erkaSt: "[Valve] just didn't think about Asia enough"

All eyes were on the Logitech G Pro Series final day last Sunday with the preconception that FlyQuest would exit the venue with the trophy.

But Mongolian delights NEXVOID, led by the loveable and wise Erdenetsogt "erkaSt" Gantulga, left the studio and fans stunned. The squad overcame a lower-bracket final run against Off Chops, then insurmountable odds down 9-1 on Inferno against FQ on their home soil to win the tournament 2-1.

Add in Temuulen "MiQ" Byambadalai having to play through rehab for a broken hand, and you've got a script that would be turned away from the writers' room. To top it off, the best player on the server in the grand final was erkaSt himself, who was ecstatic when speaking to the DFRAG panel after the win.

"There's something about playing in Australia, I'm performing better than usual! What a game!" he said.

"Our expectation was to make it to the grand final and win a game against FlyQuest. We knew we would likely play against them twice, and we had a pretty good idea of how to play against them."

While it wasn't assured, NEXVOID was in the mix of teams that, with the right results, could have snuck home for a spot at the PGL Singapore Major via Asia's VRS standings if things fell the right way in Brisbane this October.

But after BCGame's acquisition of THUNDER dOWNUNDER's Tyson "asap" Paterson, there was one fewer spot up for grabs — and NEXVOID is set to be one of several teams that will miss the chance to play in Southeast Asia's first Counter-Strike major.

erkaSt admits he and the team were frustrated by the whole debacle, but he doesn't blame Valve entirely. Instead, he believes that, with time — and once the VRS system's many kinks are ironed out — the right teams that contribute to Asia will rise to claim major opportunities.

It’s the first time we’ve had a team from wider Asia attend an OCE LAN since the days of the ZEN League in 2017. How important is it that Asia and OCE teams compete at events like this?

"We first got the DFRAG invitation on Twitter in September, that was very… I felt warmth, you know? Before, every local scene was doing their own LANs for VRS, and it’s great that everyone wants to support their local scene, but I was very excited when DFRAG invited some of the other Asian teams.

"I was first hoping visas weren’t going to be a problem, and then when they weren’t, I got very excited and hoped everyone could make it. So far, this event definitely brings back good memories of [ZEN League]."

The Mongolian domestic season so far feels very fluid. The likes of NEXVOID, Chinggis Warriors, The Huns, and others all swap spots and could at any point claim to be the next-best behind The MongolZ. Do you see it that way?

"Yeah, right now the competition is at its highest. Obviously The MongolZ is not included in the local list because they're playing more international events.

"[The MongolZ] still affect a lot because they’re picking players from the local competition, like tikuak from Chinggis Warriors for example. He played a bit with The MongolZ, then came back, and now [Chinggis Warriors] are strong again."

"It’s like in [OCE], everyone knows each other. There’s four teams playing to be the best, and everyone knows how they all like to play. When we play, we barely use tactics — it’s maybe 40% our own tactics and 60% counterplay.

"CS2 in Mongolia is really different as a result, it's more like a 'read' game with taking a few risks when compared to other regional events.

"Personally, I think I support the competition across Asia more than in one's local region. There's more excitement behind playing other teams from the region because you're also representing your country and representing your scene. In that aspect, it's more exciting."

I wanted to get your take on how the last few weeks of the VRS chase has panned out, especially in NEXVOID’s case given your chances for qualification dropped after news of the BCGame and Sashi acquisitions landed. What were your thoughts on Valve’s approach to the moves?

"I think it really needed to be done before, but I’m not blaming Valve too much because VRS is still new, the system is new. In time, it’s gonna progress and improve once more of these loopholes are gone. Still, it definitely felt unfair for me."

"For BCGame, I saw it coming after they got Senzu and mzinho, I just didn’t expect them to get asap. But the other organisations Sashi and WW, these sudden changes feel very sneaky and unfair for Asian players who have been playing in the Asia region.

"[Valve] just didn’t think about Asia enough. It’s weird because it’s just a very big region; you have West Asia, East Asia, Asia-Pacific, Oceania… you can’t make a competition online because of the ping difference.

"To begin with, I want the teams and orgs to come and play in Asia, at least. If they play here and contribute to Asia, then they should be rewarded with a spot for competing in Asia."

Do you think the other Mongolian teams share that sentiment?

"I hadn’t really talked about it with those other players, but within our team [NEXVOID] we share the same opinion. I’m pretty sure everyone shares the same opinion because we’re all competing in Asia, we’re all grinding to get the spot.

"Somehow the European teams are switching player citizenships and swapping Asia players in… I think that’s what most of us are weirded about."

You returned as a player this year after spending the past three years coaching, specifically with the FlyQuest squad. Was it always a plan that you’d come back and play? Did you feel you’d better serve the team as a player and not a coach?

"My current team, the core was previously ATOX, and they had a rough time. They really motivated me after I spoke with them for the first time.

"They’re a really strong group, and I spoke to them during this time [after dobu and kabal were banned], and they said they had two ringers but they wanted me to join them and play."

"They wanted a really experienced guy in the team who they want to rely on, and that really made me want to play. And also, I always enjoy playing; job-wise, it’s more enjoyable than coaching.

"Coaching is stressful and less fun, and I’m more of a person who likes to have fun, a.k.a. wants to play."

You said you had a baby on the way with your partner, congratulations! Had you planned ahead as to how this will impact your ability to play or coach in Counter-Strike going forward?

"I think it’s going to impact me, but I’m not sure just how much yet. I’ve been planning it with my partner for a long time, but the reality is always going to be different, but I’m sure I will adapt over time.

"Until then, I will continue being a guide with NEXVOID, especially here in Australia. They haven’t been before, but I want to show them all the stuff when we get some time."

Free time is something of a luxury for erkaSt and NEXVOID, who are in Shanghai, China for the MaceMedia VOID Autumn Cup this week. They'll return to Brisbane to play in the DFRAG Invitational, which begins Oct. 26.

For more OCE and Asia CS2 news, stay tuned to DFRAG.