lauNX on comeback: "It has to do with the hunger we all have because we are kids"

"We did everything we could, so there was no point in doubting ourselves," the young Romanian shared.

Entering the CS Asia Championships as the second-lowest ranked team at the event, limited LAN experience, and a lackluster Birch Cup result under their belts, expectations were not high for FUT as they set up for their opening best-of-one against FaZe.

After enduring a 3-9 deficit in the first half, FUT rebounded with a strong CT-side, stunning the EPL Season 22 semi-finalists to start their CAC run on the right foot.

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FaZe suffer opening loss to FUT at CAC

Right after his team's stunning win over FaZe, Laurențiu "⁠lauNX⁠" Țârlea stopped to chat with HLTV regarding the game, how he has worked to assist his inexperienced teammates, and how far he thinks FUT can go this event.

Or you can listen to the interview here.

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Here with lauNX at CAC 2025, huge win over FaZe with a 3-9 comeback. Walk me through that game, how did that happen?

To be honest, we had a good gameplan from the start. We knew they were pretty bad on T-side from the get-go. On the T-side we just could not find our pace. I think the pressure kicked in, we were not doing what we were supposed to do regarding searching kills and getting some plays.

But in the end, on CT-side, we came back. We had a very good mentality, we never gave up, and with the help of coolio, we kinda knew there is always a hope, there's always a chance, you just don't need to give up.

So knowing that they had that rough T-side helped keep you in the game in the second half?

I mean, not only that. It's even like, it has to do with the hunger we all have because we are kids. We didn't give up, we knew we could do it, we worked so hard for this. We practiced, we did antistrat, we did everything we could, right? So, there was no point in doubting ourselves, at any time.

Right before this event you guys were at Birch Cup and it was a pretty rough result. What is with the turnaround at this event?

I mean, to be honest, I suspect for a team of young kids, I think I am the one with the most experience, which is very weird to say, it's the pressure, the nerves. We all want to be good, we all want to play very well together. It was the first LAN, and here as well, we have so much to learn and work on together. That's the spirit of CS; when you have five young kids you have to work on that in life. You succeed, then everything is coming from itself.

You're only 20 years old, and you are by far the most experienced player on the team. How does it feel being in the server and knowing that these guys are looking to you as the bank of experience?

(laughs) It's funny because I was always the youngest, inexperienced guy, the crazy guy, but now I'm really trying to keep it on the low with the craziness. I'm trying to give them advice, trying to hype them up, trying to do what others didn't do for me when I was at their age, because I know how important it is to have someone like a big brother close to you that is there for you.

You've just taken down FaZe. How far do you think you can go this event?

I've told everyone I've talked to, if we win against FaZe, the confidence is there, we should remove the pressure. I've always said in CS2, I think everybody can beat everybody. You can beat anyone if you have good preparation and a good mindset. So from now, we just have to play game by game, and see where it goes.