magic secured fourth place at the Astana tournament, earning spots at BLAST Bounty and EWC, yet keeping that level of play has been tough. A prolonged break hurt the roster's sharpness, says Nikita "tenzy" Kochenyuk, who considers the squad worthy of top 20 status but admits consistency remains elusive.
Arriving in Suzhou for FISSURE Playground 3 as FUT's stand-in, tenzy talked about the team discussions that transformed an 0-2 deficit in Astana into a playoff run. He pointed to the players' openness with their emotions on stage as a confidence catalyst, though emphasized more practice time together is essential to recover peak performance.
Despite magic finishing top 16 at EWC, tenzy earned an EVP award. He first learned about it during an IEM Beijing closed qualifier match, but the honor didn't change his focus. "Team success means more to me than personal achievements," he stated clearly.
Reflecting on Astana, tenzy explained how crucial conversations after two opening losses sparked a turnaround. Each victory built more belief, making the team realize they could compete with nearly anyone outside the absolute elite tier. The playoff run showed them that expressing emotions freely, both to teammates and the crowd, unlocked another level of confidence.
The long break before BLAST proved damaging. Without seeing each other or maintaining physical presence together, the roster's in-game sharpness suffered noticeably. At EWC they began rebuilding form through extended practice and communication, reaching the playoffs and showing gradual improvement.
Regarding current standing, tenzy places magic firmly in the top 20 bracket, though he acknowledges that achieving true consistency takes time. At this tournament, the squad doesn't consider themselves favorites. Their approach centers on executing their style, believing playoff spots must be earned rather than expected.
For the season's second half, tenzy shares the universal ambition of reaching the Major, but frames it differently. Rather than fixating on qualification itself, he wants the team playing at their best and dedicating maximum effort. If they earn it through quality performance, the Major spot will follow naturally.
