Team Heretics finally got their first win of 2026, 2-0 against ULF Esports, and for
Mert
"Wo0t" Alkan, it felt like more than just a result. After a shaky opener last week against
NAVI, Heretics looked far more comfortable this time around, with the roster starting to find its shape around the new addition, Berkcan
"ComeBack" Şentürk. Right after the match, Wo0t spoke with us about what changed, how the team is adapting, and what Heretics wants to build from here.
How are you experiencing this start of the season personally? What feels solid and already in place for you guys?
Mert "Wo0t" Alkan: "We’re still getting used to each other, especially with ComeBack (Berkcan Şentürk). He’s really different than Miniboo (Dominykas Lukaševičius) in terms of playstyle. Personally, I’m focusing on my individual performance and mechanics. I’m grinding the game playing ranked, same as usual. As a team, we just grind.
When you look back at your first match, what cost you the most last week?
Wo0t: We didn’t play well enough as a team. They were just the better team. We played default, and they played at 100%. Our default wasn’t enough because they’re strong individually too. This time we played solid. There were good moments and bad moments, but the good moments were way more than the bad ones, so we won.
After that loss, how do you react personally? Do you step away, review right away, or change something in your routine? How does the team handle it together?
Wo0t: It wasn’t about routine. We changed some comps and came back with way more freedom on the map. You can see it’s more comfortable for us now. We’re trying to find a playstyle that suits us and also fits ComeBack at the same time.
With Comeback joining the team, what does he bring compared to Miniboo last year, and what is he still adapting to?
Wo0t: ComeBack is really, really skilled. I think he’s one of the most skilled players in the world. His mechanics are insane—aim, movement, everything. That gives you a lot of rounds you can win. And his playstyle is unexpected: he does things opponents don’t expect.
Wo0t and Comeback during the game against ULF Esports. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
You said you and the team translate for him when things are complicated. How does that work in official and in practice with the language barrier?
Wo0t: He’s improving day by day because he speaks English all day. He’s also getting English lessons. But sometimes when he doesn’t understand, we talk in Turkish so there’s no misunderstanding. Most of the time we speak English, but when we think he doesn’t understand, we switch to Turkish.
A lot of teams rebuilt their rosters this year. Keeping a core can be an advantage. Do you see it that way?
Wo0t: It can be an advantage and a disadvantage. It depends on the players. In our team, everyone is still hungry to win and still hyped. When you know people for two years, sometimes it can get annoying, but in our team, nobody is annoying. Everyone is a good person in real life. So for us it’s an advantage because we learned a lot in two years, and we have a lot of experience together.
With this 2026 Team Heretics lineup, do you expect an early spike, or is it more of a long-term project?
Wo0t: This win is a start. I think we’re going to make a good run after this game; we felt what it’s like to win. We felt the momentum. From now on, we’ll be way better than before.
What’s your take on the meta changes and Breeze being added back? Does it benefit you?
Wo0t: It benefits me. I play a lot of agents. My role is flex, so I play everything. Sometimes I’m not shooting well, sometimes confidence isn’t there, but I don’t have problems with agents because I play them all.
To finish: over the next few weeks, what’s the number one priority for Heretics to level up? What would a successful season look like for you?
Wo0t: We want to play a good
VALORANT. When you play well, you’re having fun on stage, and being on stage becomes enjoyable. As a team, we want to play good Valorant. And for the season, we want to win trophies, and also another EWC title. They increased the prize pool a lot, so I want it one more time.
