SINNERS captain Beastik: Major berth is just the start

SINNERS clinched the last spot for the IEM Cologne Major at HLC Belgrade Pro. Captain Sebastian “beastik” Daňo said qualifying online is only the first milestone and that the team aims for a deeper tournament run in Cologne.

The roster is balancing continued online play with a limited LAN schedule ahead of the Major. SINNERS traveled to IEM Atlanta for a LAN outing and opened the event on May 11 with a 2-1 loss to GamerLegion, leaving them to face an elimination match against Passion UA on May 12.

Beastik pointed to problems on the CT sides during the GamerLegion series. On Inferno, he said the team executed its usual setups but repeatedly lost duels to specific opponents, singling out openings created by individual players. On Nuke, he described multiple 5v2 losses and communication breakdowns on CT that cost several rounds.

The squad’s switch from a Czech-speaking lineup to an English-speaking international core has changed in-game calling. Beastik, who had called in Czech for six years, expected the transition to be difficult but said it proved easier than he thought. He described the new in-game language as using tighter keywords that let him give short, clear instructions and focus more on his own play.

Beastik said the Belgrade qualification felt different because it came online rather than on LAN. He expressed happiness at reaching the Major but added that qualifying alone will not satisfy him: he wants the team to make a deep run in Cologne.

The team plans a bootcamp before the Major. Beastik outlined a seven- to eight-day preparation window to refresh the team’s stratbook, rest after the U.S. trip and then return to intensive practice to reduce predictability and sharpen tactics.

Looking ahead to Atlanta, he had limited scouting on Passion UA and did not rate them above GamerLegion. He described best-of-three matchups as often unpredictable and said a loss to Passion UA would be a disappointing result given the team’s expectations for the event.

Beastik also reflected on the retirement of longtime Czech player Tomáš “oskar” Šťastný. He called oskar an idol since his early days in 1.6, said he believes oskar could still perform at a high level, and expressed regret that the player did not receive offers before retiring.

SINNERS will meet Passion UA in the Atlanta elimination match and plan to complete their bootcamp and tactical preparations before the IEM Cologne Major.