HooXi Long Interview: "The idea of "NiKo dictatorship" is the biggest joke"

In 2023, HooXi led G2 to win the dual championships of IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, but G2 struggled to win in other competitions, which led to criticism from the community.

G2's performance in IEM Dallas has added fuel to the fire of HooXi's situation. They won the championship trophy with substitute Jake Yip | Stewie2K . This has made the fans realize that even without HooXi, G2 can still win championships.

Shortly after being demoted from G2, HooXi accepted an interview with HLTV, discussing many internal details of the team during his two years of service, as well as the addition of Janusz Pogorzelski | Snax , his future plans, and other topics.

Below is the original interview:

Q: How did you feel when you were told that you would be demoted? Were you sad? Or to some extent, relieved?

HooXi : My first feeling was definitely disappointment. When I was in London, they informed me that the team was exploring other options, but at that time everything was not yet conclusive. I still had a glimmer of hope that since this matter had been dragging on for so long, there might still be a turn of events.

Q: After Nemanja Isaković | nexa was kicked out for a few days, G2 announced that you were also being demoted. Everyone was saying that G2 would sign Mario Samayoa | malbsMd . Were you still in the team at that time? Did you plan the future of the team together, or did they ask for your opinion on the malbsMd situation?

HooXi : As far as I know, I was still a possibility to stay. I was asked about my opinion on nexa, but other than that, nothing was asked.

Q: What were you thinking when you saw the team win the championship in IEM Dallas without you? Did you think something like, "I might be in trouble?"

HooXi : I was only thinking about one thing, and that is to help the players achieve the best results possible. Before and during the majority of the Dallas event, I was working as hard as usual. Maybe some people would say that it's like digging my own grave, but when I have been with this team for a long time, the players have become like family to me, and I won't exclude myself.

Q: What do you think of Snax replacing you? He is an experienced player (maybe not as experienced as a captain), and he has stronger firepower. Considering that he has just taken over as captain, what kind of results do you think the team will achieve?

HooXi : I don't know much about Snax as a commander, but he and Wiktor Wojtas | TaZ are both Polish, so there might be some good chemistry between them, which could lead to a good start. It's difficult to analyze this separately because malbsMd replacing nexa is also a big change.

Q: With malbsMd joining, people are discussing their positional conflicts. Do you feel the same way?

HooXi : I haven't talked to the team about malbsMd's situation, nor have I talked to him personally. I have no idea about their plans.

Q: How would you describe your time in G2? Is there anything that makes you feel regretful or makes you want to go back to the past? For example, the map selection during the Major?

HooXi : During my time in G2, I often felt like I was on a roller coaster. Actually, I don't regret it because I have been working hard and doing my best for the past two years. Looking back, I think I could have done better in many aspects, but I don't feel regretful. The results didn't come as desired, but I gained valuable experience from it.

Q: Would everything have been different if you had won the Copenhagen Major?

HooXi : No doubt. That's why the Major is so special. If we had won the Copenhagen Major, the lineup would have remained intact until the next Major.

Q: There is a saying that as the captain, you did not arrange the positions of NiKo and m0NESY well, and the victory in Dallas just proved this point. What do you think about this?

HooXi : Really? I have never heard of such saying. People like NiKo are very easy to work with. He will offer suggestions and ideas, and you just need to pick from them. It's more like a cooperation, rather than me unilaterally paving the way for his success. Cooperation with m0NESY is also easy, but in a different way, you need to unleash him. If you put such players in a strict system and shackle them, they will still be excellent, but not outstanding. I think as he grows, he will take on more responsibility, maybe influenced by the English environment, he sometimes retreats (in terms of communication).

Q: Now that this chapter of your career has ended, how do you view the criticism from the outside world? Do you think it's unfair? How does this negative feedback affect you on and off the field?

HooXi : I think some of the criticisms are reasonable, but sometimes attacking me seems to have become a trend. I believe that in the new version of CS, considering the roles and playstyles, my personal level is not much different from many other commanders. I don't think my level is a big problem in this team. Before EPL, I was improving my level all the time, but after that, I found it difficult to perform better.

After winning the BLAST Global Finals championship, topping the group stage, and winning the IEM Katowice championship, I realized that if I didn't gain recognition during this period, I would never be recognized—they all say that this team can achieve these results with any commander. When I realized this, I no longer considered the community's evaluation as important.

Q: There is a saying in the community that G2 is NiKo's team, and everything has to go through him. But from what I know, he is one of your most supportive players. Is this evaluation accurate? Can you reveal what he said after you were demoted?

HooXi : I hope everyone understands that the idea of "NiKo dictatorship" is the biggest joke. He does express his opinions, or you can say he is not the kind of person who stays silent in the background. However, there is a big difference between being able to express ideas and turning ideas into reality. So, in response to your question, this view is quite ridiculous.

After I received the news that I might be demoted in London, I talked to him, as well as everyone else in the team. Although I received some feedback, I didn't get an answer as to why I was demoted.

Q: I want to ask about some things Stewie2K said. He said that some players seemed to disrespect TaZ, and the atmosphere within the team was tense. Players would not openly discuss the issues at hand. Did you feel this too?

HooXi : The problem of not being able to speak freely has been there since the day I joined the team. I tried to push for some team discussions and encourage everyone to speak freely, but unfortunately, it was never a priority. In the end, I think this issue was also one of the important reasons why I was benched.

As for TaZ, I believe that everyone should respect him. From a player's career perspective, he is outstanding and a living legend. But as a coach, he is still a rookie. At first, I thought he was doing well. But later on, I felt that the focus of his work in the team changed, and we never really got back on track. I really wished I could have been involved in the changes (in the team).

Q: Speaking of your future, what kind of team are you looking for? Do you think you will find a new team quickly or do you have to wait more? Because the news of your demotion was announced in the late off-season.

HooXi : I think it's really difficult to find a new team immediately because G2's decision came too late. I will try to see it as an opportunity to improve myself, both in and out of the game, as it is challenging for professional players to achieve a good balance in life, especially as a commander. At least so far, that's how I have been doing it.

Q: Are you willing to join a team that is lower in rank than G2? A team that is not in the top ten in the world, or may not win championships?

HooXi : My primary goal is to win games and achieve good results. I can't say for sure if I have options, but I have been benched before, so stepping back can open up new horizons.

Q: What requirements do you have for the next team?

HooXi : As a person, as a player, I have some very important values, and I hope to find a team that shares the same values as me. It's not to say that I didn't have these in G2, but I believe this is what I need to show my best self in the future. I am looking for a team that prioritizes hard work, honesty, and sacrifice for the team. I want every teammate to be able to see the effort I put in, and I have always been striving to improve the team. When the whole team has the same mentality, sparks will ignite.

In terms of style, my goal is to combine the playstyle I like with the strengths of my teammates. I prefer a looser playstyle where players don't have to shoulder too much individual responsibility. Our goal is to reach a consensus on how to deal with various situations so that everyone can freely exhibit their subjective initiative. But at the same time, to achieve this, you need a complete team that gives their all every day. Therefore, in summary, the most important thing may be to find a team that is as hopeful and ambitious as me, and I still have a lot to prove.

Q: Are there any goals that you haven't achieved yet?

HooXi : I still have a lot to do, or you can say that almost everything hasn't started yet. On paper, the highest honor a CS team can achieve is winning the Major and the Grand Slam.

For me, there are still many personal goals, so I have a lot of motivation, hoping that I can show my abilities as soon as possible.