Ekki after defeating VP: “I really liked how we adapted on the second and third maps”

Rune Eaters Esports support Marcel 'Ekki' Holovienko, in an interview after the victory over Virtus.pro at the Esports World Cup 2026, spoke about the past meeting and the pressure at the tournament, and also spoke about how the experience of playing for a tier-1 team as a replacement helps the roster develop.

I feel damn good. We took the series and played an excellent third map. I think we played very cleanly there. I liked the way my team played and how we won.

[The first map was quite difficult for you, on the second you were able to return to the game after a bad start, and in the third game you destroyed your opponents. How did the atmosphere in the team change throughout the series? ] In the first game we just played too passively. We were not at all in the mood for the game, we were disappointed in each other. We needed to cool down, calm down and understand how we would proceed. I really liked how we adapted on the second and third maps. We were very calm, which I think was evident in our performance. Especially in the third match.

This is my first Esports World Cup. Obviously there is pressure. I want to show a good game, we want to go as far as possible.

I think it’s easy to say that we are outsiders among tier-1 teams here, especially if we talk about our next opponent. The pressure is high, of course, but the tournament is a lot of fun. It is the excitement that makes everything quite bearable.

At the end of the day, we are here for the game, we are here to have fun and perform at our best. Yes, there's a little more at stake than usual, but at the end of the day, we're still here for the process.

When you play in tier 1 teams, one of the main things you pay attention to is how the players interact with each other, how they exist as a unit. And you try to create the same atmosphere within your team.

This is probably one of the main differences between us and other stacks that came to the tournament. We really focus a lot on what kind of team we are: supporting each other, working hard, trying to stay positive and on the same page.

Losing is frustrating, and it's especially disappointing to lose matches you should have won. But you will encounter this many times, and in the end it all depends on how you get up each time after it.

Rune Eaters Esports beat Virtus.pro with a score of 2-1 in the Survival stage of the Esports World Cup 2026. Tomorrow the team will play against Aurora Gaming for access to the main stage of the tournament.

Earlier, Vladimir 'Maelstorm' Kuzminov commented on the defeat of Virtus.pro by Rune Eaters Esports in the elimination match.