Following
Natus Vincere’s victory over Team Vitality in the VCT EMEA playoffs,
Sheep Esports spoke with veteran in-game leader
Kyrylo "ANGE1" Karasov. From his long journey in
Counter-Strike to
VALORANT, his role in guiding rookies, and his thoughts on working alongside a CS legend like Vincent
"Happy" Schopenhauer, ANGE1 reflects on his career, leadership, and the evolving challenges of staying at the top.
How would you describe the energy on the server today, and how do you feel about your performance?
Kyrylo "ANGE1" Karasov: "At the start, during the first four rounds, the team felt a bit shaky and nervous; it was an elimination match after all. We had to talk quickly among ourselves, and I told everyone to communicate more, to be present in the game, and to enjoy it. After that, we managed to settle down and gather ourselves.
You’ve had a long career, from Counter-Strike to VALORANT. Did you ever expect to still be competing at this level after so many years?
ANGE1: Honestly, no, it’s incredibly hard. But here I am, and I’m very thankful that I can still play, enjoy the game, and even win sometimes, aiming still feels good.
What lessons from Counter-Strike have proven most valuable for you as an in-game leader in VALORANT?
ANGE1: Experience, above all. It has become much easier for me to read younger IGLs because they tend to follow the same patterns. It’s hard to fully explain in a short answer, but there are tells you can recognize. That, plus learning how to work with players and how to talk to them effectively, has been extremely important.
On the other hand, what has been the hardest part of adapting to VALORANT compared to CS?
ANGE1: The sheer number of variables. There are so many agents, so many abilities, and so many possibilities depending on the opponent. You constantly have to calculate different scenarios. But to be honest, that’s also the part I enjoy the most. I like working with my brain, analyzing, and adapting. The maps and the meta change so frequently that I can never relax, it keeps me sharp. In CS, even with CS2, you often repeated the same rounds over and over. Here, there’s something new almost every week.
NAVI brought in a rookie like Alex "alexiiik" Hawlasek. How do you help younger players adjust to the pace of VCT?
ANGE1: Sometimes I have to be very direct. Young players often make mistakes they bring from Tier 2, so I stop them and explain: "You can’t do this unless you have a reason". I tell them, “If you’re going to make a risky move, you need proper information to justify it. Don’t do things just because you feel like it.” But honestly, I’m very proud of Alex. He’s progressing much faster than I expected when moving into Tier 1.
Did you have to change your leadership style to better connect with younger teammates?
ANGE1: Yes, but not because of their age, because of their lack of experience. I can really rely less on them for mid-round calling or detailed information, so we’ve had to adapt. That’s made us a bit more predictable on attack, but at the same time, the players feel more comfortable.
Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot Games
You are now coached by Vincent "Happy" Schopenhauer, a CS legend. What does it mean for you to work with him, and does it add any extra motivation?
ANGE1: Not motivation exactly, but I really appreciate the chance to work with someone so experienced. We took different paths in CS and now in VALORANT, so we see things differently. I think it’s actually good when a coach and an IGL have different perspectives, because together they can create something unique over time.
Does the energy of younger teammates remind you of your early years, and does it push you to set the example?
ANGE1: Not really. I was much better when I was younger; players today are weaker compared to back then [Laugh]. Honestly, VALORANT is lucky I joined after my CS years. If I had been here at 25… well, it would have been a different story.
After such a long career, what still motivates you daily? Are there any specific achievements you’re still chasing?
ANGE1: Winning. I’m hungry for winning. I hate losing, and I love winning; that’s what keeps me going. Money doesn’t matter to me; it never has. Maybe that cost me some opportunities in the past, but winning is all I care about.
Many fans see you as a father figure in the scene. Do you embrace that role, and how do you show that experience can still match youth at the top level?
ANGE1: Some games are actually easier for me because of my experience. For example, calling against a young IGL like
Unfake (Bartosz Bernacki) today wasn’t that difficult. But I also have bad games, like the one against
Gentle Mates, where I felt I was a big reason we lost. I played countless matchmaking games afterward to try and fix it. So yes, experience gives me advantages, but there are still disadvantages too.
Do you think age matters in terms of competing at the highest level?
ANGE1: Not really. Esports is not about age, it’s about motivation. How much do you want to play? How much do you want to compete? That’s what matters. Of course, after 40, it might be different. Even now, it’s harder for me to find the motivation to grind as much as I used to. My mechanics aren’t what they were, but I bring motivation and solutions to help my team. It’s about balance. If you play too much, you burn out; if you play too little, your skills drop. You need to find the right balance.
Header Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games
