M80 saw their ESL Pro League Season 24 campaign end yesterday following a round five defeat to Spirit in the Swiss Stage. While the team's performance in Katowice showed mixed results—with victories only against TYLOO and a Legacy squad missing their regular player—rifler Joshua JBa Barutt maintains strong belief in their Major prospects.
In a conversation with Dust2 Brasil, JBa reflected on the Spirit matchup. He acknowledged Dust2 was rough and deserved the loss, but felt Cache was winnable. Multiple advantageous situations slipped away in questionable fashion, and securing that map would have set them up comfortably for Mirage.
Regarding their overall EPL showing, JBa believes M80 demonstrated solid form. He pointed to consistent performance throughout the season at tier-two events and online competitions as proof of their capabilities. The close match against Legacy, despite the stand-in situation, came down to potential unpreparedness for their style, though JBa felt most situations remained under control.
Mirage proved particularly problematic, with M80 going winless on the map during the event. However, JBa remains convinced it can become one of their strongest maps with proper practice and minor adjustments before the Major.
Looking ahead to Singapore, JBa's confidence hasn't wavered. He emphasized their entire season has been strong, and while playoffs would have been preferable, the Katowice performance wasn't disastrous. With a break and European bootcamp planned before the Major, M80 will have time to refine their approach and address any remaining issues.
