After defeating PCIFIC Esports 2-0 in their fifth match of the
VCT EMEA Stage 2 Group Stage, NAVI’s new recruit, Abdullah
"ExiT" Al-Twaijri, gave
Sheep Esports an interview in which he shared his immediate thoughts on the game, his arrival on the roster, how he dealt with visa issues during this period of uncertainty, and more.
How are you feeling after today's match against PCIFIC Esports?
Abdullah "ExiT" Al-Twaijri: ”It wasn't the cleanest win. We expected a better performance from ourselves, and we lost a few rounds that we shouldn't have. But at the end of the day, a win is a win. It's still the group stage, so I'll definitely take it.
We saw on the second map that you struggled a bit to close it out. In your opinion, what was missing to secure a cleaner 2-0 victory?
ExiT: My stomach was hurting. I was really struggling throughout the series because of that. Aside from that, I think we lost focus on the small details. Our executions weren't as clean as they should have been, we were trying to improvise too much, and our communication got a little hectic. It wasn't as clean as we wanted it to be.
How would you evaluate NAVI's performance today? Was this close to the level you believe this roster can reach?
ExiT: No, I don't think so. Today's performance wasn't close to the level we expect from ourselves. We still won and had some really strong rounds, but we also gave away too many. No disrespect to PCIFIC, they played really well but we expect ourselves to become the best team in EMEA.
We can't afford to make mistakes like that. That said, it's still the group stage. The playoffs are what really matter. We knew that coming into today's game. We're also trying a lot of new things right now with a new system and different ideas, so winning 2-0 while experimenting is still a good accomplishment.
Looking back at when you joined NAVI earlier this year, where do you think you've improved the most since arriving?
ExiT: I think the biggest improvement came around the
Esports World Cup period. Originally, I was supposed to play Stage 1, Stage 2, Masters Toronto, and Champions, but because of my visa issues, I couldn't play. During the EWC period, where we finished top four and lost in the qualifier final, I improved a lot individually. Before that, I had spent an entire month barely playing
VALORANT because of the visa situation.
It was honestly really depressing. Since then, I've focused a lot on improving myself while also building better chemistry with my teammates. Even now, I feel like I'm improving every single day, whether it's in practice or official matches. I'm gaining more experience every day, and hopefully my best performances are still ahead of me.
ExîT during the game against PCIFIC Esports Credit: Michał Konkol/Riot Games
Moving from the MENA scene to VCT EMEA is a huge step. What has been the biggest challenge for you, both inside and outside the server?
ExiT: Definitely moving away from Saudi Arabia. I lived there for 20 years. It's the place I'm used to, and leaving my family and friends behind was the biggest challenge. Thankfully, I think I've adapted pretty well. In-game, the biggest difference is that in Tier 1, every single mistake can completely change the outcome of a match. Take today's game as an example.
They had a strong lead on defense, but after we won just one important round, the momentum completely shifted, and we ended up forcing overtime. At this level, every small detail matters. If you make a mistake, the opposing team will punish it 100% of the time. That's something I wasn't fully aware of before playing my first VCT matches, especially against FUT Esports. They were really good at abusing those small mistakes.
Playing for an organization like NAVI comes with huge expectations. You even said earlier that you expect this team to dominate the league. How do you personally deal with that pressure?
ExiT: For me, pressure is a privilege. It's not something negative. I knew what I was signing up for when I joined NAVI. It's one of the greatest organizations in the world, with a legendary history across FPS titles. I use that pressure to motivate myself and become a better player because, years from now, I'll be proud to remember that I played for NAVI and was part of this roster.
As for the expectations around the team, I know some people think we're being delusional because our results this year haven't been great. But I genuinely believe this roster is incredibly strong. We deserve to compete at international events, especially Champions. What I can promise is that we're working 200% every single day to reach that level. Hopefully, with time, we'll become one of the best teams in EMEA, or the best.
If you had to point out one thing NAVI still needs to improve before challenging the very best teams in the world, what would it be?
ExiT: I think it's about translating what we do in practice into official matches. We already play the same style, but not at the same level as we do in scrims. The good thing is that I think it's an easy problem to fix. We just need one small push to start playing on stage the same way we play in practice. Our practice sessions are really good. We have a lot of ideas, and everyone understands how we want to play. Once we bring that level into official matches, we'll be ready to challenge any team in the world.
You're one of the few players in MENA who successfully made the jump from Tier 2 to Tier 1. In your opinion, what does the MENA region need to consistently produce more top-level talent?
ExiT: I think next year's system will help a lot. More players will start grinding seriously because there will be more opportunities. I know so many MENA players, especially Saudi players, who are incredibly talented. They simply never had the opportunity. I was fortunate enough to get my chance because people saw me playing at Ascension and Challengers in 2025.
I think VCT organizations should at least give these players opportunities to trial because there are so many great players in the region. With the new system next year and the end of franchising, more teams will have the opportunity to qualify. That should create many more opportunities for both MENA players and MENA teams. I'm really hoping to see the region succeed.”
