siuhy: "Every game is just a really good game for Jimpphat"

The Polish tactician was full of praise for the Finnish teenager after an inspired performance against Liquid.

MOUZ have punched their ticket to the semi-finals of IEM Chengdu following a 2-0 victory over Liquid in Group A's upper bracket final.

It was by far MOUZ's best performance to date in Chengdu, after close games against TYLOO and FURIA in which some of the team's members had to play through illness. "It was very bad, but I'm really proud of how everyone stepped up," Kamil "⁠siuhy⁠" Szkaradek told HLTV after the match.

As MOUZ prepare for the semi-finals, the question on everyone's mind is: Can they play the same way on the big stage? siuhy said that he has "good hopes" for the playoffs, where assistant coach Andreas "⁠Xyp9x⁠" Højsleth's guidance can come in handy. "In this tournament, he's really stepping in, and we can really feel his impact."

Once again, straight to the semi-finals. Let's talk first about Inferno, which was a back-and-forth game. Liquid seemed to have the game under control in the second half, but when you won your first gun round, everything changed. What can you tell me about the game and the amazing performance from Jimi?

It was a very good game by us. We worked on Inferno a lot. And I think we had a really good preparation coming into this game. We knew what to expect from them. I think we made a good game plan against certain plays that they have, or how they rotate around the map, and I'm glad we capitalized on that. I think Jimi played a really good game. Every game is just a really good game for him, to be honest. He's very, very good, and I'm happy to have him on the team. But yeah, Inferno was just a good map for us, we worked on it a lot, and I'm happy with the result.

Mirage was more of a one-sided game. You had a phenomenal T side, with a lot of entries, xertioN had a great game, Jimi as well, especially towards the end. What is your opinion about this game?

We felt really comfortable on Mirage. We knew, especially after winning Inferno, their map pick, that, coming into Mirage, they were the ones who needed to step up, and we just needed to continue what we were doing. We did a really good job together again with the preparation for this map. We also knew what they would bring to the table. It was our map pick, and, like I said, we feel comfortable on it. Everyone had great showings on all their sides, it was not just a one-man show. I think everyone shined together, and the communication, everything was on point.

Brollan also had some very important rounds here on Mirage. How important is it for him to build up his confidence? Because he had a bit of a quiet start to the tournament after performing so well at the Major.

From the outside, maybe it looked like he had a quiet start, but from the inside, he's doing a really good job for us. We don't even feel that he's underperforming or anything like that. He's communicating, he's giving a lot of ideas, he's bringing a lot to the table. So I wouldn't even say that he needs to boost his confidence. He needs to continue to do what he's been doing.

You finished first in the group stage. It wasn't always pretty, with a close win against TYLOO and a close series against FURIA, but you managed to do it in the end. What is your opinion about your results and your performances so far?

Really good, actually. I'm really proud of the team. Coming into the tournament, the majority of the team was sick, so playing that first day against TYLOO and then FURIA, it was one of the most exhausting days we've had as a team. It was very bad, but I'm really proud of how everyone stepped up. Even though they were sick, they were still trying their best, winning, shouting during the game. They were so good that I couldn't even feel they were sick. But, obviously, you have to take that into consideration. We were a little bit more laid back than usual. So having that result in the group stage means a lot, because of the circumstances. Even now, winning against Liquid gives us more confidence because of the circumstances in which we are winning. I'm really happy about that.

This is your second tournament with Xyp9x as an assistant coach. What has it been like to work with him? I spoke with him before he joined the team officially, and he said that one of the things he wanted to help you with was how to deal with big-stage games, with all the experience he had as a player. What has it been like to work with him?

We were already at the Major with him. Back then, we didn't really want him to step into the team too much because we didn't want to change the dynamic. But I feel that, in this tournament, he's really stepping in, and we can really feel his impact. Some great tips on how to deal with pressure, routines and things like that. I think that he brings a lot to the structure. So I'm really happy about having him behind us, and I'm excited to work with him.

The big question: Can MOUZ do it in the playoffs after what happened in Katowice and at the Major?

I would say that Katowice was the only real run in the playoffs that we had. I wouldn't really count the Major one. Maybe if we keep the same mentality, in terms of how we approach the games… I think we are in good spirits right now, so I have good hopes. Maybe in these playoffs, we will look at it a little bit differently, compared to the other ones.

Do you think you can go all the way here?

I think for sure.