Na'Vi COOLLERZ: "I'd like to offer a ban system to QC developers"
Translation of mail.ru's interview with Anton "Cooller" Singov, conducted before Moscow Championship 2017's semi-final on September 23, 2017.
World's best Quake player shared his impressions about the game and offered some ideas about improving tournament process and gameplay. Anton "COOLLERZ" Singov - one of the most decorated and strongest Quake players in the world. In recently released Quake Champions Singov has already won several tournaments and made it to Top 3 in recent QuakeCon. We took an interview with Anton during "Moscow Championship" where he took 1st place.
Hello Anton! Tell me, what did you do this morning before attending the tournament (interview was recorded right before the start of Moscow Championship semifinal on the Cyberspace sport stage)
Cooller: Nothing special - I slept, I ate, I shaved. Event started at 15:00-16:00 (MSK) but I arrived at 14:00.
How do you rate this tournament difficulty, for you specifically?
Cooller: It wasn't hard. I got really lucky with the brackets - most difficult opponents were placed in the lower bracket so I didn't have any difficult matches.
You have been invited to DreamHack Winter 2017. What do you expect from this tournament, what are your goals?
Cooller: Quake is a meta game. And it will probably get an update before the tournament that will drastically change it. I hope that I will have enough time to adapt to the new meta. Right now we don't know about future changes, so it's hard to say which heroes I will pick and what will I do.
Did your champions pick change since QuakeCon?
Cooller: Yes, it did. I added Anarki to my pick. Before that I tried playing either Galena or Ranger, can't remember. Anarki, in my opinion, is more efficient for my play style. But he was a new hero for me so I had to train. I can't say I have fully mastered him yet, but I am doing very good and I hope I can nail it in the end.
When you first launched Quake Champions, what were your impressions?
Cooller: The core [of the game] is still the same, I am used to it and it was easy for me to adapt. However, there were many new things that required analysis and time investment to build my own game.
Have these changes made the game better or worse?
Cooller: Better. They made it different and therefore raised people's interest. The game is more attractive, multi-sided and unpredictable at certain moments. Because of that, it is now more interesting for spectators.
What would you add in Quake Champions if you had the opportunity?
Cooller: Firstly, I think there should be more heroes. Secondly, I'd like to offer a ban system to developers, like in Dota 2. So that before hero picks players could cross off the heroes they're uncomfortable with or ban opponent's strongest characters. Also, they should add more new maps. So far there is only 4, at least in duel.
During QuakeCon translation I saw you were actively articulating and are very emotional in general.
Cooller: Everyone has emotions. Some people express them openly, some suppress or try to hide them. I try to keep myself in check, but sometimes something breaks through, however that is not a bad thing - it is quite natural for many players, especially professionals.
Are you looking forward to rematch with clawz?
Cooller: No. That was a working moment for me. If I have to face him again, I will be simply playing just another match. After my defeat I worked hard to study that game and made some conclusions.
Like what, for example?
Cooller: Firstly, I didn't research him quite well before the game. He has a very specific, aggressive play style. You have to have certain things prepared against that style and I simply didn't adapt to it. Now I know what I should do to gain an advantage.
Who is your main rival now?
Cooller: There were 2 of them - cYpheR and rapha. Today they are both defeated, let's just say that. However I have a bone against Av3k who defeated me at QuakeCon Regionals. We need to play a rematch to see who is stronger.
In MediaMarkt interview you said that even you're a pensioner, your pension is 20x times more than average. How are the conditions in Natus Vincere compared to best offers from Euro teams?
Cooller: When I signed a contract with Na'Vi I had offers from other orgs. Na'Vi are as good as them, if not better.
How do you maintain your physical shape?
Cooller: Right now it's very bad. I got thinner during last years and that's because I had reasons to stop doing any sports. However, I hope to change that in the near future.
How important is it for a cyber athlete to maintain the physical shape, in your opinion?
Cooller: That is the topic I am researching right now. So far I can not conclude whether it's important or not. Everything depends on the workload. So if you're actively doing sports - it does more harm than good. Let's just say that small physical training can be positive for both health and skill.
Cypher always said that he sacrifices his whole time and life, including personal, to Quake. How do you manage your family life, fatherhood and work? How much time do you spend with your son?
Cooller: Because I have an opportunity to practice at home, I have a lot of opportunity to be with my son and take part in his life, if necessary. In my opinion, I dedicate as much time to it as required. I have no problems with this.
If your son wants to follow your path, would you allow him to participate in esports?
Cooller: In my opinion, everyone has the right of choice in his life. So if he decides to do that, and it will be interesting for him - I won't oppose that, most likely. Because a man should do what he likes. This is what I have learned from my personal experience.
Some cyber athletes do not allow their wives and girlfriends to the tournaments because it distracts them. Some do, however, because it helps. Did you ever take your wife to any tournaments?
Cooller: No, I didn't. Because she is either busy with the child or herself. And I also think that it's more distracting than helping.
Yet another quote from cYpheR: "my limit is 30 years". Do you have yours?
Cooller: No. I only set short-term goals for myself and try to live by that principle. That means you set plans for a year or two ahead and try to accomplish them. Same in Quake - you can never be certain that, for example, in 5 years this discipline will still be actual and offer you enough possibilities for self-realization. So that you can have a proper feedback.
Some people say that the deciding factor in cybersport is dedication, some say it's talent. What do you think?
Cooller: Both. Definitely, without natural features given by nature or genes you can't self-realize in this area, I personally learned that. There are many people that dedicate themselves to cybersport for days but get no results. There are many examples when a person doesn't invest too much time but has better results.
If you could make a dream team for Sacrifice, who would you invite?
Cooller: Latrommi, noctis, clawz.
Today's best Quake Champions Players?
Cooller: RAISY, cYpheR and k1llsen.
What's the craziest thing you've spent your prize money on?
Cooller: A trip to the sea. It was very expensive and at that time it cost me 15,000 USD.
Best match of your career?
Cooller: Hmm (thoughtful). That wasn't Quake, it was Overwatch. DreamHack Winter 2016, one year ago. I was in the team Misfits and we won the final vs FNATIC. Back then emotions overwhelmed me, that was unforgettable. A huge event in my career. Before that I wasn't winning anything for quite some time.
If you had an opportunity to come back to Overwatch, would you take it?
Cooller: If the conditions are proper - why not.
Three tips you can give to new cyberathletes?
Cooller: Learn the market tendencies. Always stay in the top, so that you can receive the most profitable offer. Only sign a contract with known orgs that you trust.
September 26, 2017
Source: esports.mail.ru
World's best Quake player shared his impressions about the game and offered some ideas about improving tournament process and gameplay. Anton "COOLLERZ" Singov - one of the most decorated and strongest Quake players in the world. In recently released Quake Champions Singov has already won several tournaments and made it to Top 3 in recent QuakeCon. We took an interview with Anton during "Moscow Championship" where he took 1st place.
Hello Anton! Tell me, what did you do this morning before attending the tournament (interview was recorded right before the start of Moscow Championship semifinal on the Cyberspace sport stage)
Cooller: Nothing special - I slept, I ate, I shaved. Event started at 15:00-16:00 (MSK) but I arrived at 14:00.
How do you rate this tournament difficulty, for you specifically?
Cooller: It wasn't hard. I got really lucky with the brackets - most difficult opponents were placed in the lower bracket so I didn't have any difficult matches.
You have been invited to DreamHack Winter 2017. What do you expect from this tournament, what are your goals?
Cooller: Quake is a meta game. And it will probably get an update before the tournament that will drastically change it. I hope that I will have enough time to adapt to the new meta. Right now we don't know about future changes, so it's hard to say which heroes I will pick and what will I do.
Did your champions pick change since QuakeCon?
Cooller: Yes, it did. I added Anarki to my pick. Before that I tried playing either Galena or Ranger, can't remember. Anarki, in my opinion, is more efficient for my play style. But he was a new hero for me so I had to train. I can't say I have fully mastered him yet, but I am doing very good and I hope I can nail it in the end.
When you first launched Quake Champions, what were your impressions?
Cooller: The core [of the game] is still the same, I am used to it and it was easy for me to adapt. However, there were many new things that required analysis and time investment to build my own game.
Have these changes made the game better or worse?
Cooller: Better. They made it different and therefore raised people's interest. The game is more attractive, multi-sided and unpredictable at certain moments. Because of that, it is now more interesting for spectators.
What would you add in Quake Champions if you had the opportunity?
Cooller: Firstly, I think there should be more heroes. Secondly, I'd like to offer a ban system to developers, like in Dota 2. So that before hero picks players could cross off the heroes they're uncomfortable with or ban opponent's strongest characters. Also, they should add more new maps. So far there is only 4, at least in duel.
During QuakeCon translation I saw you were actively articulating and are very emotional in general.
Cooller: Everyone has emotions. Some people express them openly, some suppress or try to hide them. I try to keep myself in check, but sometimes something breaks through, however that is not a bad thing - it is quite natural for many players, especially professionals.
Are you looking forward to rematch with clawz?
Cooller: No. That was a working moment for me. If I have to face him again, I will be simply playing just another match. After my defeat I worked hard to study that game and made some conclusions.
Like what, for example?
Cooller: Firstly, I didn't research him quite well before the game. He has a very specific, aggressive play style. You have to have certain things prepared against that style and I simply didn't adapt to it. Now I know what I should do to gain an advantage.
Who is your main rival now?
Cooller: There were 2 of them - cYpheR and rapha. Today they are both defeated, let's just say that. However I have a bone against Av3k who defeated me at QuakeCon Regionals. We need to play a rematch to see who is stronger.
In MediaMarkt interview you said that even you're a pensioner, your pension is 20x times more than average. How are the conditions in Natus Vincere compared to best offers from Euro teams?
Cooller: When I signed a contract with Na'Vi I had offers from other orgs. Na'Vi are as good as them, if not better.
How do you maintain your physical shape?
Cooller: Right now it's very bad. I got thinner during last years and that's because I had reasons to stop doing any sports. However, I hope to change that in the near future.
How important is it for a cyber athlete to maintain the physical shape, in your opinion?
Cooller: That is the topic I am researching right now. So far I can not conclude whether it's important or not. Everything depends on the workload. So if you're actively doing sports - it does more harm than good. Let's just say that small physical training can be positive for both health and skill.
Cypher always said that he sacrifices his whole time and life, including personal, to Quake. How do you manage your family life, fatherhood and work? How much time do you spend with your son?
Cooller: Because I have an opportunity to practice at home, I have a lot of opportunity to be with my son and take part in his life, if necessary. In my opinion, I dedicate as much time to it as required. I have no problems with this.
If your son wants to follow your path, would you allow him to participate in esports?
Cooller: In my opinion, everyone has the right of choice in his life. So if he decides to do that, and it will be interesting for him - I won't oppose that, most likely. Because a man should do what he likes. This is what I have learned from my personal experience.
Some cyber athletes do not allow their wives and girlfriends to the tournaments because it distracts them. Some do, however, because it helps. Did you ever take your wife to any tournaments?
Cooller: No, I didn't. Because she is either busy with the child or herself. And I also think that it's more distracting than helping.
Yet another quote from cYpheR: "my limit is 30 years". Do you have yours?
Cooller: No. I only set short-term goals for myself and try to live by that principle. That means you set plans for a year or two ahead and try to accomplish them. Same in Quake - you can never be certain that, for example, in 5 years this discipline will still be actual and offer you enough possibilities for self-realization. So that you can have a proper feedback.
Some people say that the deciding factor in cybersport is dedication, some say it's talent. What do you think?
Cooller: Both. Definitely, without natural features given by nature or genes you can't self-realize in this area, I personally learned that. There are many people that dedicate themselves to cybersport for days but get no results. There are many examples when a person doesn't invest too much time but has better results.
If you could make a dream team for Sacrifice, who would you invite?
Cooller: Latrommi, noctis, clawz.
Today's best Quake Champions Players?
Cooller: RAISY, cYpheR and k1llsen.
What's the craziest thing you've spent your prize money on?
Cooller: A trip to the sea. It was very expensive and at that time it cost me 15,000 USD.
Best match of your career?
Cooller: Hmm (thoughtful). That wasn't Quake, it was Overwatch. DreamHack Winter 2016, one year ago. I was in the team Misfits and we won the final vs FNATIC. Back then emotions overwhelmed me, that was unforgettable. A huge event in my career. Before that I wasn't winning anything for quite some time.
If you had an opportunity to come back to Overwatch, would you take it?
Cooller: If the conditions are proper - why not.
Three tips you can give to new cyberathletes?
Cooller: Learn the market tendencies. Always stay in the top, so that you can receive the most profitable offer. Only sign a contract with known orgs that you trust.
September 26, 2017
Source: esports.mail.ru
Everyone justifying the problems with duel because its new and it makes the game more spectator friendly. It make sense because cooller is a top player and he wants the game he is playing competitively to have a fanbase or it will die
But I dont actually think it makes it more spectator friendly. Even 3-0 stomps can take ages to watch and be really tiring because of all the starting and stopping, slow paced gameplay, +back and waiting between rounds. 3-0 stomps also take a lot longer to watch than a single map stomp in all other duel games
Also the games are closer for sure, but they are closer for the wrong reasons. The game is now volatile and as cooller said, more unpredictable. Sure that might make it more interesting for casual spectators, but for anyone who gives a shit about duel it just looks like people getting kills that dont make sense
I'd rather see the same person win 15/15 quakecons in a row because he is the better player than see him win 9/15 because despite being the better player the game was volatile enough to crown a lesser player once in a while
I get why cooller values the spec experience so much. But from my viewpoint the spec experience is more cumbersome and makes a lot less sense. The sacrifices the game had to make to get to that point arent worth it. Even if these changes would suddenly give the game 100,000 concurrent players I wouldnt consider them worth it because I care more about how much I enjoy the game than how many players it has.
But IF they could gain 100,000 players from making duel so messy and one dimensional I'd see where they are coming from. I wouldnt play it but I'd see where they are coming from. But this isnt whats going to do it.
I agree with what you are saying though, but at the other hand I don't mind if another player may reach for the crown for a change. That for sure makes it a bit more interesting because QC is more random and multi-sided, but I hope that have to do more with the abilities rather than the round based duel format which I don't like.
This should happen organically though. As in players should be dethroned from the top because new or existing players improve or practice more and become better. Not because the game is messy enough that being the best doesnt always get you first place
I just cant fathom why anyone would want a game where the best player doesnt always win. It seems completely opposite to the point of a competitive game.
Its a lot harder for a single player to always be at the top of a competitive scene when the scene is thriving and constantly acquiring new talent and players are practising enormous amounts. This is what they should be striving for. I'm not saying its easy but its a way to get what they want without having to cheapen the game and I'd rather they aimed high