EP kozzy ahead of the match against KC: "We're going to win"

Enterprise Esports and their gem kozzy achieved a new feat by defeating Team Vitality in the first match of the VCT EMEA Stage 2 playoffs.

kozzy before the game against Team Vitality. Credit: Sasha Safronova/Riot Games

"We're playing insane as a team, even though we're starting sometimes bad, we can reset for the next games"

How far can Enterprise Esports go in VCT EMEA playoffs? After securing three victories in the Play-Ins, including two against VCT teams, the Czech organization added another win against Team Vitality on Thursday. Enterprise are now just two victories away from qualifying for the VALORANT Champions in Shanghai, a historic achievement for a team coming from the VCL in the same season.

Led by the outstanding performances of their 16-year-old prodigy Denis-Stefan “kozzy” Aionitoaei, the team will now face Karmine Corp as they look to move one step closer to their goal. The Romanian prodigy spoke to Sheep Esports following the match.

What is your first feeling after the game?

Denis-Stefan “kozzy” Aionitoaei: “I feel amazing actually. It was a bit rough at the start. This game was kind of similar as the one against Fnatic. We didn’t show up during the first game and then starting the second game, things started to get better so it’s fine.

Defeating a team like Team Vitality isn't something easy. What do you think led you to victory today?

kozzy: For sure it wasn’ that easy, as we expected. I expected us to start like that, to be honest, first game, but I had trust in my teammates, I had faith that we were going to win.

Did you expect the games to be harder today than during Play-ins?

kozzy: Yeah, I'm expecting every game in playoffs to be harder than the ones in Play-Ins.

Your team still made a strong start during the Play-Ins by defeating three teams, including Fnatic and Gentle Mates from VCT. What are your thoughts on your run so far?

kozzy: To be fair, I still think that it was a good start, actually, but we keep learning game by game and just focus on the games.

What do you think about your own first games in VCT?

kozzy: I think I started a bit rough as well, but after getting used to the stage and crowd and everything, it's fine for me.

What do you think about your own performances today? During the second game, people were impressed by your performances on Jett, so how did you feel today?

kozzy: On the second map, I expected us to win, to be fair, because we've been practicing the map, and I've been playing well as well on it. And to be fair, I think Jett is my comfortable pick, let's say.

A few months ago, you played your first games in VCL, and now you've been playing your first games in VCT. Did you expect that things would go this quickly?

kozzy: Yeah, the time passed really fast, to be honest, but I've been working hard to be here, so yeah I am just happy about it.

Some of your teammates have a lot of experience, even in VCT. How much does that help you to improve and perform overall?

kozzy: I'm still a rookie; I still need to learn some things, but with what I already learned, I have my basics at a high level. They just teach me how not to shake on the stage. But the basic things on stage, nothing really. But whenever I have a question, of course, I'll ask them.

Next game will then be against Karmine Corp. How are you feeling about it, what do you think about the team?

kozzy: The team is looking good; they are all individually primed up, to be honest. But I still think we're going to win tomorrow. We have the momentum and everything, and for sure, we're going to win.

How are you evaluating your chances to qualify for the Champions and, at this point, to actually win Stage 2?

kozzy: I think it’s 80% possible. We're playing insane as a team, even though we're starting sometimes bad, we can reset for the next games. I'm confident that we're better than every team here.”