Blast Premier World Final feature: Team G2’s Taz talks tough Lessons, fresh faces, and staying hungry

(This interview was conducted on 29 October, 2024, before Blast World Finals kicked off)

After a busy few months of tournaments, boot camps, and intense practice sessions, Team G2 has touched down in Singapore, ready for fresh challenges. Taz, the team's coach, opened up about their journey so far, the ups and downs they've faced, and how they plan to tackle the upcoming matches.

Meeting Taz and the rest of Team G2 here in Singapore at a media roundtable interview, the buzz of excitement and determination was unmistakable. Even though they arrived late, the team had already settled in well. Taz seemed amazed by how much Singapore had changed since he was last here 16 years ago. "A lot has changed, but for the best," he said with a smile. "We got in late but still managed to grab some food and check out a bit of the nightlife – it was impressive."

The team came straight to Singapore from a boot camp in Belgrade. "We were bootcamping in Belgrade, so we came straight from there," Taz explained. The boot camp had been crucial in their prep for two major events this year. It also followed what Taz called a "tough exit" in Rio. "We lost focus after winning the Blast Spring Finals," Taz admitted, his voice tinged with a bit of frustration. "I could understand where some of the players were coming from. In a way, it’s for the best because now we’re gearing up for the most important events of the year."

The Rio challenges, and their subsequent boot camp in Belgrade, highlighted just how tough it can be to stay sharp mentally with non-stop travel and constant high-stakes matches. Taz talked a lot about the importance of staying consistent and hungry, especially when you want to stay at the top. "It’s not that the players didn’t want to win; it was more about always being hungry," he shared. "After winning an event, you can lose that hunger. But for teams like NaVi, who keep going from final to final, that’s the consistency we’re striving for."

G2 has the talent, no doubt, especially with the recent additions of Snax and Malbs. But Taz was clear that building chemistry takes time. "We’ve only been playing with this lineup for three and a half months. If you look at teams like NaVi, they won a major after six months. We’re in a good spot, but it’s about staying ready, avoiding complacency, and fighting for every round," he said.

Despite the short time this group has had together, the bond among the players seems strong. It’s clear they’re focused on learning and improving, even if it means revisiting some tough lessons from past tournaments. "For me, the mindset has to be consistent," Taz continued. "Approach every game with the same intensity, regardless of the stage. If you only give your all in certain events, that’s when mistakes happen."

One of the biggest challenges G2 will face here in Singapore is Team Liquid (spoil alert: they and NaVi were both knocked out). Taz had plenty of respect for them, noting that they're still early in their lineup's development but have already shown serious potential. "They’re definitely hungry," he said. "They have players like Yekindar, who can be unpredictable – sometimes he’s aggressive and has an off game, but other times he performs incredibly well, and there’s not much you can do about it." G2 will have to be fully prepped to minimise giving away any easy opportunities.

When I asked about their approach to the double elimination format and their biggest opposition, Taz was careful but confident. "Honestly, I think our biggest challenge right now is Team Liquid," he said. "We take it one game at a time, and every team here is dangerous. It's not just about the team but understanding their play style, and that’s what we need to prepare for."

We also touched on the criticism Taz has faced since stepping into his role as G2's coach. He’s well aware of the sky-high expectations that come with the position. "The important thing to understand is that I’m still a rookie coach – this is my first year," he admitted. "Joining G2 was always going to be a big challenge. There were bound to be some hiccups at the start, but I’d rather take the criticism myself if it means the players aren’t affected. I’m experienced enough to deal with it, and I know there’s only room to grow from here."

Despite all this, Taz remains optimistic and future-focused. He’s embraced the high-pressure environment, saying, "G2 is an organisation that’s here to win trophies, not just participate. We’re not just trying things—we’re here to win." The hunger to succeed is obvious, and Taz’s commitment to keeping the right mindset might just be what pushes Team G2 to their next big victory.

Team G2 faces Vitality in today's Semi-Final 1 playoff at 16:30 SGT.