Following Liquid's triumph against NRG at iBUYPOWER Masters fl0m's Mythical LAN 2026, Mario "malbsMd" Samoya sat down to share his thoughts on the match and the team's direction.
The Guatemalan rifler reflected on their performance, noting it wasn't as one-sided as it appeared. He expressed relief about closing out Dust2, where he personally delivered an outstanding performance with over 20 kills in regulation. This came after missing Logitech G Play Connect, where he watched his teammates struggle without him.
Regarding the roster changes that brought JT as IGL and Bulgarian AWPer Georgi "Jorko" Mitev to the squad, malbsMd praised JT's leadership while acknowledging Jorko's inexperience. He emphasized that the young sniper is still developing but shows promising flashes of brilliance.
The signing of Jorko surprised many, as he came from FOKUS rather than an established top team. However, malbsMd explained the limited pool of elite AWPers made taking a chance on a talented prospect the right move. He noted that while Jorko hasn't sought much advice, the veteran players are actively helping him grow, particularly EliGE.
MalbsMd highlighted a memorable moment where Jorko nearly forgot to defuse the bomb after a clutch play, getting so excited he stood up from his desk. This enthusiasm, he believes, contributes positively to the team atmosphere, especially with supportive North American crowds.
Looking ahead to PGL Singapore Major, the team's primary goal is advancing past Stage One after failing to do so previously. Making playoffs would be considered a success.
With NRG eliminated, malbsMd expressed confidence about Liquid's chances at the event, stating that as the biggest organization present, reaching the final is the minimum expectation.
