Zeus: "We want to win"

With a 2-0 win against fnatic in the semi-final at the IEM6 Global Challenge Kiev, Natus Vincere advanced to the Grand Final, where they will be up against SK Gaming. We conducted an interview with Danylo "Zeus" Teslenko, to get his take on the win versus fnatic, the upcoming final and more.

Na`Vi has changed in-game leader, meaning Danylo "Zeus" Teslenko is now longer in the middle and will no longer be calling in-game. The former in-game leader showed great performance in the fragging-department in the semi-final against fnatic and was therefore chosen as the guy in the hot seat for our post match interview.

First of all, tell us how it is to not think about calling in-game anymore, but instead focusing on your individual play.

First of all I can say that I feel great now. I shouldn't worry about team strategies anymore. I am almost completely concentrated on my individual performance. Of course I do my best to help starix as he really lacks some team leading experience. Actually all of us help him and he's doing really well.

With starix now calling are there any significant changes in terms of playing or is it just the change of the in-game leader?

Of course we slightly changed some positions but overall it is the same. starix as a team leader now has to play on the helping position because he has to read the opponent all the time and to be on top of the game.

Yesterday when you found out that fnatic would be the team to play in the semis, what were your initial thoughts as to how you would win against them?

We were concerned about them, they are very experienced and skilled team. We faced them few times and realized it would not be a walk in the park for us. Due to their team leader they can adapt to their opponent by watching few key demos. Yet, we decided to keep our play style almost the same and do not change it, because we were confident in our shape and were sure in what we did.

Playing them on first map de_inferno, you managed to get a solid take on fnatic after they had won the pistol. It was noticeable you had the local fans in front of you showing their support, did that contribute to fighting back or what was in your opinion to why you won the first map?

We enjoy playing in the Kiev CyberSport Arena and respect our fans but as previous tournaments' experience can tell, it's much harder for us to play on our own ground. With so many people cheering for us we feel such a huge responsibility that sometimes our game goes pretty sloppy. Thanks god everything went fine this time and tomorrow we can face SK in the grand final of this magnificent tournament.

Second map de_tuscan you got a 9-6 lead after the Terrorists side and in the second half fnatic had no answer to your CT play. fnatic won versus you last time on this map, what did you do different this time in order to win?

We didn't change anything specific, just tweaked our current play style. Indeed, we play tuscan pretty solid and everyone who follows our performance knows it. Ages ago we put on tuscan instead of nuke and I'm really happy that stake paid off. Of course we won't stop working and improving ourselves.

Up next will be the final, which will be against SK Gaming. Expectations to this first final of 2012?

It will be very difficult but impressive match which, for sure, we want to win!

You beat SK at DreamHack Winter, does that mean you know exactly what you go up against tomorrow? Or do you believe SK have adapted to their eventual mistakes from last year?

We don't care at all what and how many tournaments we won or lost. It's 2012 and everything is clear so we will do our best to state ourselves. Of course I know what game should we expect from SK. Time will tell, as people say.

You qualified for this tournament via a last minute wildcard, now you have secured a top two finish, how important for you as a team is it that you are now qualified for the IEM6 World Championship?

It's a great honor for us to participate in the World Championship once again, moreover when we are going to defend our title once again. Yet it feels silly for me that last season champions didn't have an direct slot for the grand final, but maybe it was for good? I mean, knowing that we have a secured slot we might perform sloppy and could have lost. I'm glad that this story with a slot went fine for us.

I know you always have something to end an interview with, so I will let you have the final words.

Huge thanks to our sponsors SteelSeries, Antec, Kaspersky as well to all of my friends, parents, my brother Bogdan all of our fans on our official Facebook page and everywhere in the world, see you tomorrow!

Teslenko and Natus Vincere will tomorrow be facing SK Gaming in the final at the IEM6 Global Challenge Kiev, this match will be broadcasted by ESL TV from 11:00 .