r1nkle After G2 reach EWC Quarterfinal: "In a Way, Nothing Can Stop Me Right Now"

r1nkle After G2 reach EWC Quarterfinal: "In a Way, Nothing Can Stop Me Right Now"

Artem "r1nkle" Moroz played his first LAN event with G2 at the Esports World Cup and helped them beat Astralis in three maps to reach the quarterfinals. Speaking after the match, the Ukrainian AWPer was in a mood that matched his performance.

From Bench to Quarterfinal

Two months on NIP's bench followed a rough start to 2026. G2 came calling in June with an offer he described as a genuine surprise. "You can't just expect these things to happen, like a tier-1 team coming to you after you were benched," he said. His explanation for why he deserved it was typically direct: "I just worked hard when I got benched, so I think it's all good." He replaced SunPayus , with coach SAW explaining publicly that G2 wanted a more aggressive, active AWPer with time to become a more complete player than the Spaniard.

The Mentality Shift

r1nkle was candid about why NIP didn't work out. "I think I didn't have the right mentality over there," he said. "My mentality has become a lot stronger, and I have been working much harder." He acknowledged he's still learning G2's system and isn't claiming to be at 100%, but the direction is clear. "The things huNter- and SAW expect from me are clear. They want a more aggressive player, a more active player. And I am this player when I have the right mentality, and I have it right now. In a way, nothing can stop me right now. That's my feeling."

Enjoying Every Moment

The emotional high point of his interview wasn't about tactics or results. It was the walkout. "When the teams walked out, I could feel the people were supporting us a lot. It's amazing. You can't describe this feeling." After two months on a bench watching from the outside, the simplest parts of competing at a tier-1 LAN are hitting differently. "Life is good," he said. G2 now face FURIA Esports in the quarterfinals, and r1nkle's only stated goal for the rest of the season is to keep working hard and stay positive. That's a player who's found his footing.