dexter: "All the pressure is off us now"

A relieved dexter spoke about FlyQuest's return to the Major after beating DRILLAS and Lynn Vision on the last day of the Asia RMR.

After missing PGL Major Copenhagen, FlyQuest are locked in for a return to the Major stage. The Australians got off to the Asia RMR with a loss to TALON but then came back with three consecutive series wins to secure the third spot on offer in the region.

FlyQuest beat DRILLAS and Lynn Vision just a few hours apart on the final day, and the series against the ohnePixel-backed squad was a particularly taxing one, featuring three overtimes in the decider.

Date	Matches
Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 Asia RMR
13/11/2024	FlyQuest Finished 2:1 DRILLAS	Match
13/11/2024	FlyQuest Finished 2:0 Lynn Vision	Match

"I felt like I was gonna have a heart attack after the DRILLAS game," a relieved Christopher "⁠dexter⁠" Nong told HLTV at the end of the long day. "After we won I was just standing there and wanted to pass out."

FlyQuest's rematch against Lynn Vision, who eliminated the team then known as Grayhound from contention for PGL Major Copenhagen earlier this year, turned out much smoother. "I could tell everyone was a lot more relaxed and composed," dexter said. "Versing Lynn Vision is always good, just unfortunate that it's in their home city."

The Aussies now have two weeks to prepare for the Major, where dexter feels FlyQuest will be more comfortable. "We'll be more ready against the European teams. When you're playing the RMR you're versing players you don't know what they're gonna do, you get caught off and you have to manage your emotions a lot more against these teams.

"All the pressure is off us now. I think we play well versus European teams, we're a lot more composed, it's just way more slower-paced CS, so that helps."

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FlyQuest just qualified for the Major. Walk me through your feelings after the win.

Feeling very relieved. Definitely felt like I was gonna have a heart attack after the DRILLAS game. After we won I was just standing there and wanted to pass out, but after the whole week I'm just glad we did the right thing.

The DRILLAS game was a long one, many match points, overtimes. Did that take it out of you a bit, were you tired after it?

A little tired after the game, but we just had some good food and re-energized really easily, so it felt really good to have that break between the matches. Everyone definitely showed up because of it.

Did such a super-exciting end to the last game help you win the next one as well?

Yeah, I could tell everyone was a lot more relaxed and composed. We didn't really have to force ourselves to be reminded to be composed. I could tell everyone was 100% focused.

The Lynn Vision game was the exact opposite, a comfortable 2-0. Given you lost to them at the last RMR, was it nice to get revenge?

Yeah, it was nice. I would have loved to verse TALON in that match, but versing Lynn Vision is always good. Just unfortunate that it's in their home city, basically, but anyway it's good to win.

Was the Lynn Vision game from the previous RMR at the back of your mind?

A little bit. We were making jokes about it that it's gonna happen again, but I think it was chill. No problems.

Talking about TALON, I wanted to ask you about the format here. You lost a close best-of-one and then you needed three best-of-threes to get through. What do you feel about that?

I think for playing with eight teams it's fine. We had three spots for Asia. But I would have loved to have more BO3s, I think we had a lot of time to play BO3s because I played our BO1s from 5 PM, I believe, on the first day, so why not play some BO3s and really make sure that the eight teams in the region are showing their best?

TALON in the end didn't make it through. How do you feel about being the only team to wave your nation's flag at the Major?

Feels really good. The only one from our region, it feels great to represent and, for the first time, also get stickers for FlyQuest. They've been doing great as an organization, so it's just a good feeling overall.

When I spoke to Liazz he said you were taking a more relaxed approach going into this tournament. Did that help you shave off some of the pressure?

No (laughs). I think for our bootcamp it was really good. We'll be more ready versus European teams, but no matter what when you're playing the RMR you're versing players you don't know what they're gonna do, you get caught off and you have to manage your emotions a lot more against these teams.

You're now qualified for the Major. What are your expectations for that?

I feel a lot better because all the pressure is off us now. I think we play well versus European teams, we're a lot more composed, it's just way more slower-paced CS, so that helps. We're just gonna have to see on the day. We're gonna go back to Australia and relax and go into the tournament with a good mood.