NagZet: “On this team we all have a winners mentality, we all want to be the best”

With not long to go before VALORANT Champions, we spoke to Juan Pablo "NagZet" Lopez from KRÜ Esports about their group matchups and their intentions for the event.

The South Americans not only bagged multiple first place finishes at regional VCT 2021 - Stage 3 - LATAM - Challengers Finals and VCT 2021 - Stage 2 - LATAM - Challengers Finals, but were also the best performing South American team at VCT 2021 - Stage 3 - Masters Berlin - Playoffs, making the playoffs by beating Vivo Keyd and ZETA Division. At VCT 2021 - Stage 2 - Masters Reykjavík, KRÜ Esports were able to place 7th-8th by defeating YNG Sharks, but eventually fell to Team Liquid.

Champions is KRÜ Esports’ third international LAN event of the year, and on the back of solid performances regionally and on the global stage, they are predicted to go deep into the tournament.

Here is our interview with KRU Esports’ sharpshooter, Juan Pablo “NagZet” Lopez:

Thank you for taking time to talk to us ahead of the busy VALORANT Champions schedule. After having had time now to settle into Berlin, how is the team adapting to the new environment and what is it like to scrim against European teams?

The adaptation was faster than previous times due to the accumulated experience we have from previous LAN tournaments. Playing against European teams is very entertaining and productive, they all have different styles and new strategies.

Lets get to the topic that’s on so many viewers’ minds: the deadly group B draw with Sentinels, Team Liquid, FURIA, and yourself. What are your immediate thoughts on the group? Do you see yourself making it to the playoffs over such tenured organizations?

It is an interesting group, having Sentinels and Liquid who are clearly one of the best teams in their regions, along with FURIA, whom we know very well since we train all year against them in our region at home. My team is always positive regarding results, we all want to be the best and we work hard for it.

As for your opening matchup, you will be facing off against Team Liquid, who beat you cleanly at Masters Reykjavik. Will things be different this time around? Is there a sense of revenge among the players?

A rematch always brings old feelings, but I think it is important to separate them and focus on what is ahead. We have trained and improved a lot from Iceland, we will see how things turn out this time around.

KRÜ Esports is one of the very few teams to have made it to all three Masters events so far. Is the squad now fully comfortable and confident playing on the big stage with an audience?

Yes, the team has gained much more confidence since our first international event. The experience is useful, anxiety and nerves decrease more and more, confidence rises, along with the desire to win.

Speaking of Masters events, you eliminated Vivo Keyd in the group stage of Masters Berlin to cement yourself as the best team in South America. Now with FURIA, Team Vikings, and Vivo Keyd joining you at Champions, do you feel you have the best shot out of all the four teams?

It is a difficult tournament, obviously we all aspire to win it. On this team we all have a winners mentality, we all want to be the best.

Thank you very much for speaking to us NagZet. We wish you all the best for Champions.

You can find out KRÜ Esports and all other VALORANT Champions matches and stats here.