After GamerLegion was eliminated from the FISSURE Playground 3 group stage following successive losses to FURIA and TYLOO, Denis "Grashog" Hristov took time for an exit interview.
Journalist: What are your impressions of these two matches?
Grashog: Well, the first match was definitely more exciting because we thought we could beat a top-five team. Especially after that Cache match, everyone was thinking: 'Well, if I can go arm-in-arm with the strongest team, then the second match should be a bit easier.'
However, the teams that can participate in this tournament are obviously strong enough to cause a lot of trouble for teams with substitutes, especially since I also have to call strategies so that players can focus on their own tasks a bit more easily, just like before when Snax was here. And obviously, I also have some new roles.
I haven't played a match in over eight months, and there are some maps I haven't even practiced once with my teammates. So, while trying to call strategies, I was flipping through my notes to figure out what I should be doing. The result wasn't too bad—especially on Cache's T side, it actually went pretty well. But obviously, everyone understood how things would go, so we weren't particularly disappointed. Honestly, I just feel a bit more upset about playing Mirage against FURIA.
Reporter: Suddenly becoming the head coach to face a top-five team must be pretty crazy. Did this ever cross your mind before?
Grashog：I know I'm the official substitute for every tournament, as it's the most convenient logistically. We don't need to fly anyone else over, and I'm also playing this game. My current individual level isn't at a professional tier, because I've been coaching at GamerLegion for over—well, almost a year now. I think it's been eight to nine months.
So I was completely out of form, but I still played on FACEIT, with an ELO of 3500. Sometimes I could get one or two kills, the kind that are needed to win rounds, like you saw against FURIA. But overall, it's really tough, especially when I come in as a substitute without any training.
So yes, I would say we’re just really sad that we didn’t get to play a proper tournament with a full roster early in the season, with FL4MUS, our new signing. Because we had some issues at the start of the season. We’re still figuring things out. It was the beginning of the journey with Tim [FL4MUS].
Then we encountered Tauson's issue again, by the way, he's still dealing with some health problems, but at least today he can travel and compete. Last time we had to let Maden step in as a substitute. We also forfeited a BO3 match because Snax had a very important doctor's appointment that he had to attend.
Now his passport was mysteriously damaged, which is clearly beyond our control. This was a random occurrence he only discovered at the airport. Starting the season like this is upsetting, but these are things we cannot control, so it shouldn't be too impactful.
Reporter: I think everyone is curious, how exactly did the passport get damaged? Can you share what happened?
Grashog：I don't know the details, but as far as I know, his was one of those older versions where the most important page is paper. The newer version seems to be plastic—mine is plastic. So there was a very small tear on the passport, purely accidental, and he probably didn't even notice it himself. Someone at the airport spotted it and didn't let him through.
GamerLegion tried everything to bring him over, really everything. Temporary passport, expedited visa, you name it. But they just couldn't make it happen. And then, a full 20 minutes before I had to leave for the airport, I find out, "Denis, bring the mousepad you normally use," because I usually travel with the small/medium one. "Bring the big one, because you might be playing." There's just no way to prepare for something like that.
We were hoping that... because obviously, if every player performs at their best and I'm just there to help them, we could have won those matches. I was giving away AKs every round. I was wielding the MP9. I was creating angles for them. I did everything I could to make it easier for them. But sometimes... like TYLOO had really solid aim on Mirage. We lost every duel. It was just really tough to play that way.
Journalist: Talk about your role as an assistant coach for the team.
Grashog: Yes, we usually share many things equally with imd. Obviously, he makes the major decisions. He often focuses on the macro-level happening around the team. I tend to focus on the micro details, some small positioning arrangements, the specifics of what we are doing. Moreover, I, Snax, and Adrian [imd] all speak Polish, even though I'm Bulgarian, so collaborating is easy. We just divide responsibilities, especially in early 2026.
In the first half of the season, we've proven this approach has worked well. We are satisfied with our collaboration. However, we do hope we can get back on track this season, because unfortunately, things are looking rather bleak right now.
Reporter: What plans and strategies do you have to qualify for the Major? What do you think the team will do next?
Grashog: Yes, we often discuss these things with management. Which matches to play? How should we arrange them? Our coach Adrian says, "Simple. We must win. We must win the matches." [laughter]
We are now planning to participate only in offline tournaments. There are two upcoming ones: the Logitech G Play Connect in Warsaw, followed by an event in Belgrade. Besides these, there are some plans for October, since the deadline falls then, at the end of October.