Christopher 'GeT_RiGhT' Alesund discusses SK Gaming 's chances with stand-in dennis for the IEM V World Championship Finals and considers the success of his former team, fnatic, at the European Finals.

What is your assessment of what went wrong for SK Gaming at the IEM V European Championship Finals?

We did, most of all, the most stupid thing ever. Not even thinking about the game against MYM, which ended up us with losing 3-16. We were focusing so much on the games against FX and mTw that we didn't have the right mindset against MYM which cost us the relegation match/playoffs, we were also not in the thinking ways of the game. Like having just CS, CS and CS in our minds against MYM. That sums up pretty much everything for us there, we had practised a lot, we had pretty much what we needed for the tournament but it ended up badly for us there.

When did you find out allen would be unavailable for the World Championships? Why did you pick dennis as his replacement?

Allen came, I think it was Wednesday last week or something and said he cannot attend the tournament, he said that he cannot play really for the moment because of his sickness he's having and that's sad for us when we had focused with Allen for a week or so for IEM. We had canceled the WGF tournament just to focus on IEM. I hope you will get better Jimmy! So we haven't been playing so much with Dennis, but it feels good now with him and I think he's the perfect stand-in for Allen.

Why we took Dennis, is that we think he's a great player and he was pretty much what we wanted out there. Dennis is a calm player who listens a lot to what others say and he's an amazing aim player and also team player. As many people know he hasn't been to so many international tournaments, but I think it will just go fine with him as it would be with us playing with Jimmy.

With such high expectations on SK Gaming for the European Finals a similar amount of pressure would have been expected for this event. Now that the team is attending without allen some people may give the team a free pass if you don't place highly since you don't have your proper lineup. What are your expectations for the team and do you feel as though your chances of progressing from the group stage have changed?

I don't think that we "deserve" this, so to speak, free card. I think we should be treated like any other team out there. Sure, it sucks really much to not have Allen there with us. But Dennis, is a really good player and I think he can shine with us there at the event. If we're just looking at the practise we had with Dennis, we have a pretty big chance to get out of the group, which is
called "The group of Death" and make a decent position at the tournament.

I joined fnatic in 2009 with Gux, two weeks before this tournament and we ended up winning it. So anything can happen on any given Sunday so to speak :) But I just hope that the fans, the community and our organization does know that we are fighting with our own lives right now to prove to ourselves and you guys that we have what it takes to win.

What is your assessment of fnatic's title winning performance in Kiev? Are they the best team in the world right now?

Maybe they are, maybe not. I cannot say anything about that really to be honest, I am glad for them winning just because of all the things that people wrote in the community about my former team. That's pretty much what I can say about them, but I hope and pray for another story that hopefuly will come true on the first of March 2011 :)

Na`Vi's 4th place finish in Kiev was a surprise to many since they were the favourites. Why do you think Na`Vi struggled to find their championship form and what do you expect from them now?

I think they have practised enough this time and will come back even stronger, I heard that starix came home 10 days before Kiev tournament and that Zeus was sick for some days. So maybe that was the reason :) But of course I want to see them lose so they can switch places, with us 1st and them 7-8th place :P But you never know. Beers from my side this time ceh9 at least :D

Lions were a round away from an automatic top 4 placing in Kiev. Do you have a specific feeling on how they'll do at this tournament?

I think they will play better this time than last time in Kiev, I know for example they didn't play so much for that event. I know for a fact that they are bootcamping already for this event and playing as much as they can, they will be prepared enough for this tournament than last time I think.

project_kr (redCode) and EG have both undergone a lineup change so what do you think of them for this event?

They will play as good as normal I think, sure lurppis was one of the things that made EG good as they are today. He came with good ideas and a newer game mind than they had before. So maybe that will affect them, I don't know. Termi was a good player but I think that enemy is a great player to add to their team. They will play like normal even with their "changing organization thing" on their mind :)

In 2009 you won the IEM World Championships with fnatic and in 2010 you came in as the favourites and finished runnersup. How do you personally feel about where your career is right now?

I feel pretty safe where I am right now, I'm having more things on my mind sure, but I like the things I am having on my mind right now and I think it will make the scene look better for me as a Player and role model. As a Player, I feel more "alive" and like the challanges we are heading against. Our chances are good if you ask me, based on how it went in practise at least.

When you and f0rest left fnatic a lot of people saw it as the "star players" leaving the team. However, since fnatic won the IEM European Finals there have been opinions floating around that cArn and dsn were the real core of fnatic's success, perhaps even over someone like f0rest. How do you see this situation?

Maybe they are, maybe not. But I wouldn't count out f0rest as far as what the real core was. He helped make fnatic what it is today and I think that fnatic feels the same for it. But on the thing about me, "one of the star players of fnatic". I would NEVER, EVER, say that I am a "Star" or "One of the Stars" from fnatic. I see myself as one of the former players in fnatic. Sure I made my name there but I don't see myself as one of the stars that people were talking about.

mTw and FX, favourites of Group A, both had strong performances in Kiev so what do you think of their level going into this event and would you like a rematch against either?

Yeah, I would like to rematch mTw on train or on any other maps after what happened there. We had 13-2 as CT on train and managed to give the win over to mTw, but ended up with a tie at least. But still it was really bad play from us there and I think they feel the same, that we "had" the game. But we gave it away there. Against FX, I think we could have been playing better but we lost it and nothing more about it, just hope it will be a different story next time we meet, against both of those teams.

The level they are on right now is really high and I think they are playing like "maniacs" to win this tournament and that's the right spirit! :)

Final thoughts?

My final thoughts is that, I hope the community, our fans and SK of course are believing in us. If there is no belief, there will not be a winning SK team or similar, also this tournament. I will fight with my heart, with my feelings, my happiness and sadness. There will be tears, there will be joy and will be laughter/smiles from my side, be sure there will!


SK Gaming is placed in Group B for the IEM V World Championship Finals. SK Gaming will be on location at the event to provide up-to-date coverage for the community.