Last weekend, during the
LES Kickoff Tournament in Madrid,
Sheep Esports sat down with Mohamed “
Myrtus” Rahli to talk about
Movistar KOI Fénix’s strong start to the season, as they defeated
Barça eSports 2-0 in the final to win the tournament and qualify for EMEA Masters.
In this exclusive interview, Myrtus shares his thoughts on the new Spanish ERL1 competition, his integration within the roster, and the differences he has noticed between the French and Spanish scenes.
How do you feel after lifting the trophy?
Mohamed “Myrtus” Rahli: “It feels really good. Even though the format was a bit particular and short, a title is still a title. We worked a lot to reach this point, and it’s actually my very first trophy, so I’m really happy and proud of it.
This is the first time KOI Fénix has won a Spanish competition. Were you aware of that? How does it make you feel to be part of that moment?
Myrtus: Yes, I knew, and it definitely adds extra flavor to the victory. It’s an honor to be part of that moment. I’d love for us to build the same kind of dominance the organization had back in the Movistar Riders era.
Did you imagine one year ago that you would be winning the Spanish ERL1 and qualifying for EMEA Masters?
Myrtus: Every year, I’ve always hoped and worked toward winning and reaching EMEA, so in a way, yes. I’m very grateful to be part of a project like this where I can truly develop and improve in the right environment.
Last year was tough for you with BDS Academy. What have you improved since then? Do you feel more confident now?
Myrtus: The last two years in LFL were a bit hard for me, but I learned a lot, in-game and outside of the game. I learned a lot about myself. It’s helping me now to improve in-game and to understand how to work, how to talk to people, and things like that.
How would you describe your new team? What makes this roster different from the ones you’ve been on before?
Myrtus: This roster is different because they only changed the support role, so I was a bit scared to join because they already knew each other. But I fit very well with them. Everything is going well. We have real synergy, even outside of the game. We have fun together, which helps us avoid mental boom. Scrims are going well. Everyone is working hard and we are all motivated.
In a previous interview with Sheep Esports, Ivan “NightSlayer” Bilous mentioned that the team improved a lot in communication, especially in botlane. How do you feel playing bot lane with 13?
Myrtus: It feels very good. We were already kind of friends before joining the team, so we match very well together. We are both aggressive players, so we understand each other. Everyone says what they have to say, so the communication is good for everyone.
You have played for two LEC academies: BDS Academy and now KOI Academy. How would you compare those experiences?
Myrtus: It’s only the start with KOI, but being in an academy is a very good tool. You can watch LEC games, talk with LEC players and learn from them. I don’t think there is a big difference. It’s kind of the same — watching LEC scrims, interacting with LEC players and bootcamping.
This isn’t your first time playing on stage, as you played in France before. Does playing on stage hype you up, or do you feel more nervous?
Myrtus: I feel very good playing on stage. I don’t know why, but when I’m at home playing, I’m very nervous. When I’m on stage, I feel hyped. I don’t really know why, but I really like playing on stage.
What differences stand out to you between the French and Spanish scenes?
Myrtus: In the French scene, I felt closer to the community. I could stream and interact on X more. Now it’s a bit different with the Spanish community, so I don’t tweet a lot or do many things with the community. That’s the main difference for me.
What can we expect from Movistar KOI Fénix in the upcoming splits?
Myrtus: You can expect more dominance, more discipline, and even more hard work. We really want to become one of the ERL teams that people are genuinely afraid to face and, honestly, this is only the beginning for us.
What do you value the most about Movistar KOI as an organization? And do you have a message for the fans?
Myrtus: I got a lot of new followers and messages, so I just want to say thank you. I’m very happy to be in this team. I value the organization, the staff and everyone a lot. So thank you to the whole team and thank you to the community. Vamos KOI.”
