Flashie: JT gives Liquid the guidance it lacked

Liquid opened IEM Beijing with a 2-0 victory over Aurora, one week after losing to the same team in the group stage of PGL Masters Bucharest. Coach Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea attributed the result to improved composure and a shared approach with in-game leader Johnny “JT” Theodosiou.

“In Bucharest, we felt like we really should have won,” flashie told reporters after the match. “Today we were less nervous, and we finished the job.”

Liquid entered the Bucharest tournament with low expectations, according to flashie. Those expectations increased after the team defeated MOUZ in its opening match, making it harder for the players to stay calm and close out rounds.

“We had a lot of good discussions since Bucharest that helped us not feel nervous today, or feel less nervous,” he said. “In Bucharest we had issues closing the rounds and had tons of advantages, and that was also a focus point for us coming into this event.”

The team has since worked on communication, protocols and agreements for specific situations. Flashie added that Liquid struggled in some tier-two events before Bucharest because its basic communication was inconsistent.

“The basics are easy to overlook, and at times people take them for granted,” flashie said. “Playing well fundamentally is not granted. You need to work for it every single day and every single match you have.”

Liquid changed its lineup during the summer, including the departures of Mihail “siuhy” Hris and Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak. Flashie described the previous roster as a group with six different ideas about how to approach matches, which made it difficult for the players to work as one unit.

The coach identified agreement within the current roster as its main difference. He and JT share similar views on fundamentals, preparation, winning rounds from an advantage and responding to disadvantages.

“The biggest difference is that Johnny, JT, sees the game very similarly to me,” flashie said. “Us being on the same page is helping us to put the whole team on the same page with us.”

Flashie also discussed the development of Georgi “Jorko” Mitev, Liquid’s young sniper. He described Jorko as mechanically talented, while noting that the player needs to improve his focus and composure during matches.

“Jorko is very, very talented mechanically,” flashie said. “He just needs time, because all these things that he’s lacking are kind of the basics that we talked about in the beginning, and that takes time to actually nail in.”

Jorko has sought advice from veterans Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski and Keith “NAF” Markovic. Flashie added that his own coaching style has developed over the past year and a half. He now combines strategic instruction with emotional support, adjusting his approach to each player’s needs.

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