XTQZZZ interview: “We won two Majors in a row, but I don't think we brought our A-game more than 50% of the time”

Vitality are the kings of Counter-Strike. They’ve dominated one of the most talented eras the game has ever seen, and it’s looked easy at times. Yet, in recent times, they’ve looked mortal. If you’re curious why, this is a must read for you.

We spoke to Rémy "XTQZZZ" Quoniam at IEM Cologne Major about his team's hiccups, Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut’s motivation, T-sides, and more.

First question for you is one I think everyone is going to ask your players as well, but what's your first reaction to the bracket and the way it's been distributed?

I mean, it's the Major. We lost against 9z, Falcons lost against BetBoom, right?

So of course, we expected a different bracket, but as I said before, we are here to win. So it doesn't mean that if we have to play the best in quarters or in semis, and if we lose for us quarter, semis and final are the same.

So, it's a good challenge at the same time, but I also know what's happened in the past with a bracket like that. It doesn't matter that the winner of that bracket will win the Major. We saw with NAVI in 2024. For us, we're just taking it one game at a time, focusing on Falcons right now, and we'll see. Nothing else.

It's only been a day, so I'm not sure if you've had time to debrief. But if you have, I'm curious what you were happy with in Stage 3, and what you think needs to improve before you go into the playoffs?

I'm happy because I think we are improving. The last game was better, even though we could have closed it out way before. We threw away many, many rounds, but I saw at least the right mentality, and I would say the right mindset. That's the good thing.

The bad thing is, I would say, consistency.

So far, when we win the map, it's pretty easy. When we lose, we are struggling to bounce back after a stupid round or a bad round from us and not from the opponent etc. That's something we need to focus on.

It was also an issue in the USA, that’s the truth. And yeah, just to make sure we are on the same page, and also on the CT-side, usually we are a team making a lot of decisions. We are proactive.

Right now, we had some talks if it was because of the pressure or if we're a bit scared. I don't think so, but maybe we are too passive. We are acting like we are not the favourite.

That's also why, for example, we lost to 9z.

You say you don't think it's because of the pressure, and you say those are the issues that you have. What do you think has crept in over the last month? Is it complacency from being so successful?

Maybe. It's tough, you know, we're in a situation where we've won everything.

We are motivated, but we need to remember why we won so much and how. And sometimes, you know, I think we gave 5% less, and when you see the level right now, 5% less is enough. I think it's the main issue. Also, I think we had high expectations in terms of our own level. Because, as we said, we didn't practice that much before the preparation for the Major.

Maybe we thought that with preparation and practice, we would be way better. It doesn't work like that.

Every team for the Major has good preparation, bootcamp, etc whatever. They are ready to fight, they have new ideas etc. For me, it's not only about playing good, it's also the mindset.

As I told my guys, we won two Majors in a row, but I don't think we brought our A-game more than 50% of the time.

In my opinion, it was the mindset. How we bounce back after a mistake, after a clutch, a stupid round, etc. How do you make sure each round is competitive?

That's something we have to focus on, and if we do that, we have a good chance.

You talk about mindset, and there's a guy behind you there with a really good mindset, ZywOo. Coming into this event, a lot has been said about Donk's form and how insane he's even been on Faceit. He will never admit it himself, but do you think there's a fire in his eyes that pops up when he sees someone like that playing so well, in a way that maybe Messi and Ronaldo used to make each other better?

100%

He's not the guy to say yes or something, you're right. But of course, you see, you have been the best player in the world for the last year. You can be the best again this year, so Donk performing like that, you want to prove I'm still him.

And also, we're at the Major. I think ZywOo is really motivated about winning big tournaments; we have to deal with that. That's normal, I guess.

But also for the team, so it's kind of the same. If he feels the team are really motivated about the tournament, with preparation etc. He will follow, if we are a bit less, it's the same for him.

My final question for you is not just about your team, but about Counter-Strike as a whole. I talked to Magixx and MAJ3R today, and both of them have said that a lot of teams are playing the same. Mostly on T, but also on CT. MAJ3R especially says it’s easy to prepare for T-sides now. So if you're CT, it's easy to prepare for other people's T-side. Do you agree with that, and what do you think has gone into everyone kind of becoming the same, if so?

I don't think every team plays the same, but nowadays every team knows how to prep. It doesn't matter the opponent.

Because of course, you have to take care how you play, if you play too much in the same area, position, etc, how you can react as CTs and Ts. As CT, it's way easier to anti-strat, of course. And why is it harder when you're T? It's just because, nowadays, the way it is, you don't play default that much. You have mid rounds, you react, you can play agro, you try to create new things for each opponent and surprise.

So, if you rely too much on the preparation, you can be surprised almost all the time as T. So yeah, it's harder.

I think we also underestimated the update on the economy. Because in the end, yes, it was 50 dollars, or 200 dollars for the team. But some rounds, you think it's ah, maybe it's eco.

When I say eco, it's maybe Five-Seven, and MP9. And you realise after, ah, it's two M4. It's tough to read the economy properly. And nowadays, with two M4, with the level of the players. It's enough to make a difference.

Now, if you're T, when you are eco, you need to have glock and maybe one or two deagle. On CT you can always have one MP9, two Five-Seven. The Five-Seven, we need to do something with it. Even though I think Ropz is not happy, but that's true. Because now you can have so many good situations on CT-side.

I think that's the main issue. I don't know if they're trying to fix it, I do believe two teams have more than 50% on T-side right now, something like that?

Something like that

Yeah, so I think that's the reason. The preparation and the economy, in my opinion.