On Saturday, following Karmine Corp’s elimination from the playoffs after their loss against Fnatic in the VALORANT VCT EMEA Stage 2, Sheep Esports sat down with Martin "Marteen" Pátek to reflect on the team’s journey. During the interview, he opened up about how he handled the pressure of a do-or-die series, the impact of Artur "pyrolll" Minin arrival after the loss to Natus Vincere, how their victory over Team Liquid boosted their confidence, and how he has evolved as a Duelist alongside seasoned veterans.

This was a do-or-die playoff match against Fnatic. How did you and the team handle the pressure going into it, and how do you evaluate the team’s performance today?

Martin "Marteen" Pátek: "We felt fine, we were doing pretty well. I think most of it crumbled midway through the map on Corrode, and we lost our momentum heading into Bind. We managed to regain it for a while, but on attack, we were completely lost and couldn’t close it out twice.

We noticed KC tried an unusual composition on Corrode with two Smokes and three Initiators. What was the idea behind that?

Marteen: It was mostly just to surprise people. Teams don’t usually expect these kinds of crazy comps, so it’s the sort of thing that can catch them off guard in one match. I used to play Brimstone in GMT Esports about three years ago, so I’m comfortable on him.

Knowing that a loss meant elimination, did you prepare differently mentally or strategically for this match?

Marteen: I’d say we prepared mostly the same way we do for other matches. We just tried to adjust our process a little bit to make it more efficient. The preparation was mainly about countering their slow style. If they play slow, we also have to slow down and match that pace.

After the loss to NAVI, KC brought in pyrolll to replace Efe "Elite" Teber. What impact did that change have on the team dynamic?

Marteen: Obviously, it changed the vibe of the team because Elite had been with us for almost a year. It definitely felt different. I wouldn’t say it was better or worse, just different.

With pyrolll, you bounced back and beat Team Liquid last week. How important was that win for your confidence before facing Fnatic?

Marteen: Honestly, by the time we played today, we had kind of forgotten about the win over Team Liquid. But still, it showed we could bounce back and play well until the problems on Lotus attack happened.

How has pyrolll integrated into the roster so quickly, and what does he bring that’s different from Elite?

Marteen: We mostly just gave him clear tasks. We told him we weren’t expecting anything spectacular, just to do the jobs assigned by the coaches, especially with the role swaps. I think he did that pretty well.

Looking back at your journey, how would you describe your growth as a Duelist from your early days to your time at KC and all the roster changes since your arrival?

Marteen: I’d say I’ve grown a lot as both a person and a player. But honestly, for the past two years, I’ve mostly been losing, except for the start of last year, and that’s been really frustrating, especially the way we’ve been losing. And about roster changes for me, nothing really changed. The only difference is the person I’m communicating with in-game and mostly about the game plan and adjusting to how they play. I just adapted accordingly.

The Duelist role is demanding. What do you enjoy most about it, and what has been the hardest part of mastering it?

Marteen: The hardest part is keeping your confidence through bad games. Young players, especially, can struggle with that. After a rough game, they might crumble a bit. It’s important to keep believing in yourself no matter what.

You’re one of the youngest on the squad. What is it like playing alongside veterans like Matias "Saadhak" Delipetro or Dmitrii "SUYGETSU" Iliushin, and what have you learned from them?

Marteen: I’ve grown a lot thanks to my teammates and coaches, both last year and this year. The experience they bring is very valuable, especially when we have team talks on specific topics. I really appreciate having them around and being able to learn from their past experiences."