9z buda: “We are happy to be in playoffs not for being the only one from LATAM but just being in the tournament”

Latin America’s 9z Team sent shockwaves throughout the Counter-Strike scene when they punch a ticket to advance to the playoffs for ESL Pro League Season 18 after defeating Chinese team 5yclone 2-1 in the final advancement match from Group C. Not only that, 9z bested North America’s M80 and Europe’s Apeks en route to the playoffs, thus completing one of the most unlikeliest runs to ever grace the Pro League main stage.

Ahead of 9z’s upcoming playoff series against Virtus.pro, Fragster talked to Nicolás “buda” Kramer for an interview on the team’s performance in the group stage of Pro League Season 18, what made their recent string of wins possible, his transition from being a member of 9z Academy to the main roster, and more.

9z buda on reaching ESL Pro League Season 18 playoffs

Pedro Romero, Fragster: 9z Team became the first Latin American team to qualify for playoffs in Pro League. After beating 5yclone in that final match of the group, what was going through your mind when that accomplishment set in for you and the rest of the team?

Nicolás “buda” Kramer: We were really happy. I think we don’t mind if we were the only team Latin American team to qualify for playoffs. We are happy to be in playoffs but not for being the only one from LATAM but rather just being in the tournament. That is all at the moment.

Fragster: Although you guys started your group with two losses to FaZe Clan and Imperial Esports, you guys were able to take down M80, Apeks, and the aforementioned 5cyclone to qualify for playoffs. What made it possible within the team to make those results possible?

buda: We reset our minds. We weren’t thinking a lot about ourselves so after the first two losses, we said that we needed to think in ourselves and play and have fun so that’s all.

Fragster: So you guys didn’t focus much on just the gameplay. You just focused on your mentality, right? 

buda: Yes. We didn’t focus that much in the games we played, but within our team, we did think a lot on that.

Fragster: I want to go back to the importance and what this means to not, just this team, but to Latin American Counter*Strike. What do you think this means to the development of LATAM CS?

buda: I think it’s great. I came from Academy and it’s like–I don’t know how to say but it does mean quite a bit to the region.

Transitioning from 9z Academy to the main roster

Fragster: You mentioned about your time in Academy with 9z before getting called up to the main team. You’ve been in the main roster for a year now so what was the biggest thing that you had to change within yourself since joining the main team from Academy?

buda: When I was picked up from Academy, I was the IGL and they changed for so many roles. I was rotator and now I observe and hold the site. On T-side, I don’t play with the group and I think that’s been the biggest change I’ve had.

Fragster: Your teammate dav1deuS [David Tapia Maldonado] mentioned in an interview with Dust2 Brazil how brought a willingness to communicate with the team during matches. How have you been able to be more open with the team from the time you joined the main roster last year up until now?

buda: I think it’s from my experience in Academy. During matches, you need to talk a lot and, I don’t know, I have that thing where I need to talk. I need to explain to my teammates on the site so I think it’s that reason.

Fragster: And to go from being the IGL in the Academy team to being slotted in a different role with the main roster, how much of an adjustment had you had to make between these two positions?

buda: I don’t have as much importance as before. I can talk a lot so I need to listen a lot so that’s what it is.

Fragster: When it comes to you talking during matches, how do you find a balance between your communication and your calling with that from max [Maximiliano Gonzalez], your current IGL?

buda: Usually in the match, we play different sites on T-side so it’s easy for me to call in the other side because I have the info, and when he calls on the other side, it’s okay even though I don’t have the info there. I think he trusts me a lot and, of course, I trust him and this is easy for us.

Looking ahead to the playoffs

Fragster: Looking ahead towards 9Z’s playoff run, you will first take on Virtus.pro, and if you guys manage to defeat them, you then have matches against Movistar Riders and ENCE. Keeping the focus on to VP though, how is 9z looking to approach them given that they’re a team you guys previously faced in ESL Challenger Katowice a few months ago?

buda: We played a lot against them so this one more time. They’re very good. They don’t make many mistakes but I think we are at a good level of CS and we’re really confident against them, so I think we can win against them and then go up against Movistar Riders.

Fragster: Now that you guys made it to playoffs, what is your expectations for this team for the rest of the competition?

buda: I think it’s playing some good CS so we won’t have frustrations if we lose or lose a few rounds. I don’t think we would be able to win the tournament but it’s more important to me to play good CS.

Feature Image Credit: Luc Bouchon/ESL