SAW have secured their place in the Esports World Cup Qualifier playoffs after claiming second in Group 3. The Portuguese squad sandwiched a defeat to DENDELE between victories over EAC in their opening matches.
This marks SAW's first LAN appearance since assembling their current roster last month. Captain Christopher "MUTiRiS" Fernandes acknowledges the team is still finding its rhythm and estimates it will take considerable time to reach peak performance.
"I think it'll take about three or four months to really get to a good level," the 33-year-old told HLTV following Saturday's action. "We've had to focus on six maps, and it's really hard. I know that story, jerkz, and I have played together for a long time, but the experiences we've had have given us different mindsets and different habits."
MUTiRiS rejoined SAW after an unsuccessful spell with BC.Game. He views the move as a necessary reset and believes he has the right pieces around him to succeed again. He specifically praised story's tactical contributions, noting their constant communication about approaches and strategies.
The roster features the core that reached the IEM Cologne 2024 semi-finals, though several players are returning from extended breaks. MUTiRiS himself took two to three months away from competition, while ewjerkz had an even longer hiatus.
"For me, a CS player has to be playing constantly," MUTiRiS explained. "In a matter of one or two months, the game is changing, whether it's the meta or the way the game is approached."
Regarding the playoffs, which feature 32 teams in a single-elimination format without seeding, MUTiRiS remains focused on improvement. He reflected on their loss to DENDELE, identifying specific moments where different decisions could have altered the outcome.
The captain expressed confidence in the roster's potential, noting that krazy's time with BCG helped him mature considerably. He identified NOPEEj as the player still adjusting to the pressure of top-level competition, calling it "completely normal" given the transition from Portuguese teams.
