Staehr: "I didn't have high expectations for this arena, so I'm surprised in a very good way"

"It's sad to think that we could have been in the final," the Dane added.

Astralis were buoyed by Nicolai "⁠device⁠" Reedtz's return at the start of 2025, but their results remained hot and cold for the first few events of the year.

The Danish squad showed more consistency at PGL Cluj-Napoca, however, and narrowly missed out on a grand final spot after a close loss against MOUZ before beating FaZe in the third-place decider to secure some much-needed VRS points, which are pivotal in securing the organization's return to a Major.

"We need [the Major], it's been a long time since we had it," Victor "⁠Staehr⁠" Staehr admitted after beating FaZe. "The fans, players, and organization, everyone will benefit from it and be so excited for it."

The 20-year-old also sang the praises of the Cluj crowd, gave his thoughts about the third-place decider, and touched on his ongoing adaptation to the anchor role.

---

You finished third after beating FaZe in the third-place decider. How do you feel after the game?

It feels good, I feel like it was like a redemption game right now. We had a rough, tough loss against MOUZ yesterday, we could have closed if we won that Inferno, so to show that we have what it takes to beat FaZe in this match is pretty important. Every single prize money and placement counts for the new ranking, so it's good to see that we can play like this. I'm excited for the future.

I wanted to ask you about this crowd. In your first arena game, you weren't exactly crowd favorites, but in the end, it felt like you were. How good does it feel to change everybody's mind?

It feels good. I don't know if we were the crowd favorites against FaZe, I think it went both ways. But it's always nice to get the support when you win the rounds and [see] all the people in the arena have fun, so that's just amazing. All the big arenas are amazing and I felt this one was actually very very good. I didn't have high expectations for it, so I'm surprised in a very good way.

What do you think about the format? It gave you another chance to play in this arena for third place and also gave you the chance for some extra VRS points, which are very important right now.

I think it's important that there's a difference in VRS points when comparing third and fourth place. I also feel like it's good for before the final, that there's not just a showmatch or whatever, but it's actually like an important match as well with good teams, I like that a lot. I also like all the fans showing up to this match even though it's just a third-place decider.

Third place feels like a success for you guys. Do you feel the same?

For sure it is a success. It's sad to think that we could have been in the final, but it's still amazing to know we did our best and beat some good teams. A third place is good if you look at the teams here, so I'm very satisfied.

You finished as the second-highest-rated player on your team. You changed many roles recently, but it feels like this current role gets the best out of you.

I think I just got more used to my role now. The more you play the more experience you get, and that's the most important when you play these roles. To know when you have to do certain stuff, and that you shouldn't stress when executes come at you. When you are the anchor player, a lot of things will come at you, and you have to know how to handle that. And I think you only get that with experience.

What's next for you guys after a positive result here?

I don't know about the expectations, we have BLAST Lisbon next, which is very important for the world ranking to see if we go directly to the Major. That's the most important right now, we hope we can get a good result there so the Major is guaranteed, we hope so at least. Then after that of course just securing a good result at the Major. Getting back to the Major is the most important thing.

You mention the Major. Astralis as an organization has missed quite a few in a row now, so how important would it be for you guys to go directly to Austin?

Very important. For the fans, players, and organization, everyone will benefit from it and be so excited for it. We need that, it's been a long time since we had it. Playing at a Major is so different, so I'm very excited to hopefully do that.