Guy ‘\u009cNertZ’\u009d Iluz: <\/strong>On Nuke we played well overall, T side and CT side. Overpass I think still we were 9-6 on the CT side, they won the pistol round so, of course, they were starting 3-0. On [the] T side we started well, we made some mistakes at the start of the second half but after it, we knew what [was] going to work in the game.<\/p>\n BLIX: You guys ended the first day 0-2, a result not many expected. What were your thoughts and the talks inside the team coming into these elimination matches?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>We knew it was going to be tough games when it’\u0099s best-of-one because you don’\u0099t have room for mistakes. After the 0-2 we were a bit down, but after two hours we understood that it [was] going to be best-of-threes now and in best-of-three you should show that you can qualify for the Major, there are no excuses.<\/p>\n BLIX: It’\u0099s only your second appearance in the RMR Circuit, how’\u0099s the whole thing been so far? Do you feel some added pressure compared to playing in ESL Pro League? How does the team help you manage it?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>I would say it’\u0099s like another tournament, but it’\u0099s a Major, the last Major, of course, there will be pressure. For me, I need to perform in every tournament and that’\u0099s all.<\/p>\n BLIX: You played in Endpoint before transferring to ENCE, and your performances made you one of the most talked about players in the scene. Did you have any other offers that you were considering? Why did you finally decide on joining ENCE?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>I had a couple of teams that wanted me, but I always told my agent I wanted to join ENCE because I believe in the players and I believe in the organization. I was so happy when I found out I was joining ENCE!<\/p>\n BLIX: While playing for Endpoint, you had the chance to face tier-one teams at ESL Pro League. Do you feel like those experiences helped you during your transition to ENCE, a proper tier-one team?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>Yes, of course! When you do great damage in top-tier events, other top-tier teams will offer you, probably. This [came] out of it!<\/p>\n BLIX: You’\u0099ve been playing together for a little over two months. How’\u0099s it been in general? Have you been able to notice any differences compared to your time in Endpoint?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>Yeah, a big difference I would say. Role-wise, tactic-wise, I feel like in Endpoint we had a lot of freedom, we had a lot of defaults, while in ENCE we still have defaults but we also have a lot of set rounds, a lot of things we are doing by the book. I’\u0099m not saying we don’\u0099t have space on ENCE, I have a lot of freedom on ENCE, maybe more than Endpoint, but there is a lot of difference between the two.<\/p>\n BLIX: You’\u0099ve taken the next step in your career by joining ENCE and consistently competing internationally. Have you set any personal goals that you want to achieve this year, both with the team and individually<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>We talked about it, for me it is to win at least one big tournament in 2023, that is my goal.<\/p>\n BLIX: Since you’\u0099re new to the team, do you take every event as it comes and try to get used to this whole environment? How does it work for you<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>For me every tournament it’\u0099s kind of the same, because we’\u0099re not in any LAN in a group stage, you don’\u0099t have the fans. So it’\u0099s kind of the same, every tournament is kind of the same. I would say I should know how we’\u0099ll play in front of a crowd, this is the difference, but every tournament is the same for me until now.<\/p>\n BLIX: I spoke to Pavle “Maden” Bo\u00c5\u00a1kovi\u00c4\u0087 yesterday and he told me the vibe in the team is almost like a family. Is that something that maybe was not there in Endpoint? Have you felt a big difference in that regard?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>I mean in Endpoint we were kind of a family as well, in ENCE there is an insane atmosphere between the people. We’\u0099re open to mistakes, we know how to take criticism from each other and overall I feel like we’\u0099re a big family in ENCE as a team. In Endpoint as well we had a good relationship with each other.<\/p>\n BLIX: Valve released the CS2 beta quite recently. Have you been able to play it a little bit yet?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>Yeah, I played CS2 and I think it needs to have some changes made to the game. The only thing that I think is bad in CS2 is [that it is] like Valorant because the skill difference is [smaller]. The gap between the skill, for example, if you’\u0099re level one in FACEIT or level ten, is now between level 5 and level 10. I think CS2 didn’\u0099t change CS, they need to do some fixes but I like the game overall and I want to adapt to it already!<\/p>\n BLIX: Did CS2 meet your expectations of what Source 2 was going to be, and do you think it can at least match CS:GO’\u0099s level?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>I mean it would be better than CS:GO in my opinion, because there is still a lot of hype about CS2 and I feel it’\u0099s going to be crazy.<\/p>\n BLIX: The Paris Major and other events will still be CS:GO events, while I heard from Viktor “sdy” Orudzhev that EPL is going to be on CS2. How will you divide the time between CS:GO and CS2 moving forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>Obviously, they’\u0099re going to release CS2 during the player break, so instead of going on a vacation during the player break I should play CS2 the whole day! So it actually can be true that Pro League will change to CS2.<\/p>\n BLIX: Even though this would be your first Major, does it add a little bit of pressure knowing that this will be your first and last chance to get your name on the CS:GO Major trophy?<\/strong><\/p>\n NertZ: <\/strong>I feel like the pressure for me is there because I don’\u0099t have stickers yet, I haven’t qualified for a Major. So yeah, I want to get my stickers in the game, so it’\u0099s not just another tournament!<\/p>\nJoining ENCE<\/h2>\n
![\"NertZ](\"https:\/\/blix.gg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/b51ff6810f56a197.jpeg\")
NertZ is still relatively new to the ENCE family. Credit: BLAST\/Michal Konkol<\/span><\/div>\nNertZ on CS2<\/h2>\n