Mezii: I just want to be a good role model for British CS players
William Merriman | mezii has enjoyed an undefeated run since joining Vitality, claiming victory in both international tournaments the team participated in, marking an incredible start.
As one of the best players in British CS history, mezii shared his feelings after the final match in an interview:
Q: This is your second appearance representing Vitality, and your second trophy since joining the team. How does it feel?
mezii: It's been an incredible journey, but we're not going to stop here. We played with a lot of confidence, and everyone contributed. As I said yesterday, teammates stepping up and carrying the team at crucial moments has been amazing team performance.
Q: Your performance in the BLAST Premier Fall Finals might not have been the best within the team, but here you had the best performance overall. Is this due to feeling more comfortable within the team?
mezii: Yes, it's clear these were two different matches; one wasn't great, but the other was a recovery. I feel like I need to find stability now, and the only way to do that is through consistent practice and participating in more games with the team. But I feel much better about it now.
Q: Can you talk about the two maps in the final? How did it feel?
mezii: Every time we face FaZe, things tend to get chaotic, and sometimes it doesn't go as planned. For instance, on Inferno, it was a bit tough at the start, but we held on with resilience and performed exceptionally well on the attacking side after the switch. Overall, our strategies on both T-sides of the two maps were very effective, and apEX knew how to utilize them. Our team maintained excellent communication and individual abilities, which greatly contributed to winning the game.
Q: After the match, many felt it wasn't a close contest. Did you feel this during the game?
mezii: From my perspective, everyone put in a lot of effort, and so did the other teams. But my teammates are currently in an explosive state, fighting together with unity, so we feel confident against most teams. Our coordination outside the game is excellent, and pre-game preparation is methodical. So, there's indeed a slight gap, as we are more confident.
Q: Personally, you had the highest rating within the team before the final, but ZywOo surpassed you in the end and grabbed the MVP award. Does that disappoint you?
mezii: Not at all. Everyone knows ZywOo is the one who will get the MVP, even if I performed well before the final, I wouldn't mind him overtaking me in the end. Winning is the most important thing, and if he can explode and lead us to victory, why not? I don't mind at all.
Q: Are the two tournaments you attended with Vitality more successful than you anticipated?
mezii: Yes, I never thought we would win both tournaments and have a winning streak. This is everything I hoped for, and we must carry this confidence and momentum into next year. For me, it's always been a very good conclusion. Even before I joined, this team had an amazing year, so ending 2023 like this feels great.
Q: As the first British player since the CS: Source era to achieve such success, what does it mean to you?
mezii: I think it's great, but it's not something I consider. I just want to be a good role model for British CS players. If they need any help, I'll assist as much as I can. My DMs are always open to everyone, and I try to help players as much as possible. Hopefully, more players will emerge in the future, but for now, it feels great to be at the top as a British player.
