Counter-Strike: KODE5: aTTaX.approx and emuLate.BoZo talk

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NEWS

By Elke 'Binteh' Mahy

May 6, 2009 20:16

With KODE5 Global Finals coming this weekend, teams are preparing for what will be, with no doubt, a great event. BoZo from emuLate and approx from Team Alternate discuss KODE5 and their expectations and worries.

As KODE5 Global Finals approaches speculations as to who deserves to, or could win, perhaps one of the most important tournaments of this year, have started. We have barely had the time to wind down after watching some interesting matches from ESWC Masters Cheonan that we are, this weekend, facing another great tournament with great games in store.

I took the time to talk to Raphael "BoZo" Bonstein, the CS Manager of emuLate and Manuel 'approx' Zeitz from Team ALTERNATE , who both will participate at the KODE5 Global Finals, about their expectations, worries and preparation.

emuLate are the winners of KODE5 France where they easily beat most opponents and were seen in great shape. Unfortunately, last year they were unable to attend due to the player Mickael 'mSx' Cassisi having problems to obtain a visa. This year however they will show up to represent France in Russia as they are soon picking up their visa all together.

Raphael "BoZo" Bonstein talks KODE5, the reason beyond the teams inconsistency and Team ALTERNATE .

"Alternate has shown some very nice things recently, they are going to be tough opponents..."

What is your opinion on the KODE5 Global Finals perhaps not drawing seeds and the risk of entering a "Group of Death"? Even though this has not yet been confirmed.

BoZo: Well of course it's sad to see groups of death, but to win an event you have to be the best from the beginning to the end of it. About our team,the E.M. made us a good overview of what is "Group of Death", we'll see how the event goes on, praying we won't have any! Group of deaths is also a good thing for spectators, as they have different cool matches happening that would not happen if the poul would be fully balanced. We cannot blame the admins, it's always tough to make seeds. We'll see...

You seem to be in top shape after easily winning KODE5 France with 16-9 and 16-3 against aAa. However, at the EM III continental finals you closely lost to Team ALTERNATE and MYM, now WICKED eSports , do you think they will cause a problem again or are you well prepared?

BoZo: Alternate has shown some very nice things recently, they are going to be tough opponents. Wicked is also a team we always had trouble against. We prepared the tournament as we always prepare it, and we'll see how it will pay this time. Concerning the Kode5 France, it was long time ago, like october or something. We'll see if the Kode5 mood will keep on going for the Global final. Personally, I just hope we'll give spectators a good game. Let the best team win!

Your team has been a team known for having one of the most stable line-ups, however, your results differ drastically depending on events where sometimes the team is playing mind-blowingly good and then seen crashing down at the next event. Why do you think this is and where do you think your situated at the moment, are you confident or not?

"I just hope Moscow will adopt us..."

BoZo: Well. This year hasn't been a year full of international events for us. We came back to the Extreme Masters after like 8 months of international inactivity. I wouldn't be able to locate us compared to the other teams, as things are moving quite fast nowadays. You have to know that we're all students and we try to juggle between gaming and studies. As a consequence, we cannot train as hard for every event as we would like to. I just hope Moscow will adopt us, like all the russian girls would like to adopt our passports!

Team ALTERNATE is perhaps one of Germans finest gems recently. They do not create a big wave but have shown consistently good results and top of the range playing, they are definitely not to be underestimated. They were the winners of KODE5 Germany after making an amazing comeback from the lower bracket and defeating Mousesports twice in the final.

Manuel 'approx' Zeitz tells us more on the teams confidence and expectations for the KODE5 Grand Final this weekend.

Everyone seems to be a bit angry at the fact that Kode5 might not draw seeds and thus make unbalanced groups such as we have seen at ESWC Masters in Cheonan. Is this something you have taken into consideration and fear or are you pretty confident towards anyone you might meet in group stage, if there is any?

"The first placed team will be the best of all but the rest 2nd and 3rd are depending on the luck of the draw..."

approx: The Kode5-Admins told us that we aren't playing a Groupstage. There are only 16 Teams as far as i know and the tourney starts directly with a single-elemination best of three bracket. So in that fact we all think in the end of the tournament arent the best teams in the top5, of course the first placed team will be the best of all but the rest 2nd and 3rd are depending on the luck of the draw at beginning and if you have bad luck with the cointoss in the map decision as well, you might be not under the top5. We all like the double-elemination system. In this system the best two teams are surely in the final.

You beat mousesports twice in the KODE5 German Regional Final in March, coming from the lower bracket, if you were to face mouz again do you believe history could repeat itself, or after their recent performance at ESWC are you a little be wary as to what could happen?

"I think we can beat mousesports again, because they arent in the best condition right now."

approx: Just now I think we can beat mousesports again, because they arent in the best condition right now. On the other hand they played the tournament in South Korea 3 days ago. They placed 3rd but they had the luck of the draw as i told before. Further Mousesports could be a bit tired of the travelling and i think we are still their most feared opponent. ;) So i think its a 60-40 percent chance for us to win that battle again!

So you believe that the teams that participated at the ESWC Master Cheonan will have a tougher time due to the traveling troubles or "jetlag" giving you and other teams that didn't participate at the Masters event a little advantage?

approx: I guess it will be a little advantage for us but not that big that they cant show their a-game.

Is there anyone you're not looking forward to playing or fear could be a problem for you?

approx: mTw isn't our loveliest enemy. They play very clever and any one of them could be a monster on the server. SK Gaming is almost on the same level as mTw and one of our hardest opponent.

All in all, no matter what the group-stage, seed or single elimination is, KODE5 Global Challenge in Russia this weekend is surely going to be a great event. All the teams participating will be giving their sweat and tears into the upcoming games which most probably will reserve a suprise or two.