted at young players and teams, we will try to help them evolve, but if it's global or only for polish players, that we will have to wait and see.

There has been no comments from your team on LUq's removal from the line-up. Why did you decide to cut ties with him after playing alongside him for several years?

After so many years playing with the same line-up we felt like we were in some kind of bad marriage, and we just had to have a divorce. Lukas had a big impact on many of our games, but we felt that we needed some more stability and new blood in our team.

What are your thoughts on pasha's involvement in the team so far?

Pasha has great talent and he has yet to show his highest level of play, it will take time for him to gain some experience and stop worrying about getting cut, but that's a natural process and we hope that it won't affect our game at the World Finals. I think that if Pasha does not think about anything else but his game, he will show some great games.

Earlier this month, your team joined Frag eXecutors after months without an organisation. What is your opinion on FX and what made you accept their offer?

I think that the main factor were the people in FX and that the organization is from Poland. After few meetings with management from Frag eXecutors we saw how big fans of esports they are, and that they are very professional. We just hope that we can make a good name for this organization by showing good results.

Do you think it is safe to say that the worst is finally over?

I won't say it :P, because you never know what can struck you in life.. We just hope that our "bad luck" era has come to an end, and that we will finally be able to show our potential with full bright.

The ESWC recently announced its return under a new management. With your team having yet to receive the prize money from the last event, which you won, what are your feelings on this announcement?

It's just sad that they are annoucing a new edition, and are not paying out any of the owed prize money, it will definetly hurt the ESWC, prestige-wise.. but I still think that many teams will attend it because esports need tournaments. Maybe somewhere deep inside I hope that we will get some kind of reimbursment from new ESWC owners, but time will tell how surreal this is.

HLTV.org will be in Hannover providing on-site coverage of the tournament, so stay locked to our website for all the latest info on the Extreme Masters IV World Championshipa Finals.