yuurih: "I like this role right now, but it has been hard. You need to study a lot"

It's taken a lot of work for yuurih to adjust to full-anchor roles, but he's taking it in stride and enjoying playing alone.

FURIA carried their Thunderpick-winning form into IEM Chengdu with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Lynn Vision, leaving them one match away from advancing to the playoffs.

The Brazilian-majority side have continued to build confidence with two trophies in the Fall season, but the grueling few months of play that it took to reach that form is also taking its toll.

"It's the first time that we're so tired about playing Counter-Strike," Yuri "⁠yuurih⁠" Santos admitted in an interview with HLTV after the match. "Now it's a little about different when you're in the top, because every match you are playing is tough. When you go out in finals, semi-finals, it's really different, it's so tiring to play these matches."

It's a happy type of tired, though, with bigger trophies in the cabinet leaving yuurih satisfied as FURIA look to continue finding success as the season reaches its conclusion.

"Sometimes when you are in the tunnel, and at the end of the tunnel you don't see lights, and now we're doing great, so for me, KSCERATO, and FalleN as well, it's very nice for us," he said. "It's like we're getting close, things are happening for us. So, of course, we're going to be happy because some years ago it was really hard for us."

The Brazilian rifler also spoke about adjusting to fully becoming an anchor, which he admits has been difficult but fits his style as he likes to play alone, and touched on FURIA's prospects in China with all of the big teams in the mix.

You can listen to the interview here.

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Congratulations, you started Chengdu with a dominant win. Making that kind of statement after your Thunderpick trophy, how does that feel?

Always good, right? We're so confident right now. We're doing a great job, everyone is playing well. I think you need to keep it up, doing what we are doing, and just trusting our game, not overthinking too much about their game. We are playing more of our game right now. We're feeling good.

It's been a busy season for you; can you tell me about the frequency of matches and how you're keeping up with the tournaments?

Actually, for me and for the team, I think it's the first time that we're so tired about playing Counter-Strike. Now it's a little bit different when you're at the top, because every match you are playing is tough.

When you go out in finals, semi-finals, it's really different, it's so tiring to play these matches. Now, I'm feeling this, so it's a little bit different than just playing and losing some matches. We are tired, but we had some days to rest in Brazil. Playing Counter-Strike is like that.

After you won FISSURE, YEKINDAR said that molodoy was a little overconfident and you had to have a conversation to rein him in. Can you tell me how that's been going and what input you've had in that situation?

I think molodoy, since he joined the team, everyone has grown up, changing the mentality about CS. When you watch our game, you can see that we improved a lot since they joined. molodoy is the guy that we need. We need a guy killing everyone, having impact. I need to do my role very well as well, everyone has a role in the team, so this is very important as well. So I think everyone is playing well in their role, KSCERATO, me anchor and lurker sometimes.

On the molodoy comment though, YEKINDAR said he got overconfident after FISSURE. You've just won Thunderpick as well; have you noticed any change after that second win?

He's very happy every day, he's the guy who needs to play well. If he plays well, he's going to be really happy. When he loses, when he plays bad, he's going to be sad for sure. He needs this, he needs to kill the guys so that he will always get confidence. This is very important, and we know that, and we always try to help him in the game, go in and kill everyone, because if he does this, it'll be hard to beat him.

You were talking about your role a bit; can you tell me what that transition to anchor roles has been like?

It has been very hard, actually, since I've changed. But I said to the guys, 'I will do everything for the team, so what I need to do, I will do.' I got these positions, I changed some positions with FalleN because he was not comfortable, so this was very nice as well.

This is a role in the game that is very hard. When you see the guys, you're going to see three or four, so it's really hard because you need to at least kill two guys to help the team. I think I'm doing very well with this role. I like this role right now, but it has been hard. You need to study a lot. I have been studying ropz and mezii, so I need to thank them as well, because they're insane.

You've always been this kind of player to fill gaps. Do you feel that you're actually in the kind of role you want to be in now?

Actually, I changed my mind. Since the guys joined the team, we were in a bad situation. I thought that I need to do whatever the team needs. At the time, I just said let's change this, and I'll do everything, and we'll see what will happen. God's sake, we got YEKINDAR and molodoy, and they're helping a lot. For me, it's great, when we have guys like this helping the team. I just need to play my role and do what they need.

Do you feel this is the right role for you?

Maybe, I think so. Because I'm kinda the guy that likes to do my things alone, so I think with me alone, and sometimes I don't like people to be around. So yeah, I think so, it's a good role for me.

One thing YEKINDAR wanted to focus on after FISSURE was changing the way you play CT sides, making them more dynamic. How are you finding that?

Actually, when I play the anchor player, you need to study everything. The team that we're going to play against, you need to know their exec and their playstyle. Every match I study, and the guy who helps me on site, I always combine something, we do something together. Every time, I'm ready for them. This is the basics.

And our CT side has improved, so we need to improve. I'm very confident on T side, because I know my roles and go and kill the guys. CT-side is a little bit hard; it has been hard for everyone, I guess. I think the only team that is owning on CT is Vitality. I don't know, I don't remember, but I think Vitality is playing very well, because they have good players in mezii, ropz, and ZywOo, so they are insane. But I think we are improving our CT side.

It's been a very long road for you to have this kind of success. How does it feel to finally be in this position? Are you enjoying it as much as you thought you would before you started winning these titles?

Yeah, of course. Because sometimes when you are in the tunnel, and at the end of the tunnel you don't see lights, and now we're doing great, so for me, KSCERATO, and FalleN as well, it's very nice for us. It's like we're getting close, things are happening for us. So, of course, we're going to be happy because some years ago it was really hard for us. Things just happen, and right now we're so happy.

You mentioned Vitality is playing really well before. You won Thunderpick and FISSURE. We have Chengdu, Hong Kong, and the Major, so we're getting near the end of the season. What would it mean to win the trophy in Chengdu and maybe take down the likes of Vitality? Is that the final step you need before the Major?

I think every team in the top 10 is very strong, so everyone wants to win these last three tournaments, especially the Major. You know that, I know that, and we know that we need to give our 100%, because we know they are giving as well.

It'll be tough, these last three tournaments, but I think we can... if you think game by game, and don't overthink about winning tournaments and things like that, I think we can win again. We already won some tournaments, so we have the feeling right now of how it is. I just know that it will be very tough.

Would it be more validating because it's such a top-heavy tournament as well, compared to FISSURE and Thunderpick?

I think some teams that have a high level, Vitality, Spirit, and MOUZ. But we already won against them, Spirit and MOUZ, and we won against Vitality one map as well. The other two it was very tough, but when you watch the game, we could easily win, so we have this feeling.

Playing Vitality is always tough, but I think the other teams we already played against, and we know how it is. Of course, it will be tough every match, but I think the top opponent for us now, and for every team, is Vitality.