Astralis’ Counter-Strike 2 captain, Casper "cadiaN" Møller, discussed the team's improvements following their performance at IEM Rio 2024. In an interview with HLTV.org, Møller advised fans not to expect immediate success from Astralis.
"Firstly, we’ve added many details to the round structure: there are more names and setups, and these aren’t just on-the-fly ideas—they’re fully developed categories. We’ve also put a lot of focus on philosophies for different maps. This has been a priority, and I think handling situations with a numbers advantage and post-plant play is crucial.
We’re trying to accomplish as much as we can in limited time, but honestly, I believe the best version of Astralis won’t emerge until next year. This doesn’t mean we can’t have a strong showing here or perform well in the majors, but considering the time needed to become truly competitive, it’s unlikely to happen instantly. Even with my previous experience with stavn and jabbi, I still need time to adapt to working with ruggah, Staehr, and device."
The Danish player also shared his expectations for their first match at BLAST Premier World Final 2024, where they will face NAVI.
"Nobody expects much from us in this match. They’ve proven themselves as the best team of 2024. There's been a lot of talk surrounding their Major win, with some calling it a fluke, but they’ve shown that their system works. The debate about them lacking a standout star reminds me of our time in HEROIC, when we were ranked first globally. People said the same then, but you can see each player's impact in their role. So, yes, it will be a tough match, but I believe we’ll give our best and have a shot at beating them, even though they’re the favourites, as they should be."
The BLAST Premier World Final 2024 is scheduled to take place from 30 October to 3 November in Singapore. Eight teams will compete for a one million USD prize pool, with the winning team taking home half.