Eternal Fire continue their great start to the year with another playoff appearance, this time at IEM Katowice 2025. We had the opportunity to speak with Engin “MAJ3R” Kupeli ahead of their quarter-final matchup versus The MongolZ.
Bruno: First of all, congratulations on making the playoffs.
MAJ3R: Thank you.
Bruno: First I want to go over the FaZe game because it was so crazy.
How did it feel to close it out after those overtimes?
MAJ3R: Yes, it was a really intense Nuke. Anubis was okay, it was more easy, but Nuke was really, really head-to-head against them, but in the end, we found the solution and I’m very happy. I’m very glad that we finished on Nuke and we won 2-0.
How has jottAAA been fitting into the team? You’re doing very well with him so far.
MAJ3R: Yes, jottAAA is part of the team since two months now, maybe less. Everything is fine, he’s trying to adapt. I changed a little my system on T-side and also a little on CT, but on CT he has the same position as Calyx, so it didn’t change a lot. But on T side a lot of things changed and I think he’s adapting well. It’s two tournaments, we’re doing well, so it means that something is better, is positive. So everything is fine for now, but we need to work a lot.
Credit: ESL Faceit Group | Enos Ku
Did you expect to get two playoffs from the first two events of the year?
MAJ3R: No. We were not expecting to do two playoffs, one final in BLAST and now we’re in the playoffs. We didn’t expect that to be honest. If I said yes it would be a little… not true.
But now, I knew that with jottAAA we would be better, I felt inside of me, because in my system it was important to have a player like him, but also outside the game. He’s bringing a lot of positive vibes, a lot of sometimes funny calls, funny things, funny words and he makes us laugh in-game.
Sometimes that’s important also.
Credit: Adela Sznajder | © ESL
Bruno: And do you think that helps also with mental resilience? Because against 3DMAX you had a tough game, close game, and you won it out, and against FaZe.
Do you feel like your mental resilience is quite good compared to other teams?
MAJ3R: I will not compare with other teams, because I don’t know every team’s mental. But from last year, yeah, we are way better than last year, yes.
Bruno: You’re in the quarter-final against TheMongolZ, but if you win out against them you could be facing Vitaity again.
What is it about Vitality that makes it such a good matchup for you guys?
MAJ3R: Before thinking about Vitality. Mongolz… we always lose against MongolZ to be honest, it’s a kryptonite. We played a lot against them, we won sometimes, but the last matches we lost. So for us to win against MongolZ is important, because I think MongolZ is a great team. Individually they are really strong, like us. They are, like, similar to us. And then for Vitality, I don’t know. I’m French, so maybe that’s why. Maybe that’s why we won against them, but Vitality is one of the best teams in the world and if we have the chance to play against them in the semi-final it would be an amazing game.
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Bruno: And lastly, the FAMAS and MP9 update.
Do you think it’s good enough, the update or do you think the MP9 needs a bigger nerf?
MAJ3R: To be honest, since we are in this tournament the Play-in, the first Play-in we played with the last update, and for the last matches we played with the new update. But I didn’t have a lot of time to analyze, to try in practice, because we don’t practice a lot. But, for now, I’m still using the MP9 and sometimes when there’s a FAMAS on the ground I take it, I try it, but I don’t exactly have the feeling what is better or what isn’t.
Bruno: Thank you MAJ3R and good luck in the playoffs.
MAJ3R: Thank you.
Next up: VP Fame - I like Train, much better than Vertigo