The first three months of 2020 were perhaps the best days for Na`Vi as they showcased an extremely high performance in the LAN tournaments they participated in, reaching the finals three times, including the prestigious IEM Katowice 2020. This championship helped Na`Vi rise to the number one position in the world for the first time after more than 4 years of waiting. In the recent ESL Pro League Season 11, despite facing two defeats early on, Electronic and his teammates once again demonstrated their resilience with three consecutive wins to top Group B.
In the interview below with HLTV reporters, Electronic shares his honest thoughts about personal life and CS:GO, salary levels over time, and future plans after retiring.
How long do you plan to continue playing? Do you think there is an age limit in Esports?
Honestly, I have never thought about it. Everything will depend on my performance and health, and of course, real life as well. In general, I believe I can maintain my performance until I’m 35, and f0rest is a prime example. If traditional athletes can compete at a high level when they are 40, then there’s no reason why Esports should be different. The issue is simply the motivation to compete.
How do you keep your motivation to continue competing at a high level?
Why do I need to seek motivation? It’s within every individual, and I continuously want to improve myself and play even better. Of course, I don’t play as much as S1mple, but I’ve never been late or unwilling to practice with the team. If I had to choose between scrimming 6 or 10 matches or 4 FPL matches, I would definitely choose to scrim with the team. When practicing with the team, you know that all your teammates are eager to grow and become better, whereas in FPL, you might encounter players who just waste your time.
So how much time do you usually spend playing games?
I think it depends on the individual. For example, for KRIMZ, 30 hours in 2 weeks is already a record, but for S1mple…
Has money ever affected your motivation to compete?
Not at all; when I first joined Na`Vi, I was the lowest-paid, but I didn’t care. Money is not the issue; even if I wasn’t paid, I would still compete.
Have you ever let fame affect you?
No, I’m not a star or anything. I’m not a famous football player, singer, or actor; I’m only known in a very small community. Esports rarely gets broadcast on television, so I’m definitely not famous.
Tell us about how you joined Na`Vi.
I don’t remember the details very well, but someone contacted me and asked if I wanted to play for Na`Vi. I agreed, and they told me not to worry about anything else, the organizations would handle the negotiations. My fee at that time was high, but compared to today, it was just like a player in the top 30.
In your opinion, what was Na`Vi’s peak performance when Zeus and Edward were still around?
We had 6 months of very good performance, starting from StarSeries & i-league Season 4 where we lost the final, and from then on we consistently placed in the top 4 at LAN tournaments and even won 3 consecutive championships.
Why couldn’t you defeat Astralis in the FACEIT Major final?
Simply because they put in a lot of effort and practice, Astralis deserved that title.
Was the original plan for GuardiaN to play long-term or just for a few LAN tournaments? Why didn’t it succeed?
We had a long-term plan, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out due to language issues. In critical situations, having to remember how to report to teammates can affect concentration. He had to think too much and couldn’t focus on the game, which is why GuardiaN missed many shots. He said he understood what everyone was saying, but I don’t think so.
At IEM Katowice, when did you realize Na`Vi could win the championship?
It was after we defeated FaZe Clan in the group stage; I ran over to S1mple and told him that we would definitely make it to the finals.
What’s your most memorable victory and your most forgettable loss?
The most memorable victory was definitely at ESL One Cologne 2018; the atmosphere was truly unbelievable. If there had been an audience at IEM Katowice, it would have been amazing. As for the worst performance, that would be at the BLAST Pro Series Moscow and StarLadder in Belek.
What is the strength of the Danes?
They have a very professional working style.
So what’s the difference between Denmark and other countries or regions, like Sweden for example?
Sweden and CIS share a common problem where there are players who don’t like playing with each other, and organizations don’t want to expand beyond their borders. Why did Fnatic kick Golden after decent results and then bring him back? NiP is the same. As far as I know, the Danes don’t have that problem and they’re not toxic, but of course, that’s just my perspective.
In your opinion, is a high salary good or bad?
It’s good for publicity; when people see sky-high numbers, many will be curious and follow the matches, even if they might not understand everything that’s happening. For organizations, it’s certainly not good, even though our salaries are just a fraction compared to traditional sports like football.
How has your salary changed throughout your career?
When I first started competing, I was paid $200, then when I moved to another team, I was paid $500. Then it was $3000, and when I joined Na`Vi, that number doubled and increased gradually with the team’s performance.
What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought since becoming a professional?
I’ve spent a lot on home renovations and buying a car.
Has anyone ever offered you to throw a match?
No one has ever made such an offer to me.
Who do you enjoy playing with the most, aside from your teammates at Na`Vi?
I always want to play with NIKo, and I really like Magisk even though we play the same position. The others would be Gla1ve, Flusha, and ZywOo.
Do you compete with S1mple for the title of best player in the world?
Not at all; all I care about is Na`Vi maintaining this number one position. I believe Sasha (s1mple) would answer the same way.
How do you feel about being awarded the MVP at ICE Challenge?
It’s nice, but not as nice as if we had won it.
Do you want to do anything else outside of Esports?
I just want my daughter to have the best life possible; other than that, I don’t know what I could do outside of Esports. By around 30, I might become a CEO, coach, or something in Esports.
Have you ever worked in a field unrelated to Esports?
No. I signed my first contract at 16, so…
So would you let your children work in this industry?
My daughter definitely not, but if I have a son, it would be different. After all, Esports has its downsides, such as health impacts. I feel that we travel more than traditional athletes. There was a time we flew from Europe to America, then from America to China, and finally back to Europe. These constant travels can affect the immune system, and you can easily catch a cold.
What do you think about the coronavirus outbreak?
I’m extremely worried. There are many elderly people around where I live, and I care about their health. I think the government needs to take more drastic measures; there are still many people going out just to walk or hold parties; those actions could lead to disaster.
ESL Pro League Season 11 is still ongoing with matches from Group C in the EU and North America taking place every evening; these matches will be commentated live in Vietnamese on the 500Bros YouTube channel.