electroNic: "My progress as an in-game leader is colossal, ever since I became one"

VP's captain has "researched a lot" in an attempt to improve his craft.

Denis "⁠electroNic⁠" Sharipov has been under pressure in 2025, after taking the in-game leadership of Virtus.pro to mixed results.

Form hit a new low at PGL Astana, where Virtus.pro lost to Ninjas in Pyjamas and MIBR en route to another group stage exit.

Going 3-0 at Stage 2 of the Major a few weeks later, then, was an outcome few would have expected. But, with electroNic on a team-high 1.32 rating, that is exactly what has come to pass.

Date	Matches
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Stage 2
07/06/2025	Virtus.pro Finished 13:2 OG	Match
07/06/2025	Virtus.pro Finished 13:3 B8	Match
08/06/2025	paiN Finished 0:2 Virtus.pro	Match

Yet the 26-year-old is still candid about the season, and that a few best-of-ones will not undo the damage.

"The season was super awful for us," he admitted. "[Going 3-0] absolutely does not say anything. Our minimum goal has not yet been achieved."

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Editor's note: Questions were answered by electroNic in Russian, and then translated by HLTV staff. Russian speakers can listen to the audio below:

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That's 3-0. How happy does it make you?

Of course, we're very happy that we managed to make it through to the next stage. It was our minimum goal. We practiced a lot for this tournament, and I think every single one of us is happy that some work is starting to slowly pay off, and we're feeling the progress in our game.

There has been a lot of, maybe, community pressure. So, how good does it feel to answer it with a performance like this?

The fact that we made it through 3-0 is great for our confidence, of course, and we're very happy. But this absolutely does not say anything. Our minimum goal has not yet been achieved. Let's say, right now, our minimum goal is making the playoffs. Sure, step by step and everything, but initially, when we came to this tournament, the goal was the playoffs.

The season was super awful for us. Our expectations were much higher than our results, but we continue working up to this day, so that's it.

I wanted to ask as well about how you are feeling as an in-game leader. Because I know in Cloud9, you said sometimes it's hard because of your emotions and everything. How are you dealing with that now?

I think I've learned a lot, watched a lot, and researched a lot. And I think my progress as an in-game leader is colossal, ever since I became one.

What is working with F_1N like? You've had a few coaches now. How is your partnership with him developing?

We're working great together, we have good communication and mutual understanding. We've known each other for a long time, so everything is cool.

Do you think you see the game the same way?

In part, yes. He used to be Gambit's coach when they were winning with him a lot, and so he worked a lot with those players. So he understands my play style well, more or less, which I have played for my entire life. And I also understand his CS quite well.

Also, about FL4MUS, he had that big 4K in the end. What are you doing to make him more consistent in his position at VP?

I don't know, really. We just tried to tell each other that we gotta be more confident. And still, I believe that in this game, a lot comes from confidence, so you need to have more of it to put up consistent performances.

There are three Major winners on the team. Going 3-0 here, does it reset expectations for you going into the next stage?

Yes, of course. I'll say again that we're very happy to make it to the next stage, especially with a 3-0 score. We'll keep on working and we'll see how it goes.

What would you be happy about personally, leaving Austin at the end of the tournament?

Well, the minimum goal would probably be playoffs, we'll leave it at that. Of course, the trophy is always the goal, but right now we're thinking about the playoffs, at least.