Alliance's journey at FISSURE Playground 3 came to an abrupt end in the quarter-finals, where MIBR dispatched the Swedish squad in a convincing 2-0 series in Suzhou.
Jonatan "bobeksde" Persson, the team's recent recruit, didn't mince words when analyzing the defeat. He admitted the squad felt unprepared and lacked the assertiveness needed to compete against the seasoned Brazilian roster. The experience gap showed as MIBR controlled the pace throughout both maps.
Despite the disappointing finish, Alliance can take positives from their group stage performance. Wins against FaZe, TYLOO, and magic earned them crucial VRS points, strengthening their position in the race toward the Singapore Major qualification.
When asked about the team's shortcomings against MIBR, bobeksde pointed to a lack of proactive play. The Swedish rifler noted they simply weren't in the right mindset to compete at that level.
Currently sitting 15th in the VRS rankings, Alliance remains optimistic about their Major aspirations. Bobeksde emphasized that qualifying remains the primary objective, though he stressed the importance of treating each tournament with equal seriousness rather than fixating solely on the Major.
With several smaller LAN competitions on the horizon, the Swede expressed confidence in the team's ability to secure victories, crediting their experience from recent Chinese tournaments as valuable preparation.
Regarding the team's structure, bobeksde praised Alliance's stability and support system. He highlighted the squad's strengths, including a skilled AWPer and an inventive in-game leader backed by a solid rifling foundation.
Interestingly, Alliance employs an unconventional coaching setup. While Hawk handles analytical work, Pontus serves as performance coach during matches, focusing primarily on keeping players mentally composed rather than providing tactical input.
