MUTiRiS: SAW will need 3–4 months to hit form

SAW secured a place in the Esports World Cup Qualifier playoffs by finishing second in Group 3, registering two wins over EAC and a narrow loss to DENDELE at the LAN event. This was the first tournament appearance for this SAW lineup since it formed last month.

The roster includes the core that reached the semi-finals of IEM Cologne 2024, but the captain described the team as still finding its rhythm after recent changes and time away from competition. They advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket of 32 teams with no seeding.

On preparation, MUTiRiS said the squad has had to work across six maps and expects several months of practice to recover full form. “I think it’ll take about three or four months to really get to a good level,” he said, adding that different recent experiences have produced new mindsets and habits within the group.

Fernandes returned to SAW after a short spell with another organisation and described the break as a reset. He pointed out that some players missed extended periods of competitive play-he himself paused for two to three months-and that time away complicates returning to match pace. He also highlighted the role of regular in-game communication in the team’s day-to-day work.

Reflecting on the loss to DENDELE, the captain called the series close and credited the opponent. He cited specific rounds and tactical calls that shifted the result and framed mistakes as learning points: “At the end of the game, I was thinking, ‘I shouldn’t have made that call,’ or, ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’ And that’s basically what I want: to learn from every game.”

On individual form, MUTiRiS described NOPEEj as still adapting to the intensity of top-level matches. He said krazy’s recent time away helped him mature as a player, and characterised ewjerkz and story as experienced contributors. He also noted that while Portuguese teams show quality, lower-ranked sides sometimes struggle collectively, and handling pressure in tight moments remains a challenge.

SAW will prepare for the playoffs with a match-by-match approach. The captain said expectations are high but that the team must reduce mistakes and use the LAN matches as practice to improve over the coming months.