malbsMd: "I'm trying to think about the game like NiKo did"

"I'm also trying to put a lot of things that he taught me into the game," the Guatemalan rifler added.

Mario "⁠malbsMd⁠" Samayoa appeared on the latest episode of HLTV Confirmed to take part in a broad discussion about his time on G2.

The conversation covered several topics including the early support he received from Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač, joining the team not knowing that he would be leaving for Falcons, defeat in the Shanghai Major semi-final, taking over the Bosnian rifler's roles after his departure, and much more.

Initial discussions were about malbsMd before he joined G2 and what he felt was the most pivotal turning point in his career, with the Guatemalan saying he was at a career-low and thinking about retiring after his second stint with TeamOne.

"M80 basically saved my career," he said.

malbsMd revealed that he has a degree to be an accountant, something his dad advised him to do as a backup in case going pro in CS didn't work out, and reiterated how the evironment in M80 with everyone being close friends helped him improve and enjoy the game more.

Move to G2

The conversation then turned to his initial weeks on G2, how he changed roles on CT side, and whether he was prepared for that change coming in.

"What I had in my mind was that I made bigger sacrifices in order to play CS," he said about that transition. "So why not make another, smaller sacrifice in order to win trophies?"

Clip: malbsMd tells a funny story about doubling Conn with NiKo, roles and adjustments after joining G2.

He added that his experience with anchor roles before M80 helped ease the transition, but assistance from Janusz "⁠Snax⁠" Pogorzelski, Wiktor "⁠TaZ⁠" Wojtas, and NiKo was crucial in bridging the gap to tier-one. He also touched on NiKo's voice on CT side, which Nemanja "⁠huNter-⁠" Kovač has since stepped in to fill.

"[NiKo] is super impactful calling on CT," malbsMd said. "He calls a lot around him, so he knows what the reactions of the Ts will be. He has some set plays and some set reactions, and then he understands what will probably be the next reaction from the Ts. So he basically moves the team around him."

Did malbsMd know when he joined G2 that NiKo was headed for Falcons?

"Not really, like they [G2] didn't tell me, 'NiKo might leave,'" the Guatemalan said. "Because I also wanted to play with him, and with m0NESY of course.

"With everyone basically, but of course NiKo and m0NESY. But I wasn't really aware that NiKo might leave, I never got told anything like this, but there were some rumors of course, like maybe it might happen."

Once rumors started circulating NiKo did tell the team that he would be leaving, but it changed nothing for the players, according to malbsMd.

"He said it one time in the morning before prac and then we were just making jokes you know, like he was going to be rich," he laughed. "He never stopped grinding, preparation, whatever, he was the same NiKo I met on the first day of bootcamp when the season started."

NiKo's last event with G2 and losing in the Major semi-finals

The panel then asked malbsMd about how 2024 ended and whether there was any added stress at the Shanghai Major considering it was NiKo's final event with G2.

"We had some pressure about it, like I'm going to be honest I had it, I had this pressure of like, 'I want to give NiKo this Major trophy,'" the Guatemalan said. "I had it in my mind, like ever since we started the bootcamp I told him, 'Hey I want to help you to win the Major,' and I obviously had it.

"That's why... like, HLTV posted a video of me crying, because I really wanted him to win a Major with me. That was my dream since I got told that G2 wanted me to play for them. And also m0NESY, I bet he had it for sure."

He added that everyone on the team had a bad day during the semi-final against FaZe and that "it felt like one of those days where everyone is off," saying that he truly believed G2 could have won the Major if not for that.

Taking over NiKo's roles and adjusting in 2025

malbsMd was then asked about taking over NiKo's positions after playing anchor roles for the last half-year, saying it has been a challenging change going back-and-forth between being passive and aggressive as an anchor and star player, as well as doing it now at tier-one.

"But it's been a nice feeling overall," he added. "I feel like I'm learning a lot about the game and I'm also trying to put a lot of things that NiKo taught me into the game. I'm trying to think about the game like NiKo did."

Although huNter- has taken up CT calling duties in NiKo's absence, malbsMd said he initially tried to fill that gap too but ended up frustrated. Hear him talk about in the clips below:

Clip: malbsMd talks CT responsiblities.

Clip: malbsMd on frustration after trying to call on CT.

In the full episode, which you can find here or at the embed at the top of the page, malbsMd also talks about G2's upcoming appearance at EPL, rates and reviews his favorite positions, and makes a tier list of aggressive riflers.

Chad "⁠SPUNJ⁠" Burchill, Zvonimir "⁠Professeur⁠" Burazin, and Milan "⁠Striker⁠" Švejda reflect on results from PGL Cluj-Napoca and take a look at the Counter-Strike ecosystem with current tournament organizers.