In an interview with HLTV, Özgür "woxic" Eker from Eternal Fire commented on his team’s victory over Aurora in the opening match of Group B at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade Season 2. Eker noted that they might have won the first map of the series if it hadn't been for his stomach issues.
“At the beginning, I didn’t feel very well, but by the end, when I managed to get back into the game and perform, I felt joy. I wasn’t prepared for the first map because I had stomach problems and arrived at the computer too late. I had literally one or two minutes to warm up because we had to walk and then start the game immediately. It’s not an excuse; we could have won the first map if we hadn’t made so many small mistakes in clutches or when taking the site. So, yes, I’m pleased with the result.”
Regarding the possible decline in the team’s performance compared to the first half of 2024, Eker said: “I think our game deteriorated a bit after the break. We were playing good Counter-Strike and felt very comfortable as a team, but then, after a series of poor results, we lost some confidence. We completely re-evaluated our tactics and game plan, changing or modifying everything. For example, if there’s a smoke grenade, we alter its timing so that it doesn’t hit the same timing. Little things like that. I think we’ll show our best Counter-Strike again, as we did before, and I believe we are close to that because we’re working very hard at the moment. Therefore, I’m confident that we will ultimately succeed.”
Eternal Fire will face 9 Pandas in the match for a spot in the Group B grand final. The winner of this clash will secure a place in the play-offs of BetBoom Dacha Belgrade Season 2.