HeavyGod: "Many people are judging Snax and TaZ from the outside, but they are so wrong"

G2's versatile anchor said he didn't expect just how positive the vibes were when he joined the team and discussed how his integration is going so far.

G2 were given the almost impossible task of replacing Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač after the Bosnian rifler's departure for Falcons, but there are few players they could have added to handle the change any better than Nikita "⁠HeavyGod⁠" Martynenko.

The Israeli rifler's addition allowed ready-made NiKo replacement Mario "⁠malbsMd⁠" Samayoa to return to the roles he flourished in on M80 while HeavyGod took over the Guatemalan's anchor roles on CT side.

During the media day ahead of the BLAST Bounty Season 1 Finals, HeavyGod spoke to HLTV about how that integration is going, sharing that it isn't an "easy to easy" but rather a "hard to hard" comparison because of how well malbsMd played his roles before.

"Mario [malbsMd] took a lot of roles from {NiKo]," he says. "Maybe it relieved a little bit [of pressure] from me, but also taking over malbsMd's roles is not easy because he also did an insane job in his roles."

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Stat Check: How HeavyGod can unleash malbsMd on G2

The 22-year-old's individual excellence and versatility in roles across stints on Endpoint, OG, and Cloud9 allows G2 to flex around the rest of the gaps, but even so, the team's shaky start to life in BLAST Bounty Season 1's online stage showed that there isn't a quick fix to the NiKo-sized hole left in the team.

G2 come into the LAN final as the top seed and a target on their backs, but despite not knowing their opponent yet, HeavyGod remains confident in his team's prospects.

"It doesn't matter who we play or who picks us, we're going to prepare obviously, we don't underestimate anyone, and we're going to do our best," he says.

If you cannot see the SoundCloud embed above, you can listen to the interview here.

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Welcome to G2. How does it feel playing for such a famous organization?

It was an easy decision to join G2 because they are one of the best organizations and the team is on the highest level. It wasn't a hard choice, like obviously the players are good, you have Ilya m0NESY and malbsMd, two young players, Snax is a good IGL, and huNter- who is experienced. I'm willing to learn a lot from them, so yeah, it was an easy decision for me.

Are you surprised about how fast these moves happened? Because 12 months ago you were in OG, so it has all happened pretty quickly.

Yeah, in 365 days I've been through three teams — Endpoint, OG, and Cloud9. I believe that hard work pays off, so this is something I have in my mind every day: I need to work hard and it will pay off in the end.

How are you settling in? You're playing PUGs with m0NESY and whatnot, how is the vibe in the team?

The vibe is actually something I didn't expect, like really positive, everyone is laughing, everyone is really taking care of each other. It's nice. Everyone is friendly, trying to help each other, kind, hard-working and willing to work a lot, so I'm happy.

You say that surprised you, what did you expect coming in?

I didn't expect them to be such a grouped unit. Some teams are united but not so close, and here when I joined, it instantly felt like I was part of a big group and instantly felt connected.

What about in-game? You said you've been in lots of teams, you've also been in lots of different roles. What would you say your preference is if you had to choose — the ones you're in now, OG, or Cloud9?

It doesn't matter for me. I think I said it in every interview that I had in the past: I'm a universal player, I can play anything that the team needs. I don't really care what roles I have or how I need to play, I will just adapt. Anchor or lurking is fine, going first is fine, or star player. I can just do everything because I like everything, there is nothing specific for me.

Do you think that makes you particularly easy to sign if you're an organization looking for players?

Every org is looking at different players, and every player is by himself individually. Maybe I can fit better in some teams because I'm more flexible than others, but every player is unique and talented so it's hard to judge what team will take who. But yeah, maybe.

Because malbsMd is taking a lot of NiKo's positions, do you feel a little bit less pressure? In another world it could be that you're the NiKo replacement, does that help a little bit?

Obviously they are big shoes to fill. NiKo is a great player, I grew up watching him and learning from him, but Mario [malbsMd] took a lot of roles from him. Maybe it relieved a little bit [of pressure] from me, but also taking over malbsMd's roles is not easy because he also did an insane job in his roles.

The comparison is not like something from easy to easy, it's hard to hard, so it's fine for me. Mario is doing a great job as well and we are both adapting in our way. We are trying to settle because I took some roles from NiKo as well, and some Mario took, but for me it's fine.

How are you settling in, in terms of the team's resources? Do you feel like you are more of a third star, or how does it feel within the team?

m0NESY and malbsMd are more popular, more known, and they show themselves more than me. For me it doesn't matter to be like number one, number two, number three, I see everyone equally.

Obviously someone is a bit better at this, someone is better at another topic, but everyone is a great player and I don't think I need to look at it. I just need to do my best and do what I am best at.

What do you make of the Snax-TaZ leadership combination? Obviously lots of speculation from the outside, but what is it like working with them inside?

Many people are judging them from the outside, like I also saw when I wasn't in the team they were judging them, but they are so wrong. Even if you go to the G2 vlog or something from the last Major, you can see how much input they have behind-the-scenes and in the backstage.

I enjoy working with them both, they are teaching me things that I didn't know. I'm slowly improving, I haven't been in the team long, but I feel like they are giving me tools that I can improve as a player in my understanding of the game and as a person. They are teaching me tools for life in-game and outside the game.

On CT side Snax is often in these anchor positions, so who is being loudest on your CT sides?

It depends on the map. Some maps Snax can also be vocal, but I would say it's huNter- who is really vocal, and m0NESY. They are both really vocal. m0NESY is just saying what he wants to do and then we are trying to build everything or adapt around what he wants to do.

huNter-, Snax, and m0NESY are calling the most, and then you have Mario on some maps because he is the control guy, so he is also giving a lot of ideas and stuff that he wants to do. It's not like only one guy has a strong voice, everyone can say what he wants to do and then we adapt as a team and create something around it.

How do you fit into that? Are you more of a quiet guy in the server, is that a benefit to them because they have all these big personalities?

I mean, I can be the guy that can be quiet and I also can be the guy who has a lot of ideas.

Universal.

Yeah kinda like universal, but I just like to adapt because if my voice is not needed, then I will not talk, I will just do what I see, what I want to do, small stuff. I don't need to flood the TeamSpeak. I just need to be an anchor, just don't say too much, do my role, but also when I have ideas I will say them. It's not like I'm lowering my voice or something.

In BLAST you're the top seed, so how does it feel trying to prepare because you don't know who is going to pick you?

I don't know. To be honest, I'm still trying to adapt to everything here at BLAST. But it doesn't matter who we play or who picks us, we're going to prepare obviously, we don't underestimate anyone, and we're going to do our best. Snax and TaZ are going to prepare a lot of stuff with our assistant coach and the players need to watch individually as well.

What is it like to play with someone like m0NESY? He's sitting right behind us so don't mince your words (laughs), but what is it like?

If something unbelievable can happen, this kid can do it. Like ah, you get a 1v4 and sometimes it's m0NESY, you say like, 'Ah, easy clutch,' because it's him and he can just do it easily, and you never know how he does it.

The kid has an insane understanding of the game and he is so young. His skill is something out of this world, and there is a reason he is the best AWPer in the world. Big applause to him really. He's also a really nice guy and I appreciate that I actually share the server with him, it's really nice to do it.

What are your ambitions for this year? It's kind of your first rookie year in terms of the big tournaments, so at the end of the year what would you be happy with in terms of trophies and stuff?

Personally I would be happy to join the HLTV Top 20 Players list, and also to be Anchor of the Year. These are my two goals. Obviously win trophies is part of it, hopefully a Major, but you never know when or if you're going to win a Major.

I wish for us, for G2 as a team, to get as many trophies as we can and for all the individuals to win trophies as much as we can as well, like in the HLTV Awards. I think it's important for everyone. But yeah, if we just stay united, we're going to win everything. I believe in us.