MAJ3R: "Every journey requires patience; I truly believe a trophy is within reach this year"
The Turkish captain reflects on his team's early playoff exit and their future aspirations.
The Turkish captain recognized that his team failed to perform well in the playoff match against MOUZ.
Eternal Fire was eliminated early from the BLAST Open Lisbon after a 2-0 defeat to MOUZ. The Turkish squad had entered Portugal full of confidence after defeating well-known teams like Liquid, G2, and Natus Vincere without losing a single map, yet they could not maintain that level in the arena.
MOUZ’s Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás shared that his team was “more composed” during critical moments of the match.
This defeat marked Eternal Fire’s fourth consecutive loss in the arena, leading to speculations about their potential for championship titles in 2025. Previously, the Turkish side faced a similar fate against Falcons in the quarter-finals of PGL Cluj-Napoca.
MAJ3R believes the team will learn and improve through these experiences, stating, “Step by step. Every achievement takes time. This year we will lift a trophy; I genuinely believe it.”
Despite the disappointment from the playoff defeat, MAJ3R conveyed he remains optimistic about their performance throughout the tournament, finding positives even in the loss. He stressed the need for greater strategic intelligence in their gameplay.
Following the match, Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş revealed on Twitter that he has been battling a severe back issue for nearly a month, stating, “I take five pills daily. I walk as if I’m unconscious.”
In acknowledging XANTARES’s struggles, MAJ3R elaborated, “Unfortunately, XANTARES has been experiencing intense back pain for two days. He visited the hospital yesterday. It is difficult to contend against a top-three team without your star player. He did his best, and I admire his effort. He will return stronger.”
Eternal Fire’s players now have a few days to recuperate before their next event, PGL Bucharest, which will commence a demanding schedule for the Turkish team, including competitions in Qatar, Melbourne, Astana, and Dallas ahead of the Austin Major. MAJ3R remarked that they would spend a few days at home with family before diving back into intense training, emphasizing the importance of fighting for one’s goals.
