malbsMd: "HeavyGod will stay alive for 15 seconds when he is anchoring; I would've peeked"

malbsMd was full of praise for G2's fresh recruit after they moved to Bounty's semi-finals.

Mario "⁠malbsMd⁠" Samayoa has increased responsibility in the 2025 iteration of G2, taking the place of Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač as the team's star aggressive rifler.

It is a big responsibility, but one he earned in his scintillating M80 form and by adapting as well as he could to tricky anchor roles for his first six months in G2.

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

"In NA and tier-two," malbsMd said when asked about the transition, "it was super easy to do my moves, to punish people. Here, I'm getting punished now."

But playing alongside NiKo was a good way to learn from him, and the Bosnian's cousin Nemanja "⁠huNter-⁠" Kovač has also taken up some of the second calling NiKo was known for to take the pressure off of malbsMd.

And so far, so good: G2 survived online season openers versus B8 and BIG, and smashed BetBoom on their LAN debut to move into the semi-finals of Bounty with renewed confidence.

Date	Matches
BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 1 Finals
23/01/2025	G2 Finished 2:0 BetBoom	Match

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LAN debut with the new roster, went pretty well, how does it feel after that?

It was a fun match. Of course they were a mix, and just having fun as well. I died in every single possible way, through smokes, to a Nova, no-scope Scout, unlucky match. But overall we played really well, Ilya [m0NESY] was having a really good match as well. Nikita [HeavyGod] had a good debut as well. We're feeling comfortable right now. I think a lot of teams are underestimating us so it feels good to win.

How did you feel after the online games? Was it fair for people to say that it was a bit unconvincing?

I think it was unfair. It was the first matches coming off of a break. I didn't play CS for like 2 weeks during that break. Also, people are underestimating B8 and BIG as well so they're not only disrespecting us but the other teams as well because they're really good. It was just tough matches for us, we were just getting... We just need the experience in matches together. We played really well on bootcamp and in practice and stuff but we needed to get those nerves out in officials.

How does it feel in general, with the rejig of the roles and everything?

It feels good, honestly. I'm still getting used to my star roles but overall, personality wise and everything, we have a really good team. We like each other a lot, and that's a super important point for us, from G2. Ever since I joined the team we were super good friends, close friends and everything. Now with Nikita, we integrated him into the group super well and that's a super important point.

We know you can shoot heads but how are you finding CT side trying to call around yourself a bit more in these star spots?

It's a little bit hard, I would say. I played star roles in tier two and NA, so it was super easy to do my moves, re-peek, to punish people. Here, I'm the one getting punished now [laughs] but I'm getting used to it. Playing anchor roles taught me a lot from NiKo. I got to hear what he was saying, what he was communicating to the team, and how he was playing some rounds. I got to learn a lot and I'm trying to put that in play now.

How long ago did you find out NiKo was leaving? Did it help you a bit, to know you were there to learn from him, and that you weren't permanently going to be an anchor?

No, I don't know. Ever since I got told I knew I was going to play these star roles but I was not focussed on that. I played the whole season like, 'I am the anchor.' I was not looking forward to the future, just enjoying the present and playing with NiKo for the last time. I really liked him, he's a super nice guy, super nice player, and it was super in general to play with him.

What's huNter- been like in the new system? From the cams, it looks like he's talking a lot on CT side with Snax anchoring. How's he guiding you around the map on CT?

He's trying to be the big brother, you know. He is trying to correct my calls sometimes, if I call something that shouldn't be called he'll say 'No, it's eco,' or 'Let's do that instead' and he comes up with a plan with Janusz [Snax]. Other than that he's having a really important role on CT, he's playing better now because of it. He's talking more, getting more involved with the rounds, and that's making him bounce back to what he was back then.

For you on T side, what do you think is the main difference? You were always aggressive in your old roles too, is it that big a difference?

Yeah, I could see the difference. On T side I'm the spacetaker and I have this good crosshair placement, that's the secret for me. I have good crosshair placement and I know where to aim normally. That's one point.

And on CT, I was playing super aggressively in M80 and I couldn't get into that thing of being passive sometimes. I went out always to get some duels, because that's my role. And now in G2, I was always super passive or super aggressive and I couldn't get into that in-between thing that some anchors have.

Speaking of anchors, what do you make of HeavyGod's arrival?

He's super nice, super friendly, and super skilled at the game as well, his aim is really crisp. I think that's very important for anchors. He's super calm as well, you can see when he is anchoring some spots like on Pit, he'll stay alive for like 15 seconds and I would not have done that, I would have peeked probably. I like that, he's super calm and super nice to play with.