skullz: "KSCERATO is probably the best player I've played with"

skullz has qualified for his second Major alongside his role model.

Felipe "⁠skullz⁠" Medeiros, after missing Copenhagen via a defeat to FURIA in the last RMR, will be back at a Major and this time, in FURIA colors.

"Since I joined FURIA," skullz told HLTV right after qualifying, "it's something that made me happy and accomplished as a person [...] it feels like the right place to be."

The chance to link up with "role model" Kaike "⁠KSCERATO⁠" Cerato and the "amazing" Gabriel "⁠FalleN⁠" Toledo was not one he, or many Brazilians, could decline.

Date	Matches
Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 Americas RMR
12/11/2024	FURIA Finished 17:19 Legacy	Match
12/11/2024	FURIA Finished 13:5 Case	Match
13/11/2024	FURIA Finished 13:1 BOSS	Match
14/11/2024	Liquid Finished 2:1 FURIA	Match
15/11/2024	9z Finished 0:2 FURIA	Match
15/11/2024	M80 Finished 0:2 FURIA	Match

It was not an easy road, after Legacy beat them 19-17 on day one and put FURIA in the path of Liquid and, eventually, the 7th-placed decider.

FURIA, though, were made of stern enough stuff. They have made every Major since IEM Katowice 2019 and back-to-back wins over 9z and M80 on the last day of the RMR ensured that record remained intact.

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Your second Major after missing the last one, how good is it to be back?

It feels amazing, honestly, it's a very amazing feeling. It's hard to believe, it's such happiness for me. I'm probably going to digest all the emotions tomorrow when I wake up, but yeah it feels amazing.

How nervous were you this morning, knowing you had to play two games today?

Yesterday after the loss, I had some really good talks with my teammates so I went to bed, and woke up ready for everything today. Prepared, as well. My mentality today was to give my all, and go back to bed with the spot. So the job is done.

Do you hope to meet Liquid again? It's a few in a row now that haven't gone your way.

It's kind of funny, the map pool we have against them. Anubis, they have a very strong map. Dust2, we feel pretty confident, and Nuke is great for both of us. It's just a funny matchup when it comes to map pool. Every time we play them, we're getting a bit closer to beating them so I can't wait to play with them again.

And M80, I think that was the first time you played them, and even if they were supposed to be the nervous ones they threw some crazy plays at you, some of these CT aggressions. How was the game?

We knew that they were a different team, one that we're not used to playing against. They made some really good moves and it's hard to play against them if you're not ready. I'm just happy we made the comeback, we started the game really slow. I think this is probably the first game that we started losing but managed to win the comeback, and this is the game that mattered the most. I'm happy with that.

This organization has a history of always making the Major, at least since 2019, what does it mean to make the Major for such a storied team?

Since I joined FURIA, it's something that made me happy and accomplished as a person. Every Brazilian has a dream to play for FURIA because it's the biggest organization in Brazil. Making the Major with them, making the beginning of my story with them, it feels amazing and feels like the right place to be.

One more thing on those comebacks, I think it was 2-7 on Anubis when KSCERATO decided to start walking into A, what is it like playing with him?

He's probably the best player I've played with. It feels amazing to spectate him, and be present with him all the time, because I learn a lot from him. He's always been a role model for me so yeah, it's an amazing experience.

What was it like breaking the curse on Anubis? You have struggled a bit on it recently, what do you think is making it hard?

I think it's just because we didn't have many reps on it. Every game we play, we figure something out we did wrong and can fix it. At the same time, we cannot fix it in practice because practice, sometimes, is very different from officials. We just need more reps on the map, and we have a very high potential on it.

FalleN on Vertigo, pulling the fakes and everything. Was that one of the first times you've seen the real FalleN in action, in full flow state?

Honestly, FalleN was very on point on Anubis. He was on their minds, the T side he called was perfect, the map was really easy for everyone to play. He was calling, we were just adding stuff, or just connecting with each other. It felt perfect to me.

On Vertigo, our T side at the moment, we have really good success whenever we play. Every scrim we play, it feels like no team can stop us. When Vertigo started, we felt really confident and ready to close the map.

Something on yourself individually, it is a different type of role for you in FURIA with all these stars around you. How do you see your development now you have had a few months here?

The team asked me to be a support role, more anchor, and just be there supporting the star players. chelo is becoming more of a star player now, because when arT was on the team he got this role that doesn't match him very much. Right now, he's doing an amazing job, we have three very strong rifles in star positions, yuurih, chelo, and KSCERATO. Me, I just have to anchor, it's as simple as that, throw some nades, do some clutching, and that's it. FalleN, of course, is calling amazingly.

Now for the Major, what is your main goal now you've made it?

Personally for me, since I don't have the medal in-game, playoffs is the minimum. I'm excited as well to play every stage, because we will have a crowd. A Chinese crowd is an amazing experience to be part of, I'm just really excited.