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Demon1 says 2025 can’t be worse than his year with NRG no matter what

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In a brief conversation post the LEV team’s defeat against G2 at the Valorant Champions Tour America’s Kickoff, Esports.gg spoke with the taciturn Demon1.

Max “Demon1” Mazanov, a top VALORANT player who has claimed the world championship title, has recently faced some career challenges. Recently, he and his team Leviatán were knocked out of the VCT Americas Kickoff 2025 tournament. Prior to their elimination, they were moved to the Lower Bracket.

Following their defeat against G2 Esports, Xpsp had a chat with Demon1. We inquired about his subpar performance throughout the series and whether this year might mirror the struggles experienced during his tenure with NRG.

Demon1 says the team will grind to do better come VCT Americas Stage 1

You’ve repeated it countless times that when in trouble, you use your gun. I don’t expect you to have all the solutions, but I’d like to hear your thoughts on today’s events. Given the performance we saw from you and Leviatan, could you share any initial reactions to the outcome?

Demon1: “It’s clear we need to put in more effort as a group. We attempted a strategy on Pearl, but it didn’t pay off. Therefore, we should change our approach for the upcoming game.

It seems there’s a lot of talk about G2 Esports possibly being the top team in the Americas, if not globally, this year. After playing against them, do you share that sentiment?

Demon1: “They seemed like a strong team, but we really underperformed. Our performance was poor from the start of the match. Without a doubt, we really struggled.

Shall we move through each map swiftly? I must admit, Pearl wasn’t easy for you; you only managed to secure five kills. So, what strategies did G2 employ to curb your progress?

Demon1: “Most of the time, I found myself repeatedly getting killed by him. I attempted to flank him a few times but he was always stationed there. He seemed to be consistently guarding the lines, and every time I stepped into his line of sight, he would kill me instantly.

Did you notice an improvement in our performance during the Fracture map? I’m curious if your switch to Brimstone had any impact on that, considering how well we managed to string together rounds. Compared to Pearl, do you think we could have potentially extended the game to a third map?

As a gamer, I stepped up my game on this map compared to the last one. If our performance was as strong on the first map as it was here, we would’ve definitely given them a run for their money on Pearl. If I had more success with Yoru and all, I believe we could have emerged victorious.

Of course, you must have anticipated this turn of events. We noticed you had a slim possibility for victory when you launched the grenade up the staircase. You then entered the area where it exploded, resulting in your demise. Did that unfortunate incident provoke a laugh or did it annoy you given your struggle against G2?

Demon1: “Indeed, I was aware of the play. I overheard him as he was trapping Arcade. He moved towards Arcade, then went under it, making his position Main. Then, yes, I threw a molly at Tower because I heard the first player there. I aimed for a swift takedown.

As a gamer, here’s how I might rephrase that: “I planned to take out the sidekick first, knowing he’d make his move before the main character. But unfortunately, I fell victim to my own explosive trap. With time running short, I had no choice but to act.

I’m genuinely curious about your situation as you begin anew with LEV this season, reunited with your former teammate C0M. With the NRG roster being a topic of conversation last year, despite their potential elimination from Kickoff, do you think there’s any chance that this year could be less favorable for you, career-wise, compared to how last year panned out?

Demon1: “No. It definitely won’t be.”

Even though you usually don’t worry about others’ opinions, being a world champion and previously recognized as the best player in VALORANT, do moments like last year’s setback, your slow start this season, and the occasional unfavorable views of the esport community ever linger in the back of your thoughts?

Demon1: “Not so much, actually. Just talking about my personal performance here. It’s more a reflection of me as an individual. I tend to avoid reading comments online.

Last question, let me ask this – haven’t you climbed the VALORANT mountain before in the past? So, what does your journey look like from now until Stage 1 for you personally? What tasks or improvements do you need to focus on to achieve that level of success again?

As a dedicated team member, let’s continue putting in the hard work together. And of course, improving our individual skills is crucial for collective success.

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2025-02-04 21:41

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