After a close series against Paper Rex for a playoff qualification at the VALORANT 2025 Champions, Sheep Esports interviewed GIANTX's Sentinel, Miłosz "westside" Duda, about the team's performance following their defeat, their near-comeback against Lotus, the lessons learned from VCT EMEA Stage 2, and their next steps as they compete for a place in the playoffs.

How are you feeling after the match against PRX, and how would you assess the team’s overall performance today?

Miłosz "westside" Duda: "Overall, I feel good about today’s matches. We played some genuinely solid games, and they were certainly compelling to watch. As a team, we were at a good level, though we can definitely do better. We lost today, but there’s plenty to learn, and I expect us to come back even stronger in the next games.

You came close to a comeback on Lotus. In your view, what was missing to close out the map and the series?

westside: First, winning more pistol rounds at the start would have helped us snowball and convert more rounds. Beyond that, our execution needs to be cleaner: we let too many advantageous situations, five-versus-three, five-versus-four. We have to finish those rounds together more consistently.

GIANTX finished second at EMEA Stage 2 in 2025. What was it like to be part of that run, and what did you learn about the team’s strengths during that event?

westside: Our biggest strength is that we don’t give up. Even when we’re behind, we keep pushing together, which always gives us a chance to come back. Personally, I felt proud during that run on stage, I felt at home. My teammates made me very comfortable, so I wasn’t stressed, and that environment helped me perform.

You won your first Champions match 2–1 against Sentinels. What was your mindset going into that game, and how did it feel to beat such a powerhouse?

westside: It felt good, of course, but our mindset was simple: they’re human with two hands, one head, two legs. At Champions, every team is skilled enough to shoot back. We approached it with that respect and belief, and it paid off.

Playing alongside veterans like Kirill "Cloud" Nehozhin, what have you learned from them, and how do you feel your role has contributed to the team’s success?

westside: Cloud is incredibly experienced, and I’ve learned a lot from him in-game. Our coaches have also been crucial since day one. If you compared my first game to now, the difference would be huge, you might not recognize the player. My role fits into that growth: doing the fundamentals reliably so the team can function at a higher level.

Your next match will decide playoff qualification. Whom would you prefer to face for that spot Sentinels or XLG?

westside: Honestly, it doesn’t matter, but I’d lean toward XLG because we haven’t played them yet. If it’s Sentinels, I wouldn’t mind trying to beat them a second time.

Now that GIANTX is at Champions, what are your personal expectations and goals for the event, and what would constitute success for you and the team?

westside: Qualifying for Champions already means a lot, that’s every team’s goal, to face the best and reach the top. I don’t like placing expectations on us; we just play our game and push as hard as we can. How far we go, we’ll see but I believe we can reach the top.

How would you describe your confidence lately, both individually and collectively?

westside: We build most of our confidence in practice. We scrim the best teams, and when we see the results of that work, it gives us a real boost. We prove to ourselves what we can do, how we want to take duels, how we want to execute, and that translates into team confidence.

Has your role or approach to the game changed since joining GIANTX? If so, how?

westside: My mindset has changed in the way like we can do anything. It’s possible for us to win everything because everyone here is at a similar level, it comes down to the quality of the game on the day and how well players perform. I’ve stopped looking at other teams as “champions” to be feared. Every player is just a player, and if you play the better game, you win. That’s possible for every team here.

What advice would you give to a VCL player who aspires to reach VCT as a Sentinel? What should they focus on first?

westside: Put a lot of time into your individual work on your setups, your ideas for how a round will play out with your teammates, micro details are crucial. And of course, keep training your aim."