Keoz on GL’s last-minute Major run: ‘I was in Dubai with my girlfriend drinking bubble tea’



After stepping in for 9 Pandas at the eleventh hour, Keoz hopes GamerLegion can make their “dream journey” come true.

Since arriving in Copenhagen, Keoz has been in disbelief.

GamerLegion fell short of securing a PGL Major spot after losing to 9 Pandas in the final RMR qualifier. “When we lost to 9 Pandas, it felt like the dream was over,” Keoz told HLTV.

But fate wasn’t kind to seized and his squad as two 9 Pandas players couldn’t travel, causing the team to miss out on the Copenhagen event. As the runner-up in the Last Chance Qualifier, GamerLegion got the call-up in the nick of time, confirming their substitute status just hours before the tournament started.

“I found out about this while I was on vacation in Dubai,” Keoz explained. “Every morning when I wake up during these days of the tournament, I’m like, ‘Wait, I’m actually in Copenhagen,’ I can’t believe it.”

As of this writing, GamerLegion has taken full advantage of their last-minute invite, defeating AMKAL and Legacy after losing to SAW, putting them one best-of-three win away from advancing to the next stage. Keoz shared with HLTV their aspirations for a “dream run” and discussed how they’ve managed victories and their sudden arrival. Here’s the interview:

Q: You’re 2-1, and you won without any doubts. How does it feel to be one match away from the next stage after getting the last-minute invite?

Every morning since the tournament started, I wake up and think, ‘Wait, I’m really in Copenhagen,’ and I can’t believe it because when we lost to 9 Pandas, it seemed like the dream was over. Now that we got the last-minute invite, we have to give it our all, show what we’re capable of, and prove that we deserve to be here.

Q: I heard you had around 12 hours to prepare when you got the invite. How did it feel when you were invited?

“For me personally, I was in Dubai. When I found out, it was in the afternoon, around 6:00 PM. I realized it could be a possibility. Then, later that night, PGL told us we should fly to Copenhagen, but when we arrived, they still weren’t sure if we would play or be sent back home, so it was a tense moment until the last minute when it was confirmed.”

Q: Talk about getting the call while on vacation. What were you doing at the time?

I was just relaxing in Dubai with my girlfriend. When I got the news, I was drinking bubble tea, and I showed my girlfriend, saying, “Oh, look, how weird, I might be going to the Major now.” It was unbelievable.

Q: Let’s talk about the game. volt is sitting in the middle, and he seemed to command more during the European RMR. Is there a division of responsibilities between him and Snax?

No, we don’t really care about roles; we’re just having fun. The position doesn’t mean he contributes more opinions – obviously, everyone has their say.

Q: When I was standing next to you, it seemed like he spoke more. How is the communication split in the team?

I think, especially recently, the communication in the team is really spread out. It’s well-balanced based on our positions and roles.

Q: Usually, when we record the team celebrating a win during a match, we always find you since you tend to scream the loudest. But you’ve been a bit quieter in this tournament. Why is that?

I don’t do it on purpose; I only do it when I feel like it. Sometimes I just don’t have that feeling.

Q: By that, are you implying that the team’s atmosphere or mood is a bit low, or are you referring to something else?

No, I’m not saying the atmosphere is low; it’s just… I don’t know, I scream randomly. Maybe it depends on the opponent, but not to belittle them, of course, and it also depends on how the match goes. If we win a tight round, I might cheer more.

Q: From now on, you’re into best-of-threes. Initially, you didn’t know if you’d be here, but now you have two chances to advance to the next stage. How does that feel?

The team is very confident at this stage. This might be easier than the RMR because the pressure is lower, and overall, the level of competition is lower. We’re just trying to make our dream come true, just like the teams that didn’t qualify. Nobody expects us to succeed since we didn’t go through the qualifiers. Maybe we’re the underdogs.

Q: After the Major, there’s usually a big shuffle, and often, teams that didn’t make it through RMR and qualifiers are the first to consider roster changes. Did you start discussing this after GamerLegion’s loss, and now with this second chance, does it feel strange?

I’m not too sure what’s going on and if there will be any changes. Personally, I’m uncertain about the future, but if there are no roster moves, I’ll probably learn more in the coming days.