Dust2.us Editor-in-Chief caught up with Mario “malbsMd” Samoya after his facet defeated NRG within the group stage on the iBUYPOWER Masters fl0m’s Legendary LAN 2026.
Liquid’s Guatemalan commented on the workforce’s new signings, the prospects of younger AWPer Georgi “Jorko” Mitev, and Liquid’s expectations each at this occasion and the Main.
Discover the video interview beneath with a full transcription beneath. All questions and solutions have been barely edited for size and readability.
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Great showing for you guys over one of the top teams in this event. How are you feeling coming out of that dominating series?
It feels good, I wouldn’t say dominating. It was a little bit close. Thank god we closed Dust2 because it would have been harder on Nuke. On Mirage, I had a really good map so I’m feeling really happy that I got to show off my potential.
You did have a fantastic map there. I think you ended with something like upper 20s or even 30 kills in regulation after missing Logitech G Play Connect. Was it hard for you to sit on the sidelines and see your team miss the playoffs and struggle without you?
Yeah, it sucks. I wish I could have been there with them. I know if I went, we would have made it to playoffs. That’s just how things went. I hope we make things better for the next tournaments.
Overall, It’s been a good period for Liquid in this new era with JT as the IGL and Jorko. How have things changed in the team since making those roster changes? Do you think the mood has better in the team right now? Do you think that’s leading to a better level of play?
I cannot judge the other guys because I came into a really dead Liquid. From now, I can say that JT is a great leader and I’m happy to be playing under him. Jorko is just a kid; he still needs to learn. I’m happy to see him shining sometimes and being happy overall.
Jorko was a surprise signing, people weren’t expecting Liquid to go for a Bulgarian AWPer whose top team to date was FOKUS. Were you surprised by that pickup? What was your initial reaction to him?
I wasn’t really surprised. I saw him playing against JT before. There aren’t many AWPers in the scene to be picky about who we want to choose. I think it was just a good prodigy that we took a chance on, and I think he’s doing well.
Like you mentioned, He’s still young, unrefined, but a good start to his period with Liquid. It wasn’t too long ago that you were one of the new kids on the block coming from a lesser-represented country. In that regard, have you been able to give him any advice based on your own experiences as a rookie called up to a big team?
He hasn’t really come up to me asking those kinds of questions, but I’m trying to teach him what I’ve learned over the years in CS. I’m trying my best to help him. I think everyone is, mostly EliGE. I was a kid as well years ago; I’m just trying to help him.
That’s good to hear. Being an AWPer, like you say, there aren’t many who can perform at a true tier one level. It’s probably one of the most highly scrutinized positions in the game. If you’re not a m0NESY-level player, everyone is like, “You’re shit.” Do you think it’s good for [Jorko] to be in entrance of this NA crowd the place individuals are actually ecstatic and cheering for him?
He had a very good second at this time. He received a spherical, after which he began shouting; he even stood up from the desk and the whole lot. He was really going to overlook the defuse. He is simply having enjoyable, and that is the benefit of it. Being right here in an NA crowd is sweet as a result of everybody goes to assist him.
I did see that. I believe we noticed on the digicam the place one in all you guys stated, “No, Jorko, you continue to should defuse the bomb and I believe his hand was even shaking a bit as a result of he was so amped up from that. It does appear so as to add to a extra optimistic setting within the workforce.
With that, you are fairly positive at this level you are going to be going to Singapore. In comparison with a few of the different Majors the place expectations are decrease, what are the expectations in Liquid for PGL Singapore?
Hopefully make it previous Stage One, as a result of final Main we did not. That is the primary expectation. Each time you make the Main, you simply wish to make the playoffs, after which it is even higher for those who win it. One of the best factor that might occur is making the playoffs.
Again to FML, I believe individuals assumed it was both going to be one in all you, M80, or NRG within the finals. Having now taken down NRG, how do you are feeling about your probabilities at this LAN? Are you feeling a giant sense of confidence to take FML 2?
We should always, proper? We are the greatest org right here, so our expectations are to no less than be within the closing.
Liquid would go on to defeat NRG as soon as once more within the semifinals and at the moment are slated to face off with Wildcard within the closing at FML at this time at 05:30PM.