Xizt: "I think FX will win it"

We got a chance to speak with Richard "Xizt" Landström a few days prior to attending ESWC 2010 in Paris, France.

H2k Gaming raised a few eyebrows when defeating fnatic in the quarter-finals at DreamHack Summer and ended up making it all the way to the Grand Final, where they got defeated 2-0 by mTw.

ESWC 2010 will be the first big international appearance for the team, but is not allowed to attend with their usual-fiver, due to the ESWC regulations.

In this exclusive interview with HLTV.org, Landström tell us about the preparations the team did, that the team has a lot more to give, followed by several interesting comments.

You will alongside your team attend ESWC this week in Paris, what are your expectations before going to such a high-caliber tournament? 

Personally I think that ESWC is probably the biggest event of the year together with WCG. I have never been there before myself but what I've heard from other players this is the event that you want to go to, it just seem so professional and well done. Our expectations are sky-high and we are really looking forward to it.

How has your team been practicing for the competition?

Before DreamHack we played two weeks non-stop online, just practicing and going through tactics etcetera. When we got home from DreamHack we took some days off and just started practicing online again. I don't feel like we're prepared though, since we have to play with pop instead of niko due to the ESWC rules states that we have to play with at least 3 players that qualified.

pop is a great player and he know most of our tactics already so I can't really say how this will affect our performance at ESWC, but niko will be missed for sure. I think we have to change our game plan for this event since we're playing with a stand-in. We're going to play very random and trust our individual skill.

You have been drawn into Group B with Frag eXecutors, TeG and KaoS. What is your opinion about the teams you will meet in the group stage?

I don't really know that much about KaoS and TeG. It will be a nice match versus FX, I have been playing them before and never won so maybe this time we'll catch a break. I think we should beat KaoS and TeG without any problems.

What are your team's goals for this tournament?

Wow hmm, tough to say. I think we proved at DreamHack that on a good day we could beat anyone. We are in it to win, otherwise we wouldn't go, but I guess a realistic goal is top5.

Your latest campaign was DreamHack Summer, where you ended up second behind mTw. Defeating fnatic and MYM in the playoffs before reaching the final, was it a key element to play domestic teams in order to go this far?

No I don't think so. I think the reason why we had such a hard time versus mTw, both in group stage and the final was because they've studied our tactics and how we play. We had to change some tactics as they knew what we were doing all the time. Big ups to the mTw guys, they played really awesome through the whole tourney and I think they're going to be back dominating again like back in 2008.

How hard do you think it will be at ESWC, now playing against teams from all over the world?

It differs from playing Swedish teams for sure. We have some experience with international teams, and probably kHRYSTAL with the most experience from his time in SK. This is mine and pronax first international event if you don't count The Gathering in Norway (you shouldn’t, it sucked). It's going to be something new for the most of us, but we're looking forward to it and it's going to be a great challange.

Doing well at DreamHack Summer, especially defeating fnatic, do you think teams will study your play closely, as a result your performance and what will you do to eventually counter this?

Yeah I think there are some teams that will study our tactics... *cough* mTw *cough*.. Nah but we had to change a lot since we have to play with pop instead of niko. niko was our main AWP'er and pop is worse than me with the sniper, which is not good. So yeah we had to change a lot and you´ll probably see a lot of AWP'ing from FYRR73 & kHRYSTAL.

At DreamHack Summer ave from mTw told us you are definitely an upcoming team, do you feel the same way or do you think you have already made your mark?

Yeah as I said this is something new for the most of us, at least for me. I think we have a lot more to give and we're just getting better and better by time. We have already proven that we can beat the best teams out there but I think that we can get a lot better, no doubt.

The team went through some changes recently, is the team still in the process of fitting things together or is everything in place?

No no, we still have a long way to go. I have a nice feeling about this lineup though, everybody gets along just fine and we're having fun, I think that's the most important part. If you don't get along you won’t accomplish anything. DreamHack was our first event with the lineup and we finished 2nd, we are satisfied with that and if we just stick together and keep practicing I think we could go very far.

ESWC will be one of the event highlights of the year, who do you see as the main candidates to walk away with the trophy and which teams will play a role as dark horses?

I think Frag eXecutors will win it, they always play good at ESWC. If not I think it probably will be fnatic or mTw. I think that FireGamers will upset some top teams as well, it have been a while since I saw the Brazilians playing. I also think that our friendly neighbors in Norway could surprise with some nice results.

H2k Gaming have been drawn in Group B alongside Frag eXecutors, TeG and KaoS. Stay locked to HLTV.org for more ESWC 2010 pre-coverage, as well as on-site coverage from ESWC 2010 July 1-4.