SYDNEY -- The IEM Sydney Counter-Strike: Global Offensive playoffs are fully underway, and after not dropping a map in the group stage, NRG Esports have made their way to the semifinals. Sydney is NRG's third LAN showing with new addition Tarik "tarik" Celik, who replaced Jacob "FugLy" Medina in February. Without the likes of Astralis or Natus Vincere in attendance, NRG are dark horses to lift the IEM trophy with their relatively new lineup.
ESPN Esports talked to NRG's newest addition about his transition into NRG, initial thoughts on the roster and how practice with them has been so far.
ESPN: In NRG as a team, it doesn't seem like you guys have set roles in the traditional sense. As a player who can plug and play many different spots in a team, how have you found the integration into NRG?
Tarik: Yeah, I think it has been a bit plug and play in the sense that I've been taking up different roles at times. I've been trying to figure out where I best fit into their system. Sometimes that's entry-ing, sometimes that's lurking, double AWPing, stuff like that.
I just try to fill in the holes, and also they let me do things that I like to do, which is being aggressive and making plays. I think it's important to have that balance where you get to do the things you like to do and then also sometimes you have to fill in the holes to make sure the team does succeed.
ESPN: As someone who has played against NRG a number of times before joining the roster, what has been -- as an outsider coming in -- the most surprising thing about the team?
Tarik: The most surprising thing is how well everyone gets along together. It's very interesting to see that we get along so well inside and outside the game. I feel like most teams do have that, but with this one I think we do have a stronger connection. I think that helps our play.
Apart from that, our communication is pretty good comparing from other teams. That's something that's really important to make sure that we do succeed. So I've been surprised by that.
ESPN: How do you help contribute to the calls of NRG given your experience as an in-game leader in the past?
Tarik: I'm trying to give my input as to where we think we can do better. Especially in our reviews, I try to give as much feedback as to what we could've done to avoid a bad situation or how we could've played a round better. I feel like since I've joined we've made a lot of progress in setting up protocols and routines -- how to set up rounds, handle situations.
ESPN: Do any specific examples of these protocols jump to mind?
Tarik: Sure. I guess an example of a protocol would be, say, if we're on Inferno in a 4-v.-3: What's going to be the most successful thing for us to do? Or another example of a protocol would be is, if we're going to hit a site, what are the nades we have to prioritize? If we have low utility, what do we want to throw? When we're entry-ing, what path should we take? What route do we want to use when taking a site?
These are small details, but they're really important in my opinion in making a strong team.
ESPN: How do you go about practicing these specific situations? Do you try to force it in a scrim and then work from there, or is it more just addressing them as they arise?
Tarik: I think that getting into those situations ... well, I mean, first you have to screw up, right? So once we lose, say, that 4-v.-3, then we look at the round, figure out what went wrong and then talk about what we should do next time. Then, going into the next scrim, everyone will have it in the back of their head if we do get into this situation, then we can say, "Let's do this NiP [Ninjas in Pyjamas] reaction." Then everyone knows what we're going to do.
We aren't going to play the scrim and try to get into that situation. We'll wait for it to come to us and then react appropriately because that's how it's going to be in a match.
ESPN: Are there any out-of-game protocols that you've implemented into the team?
Tarik: These guys have actually been really good in terms of showing up to practice on time. ... I guess the one thing we do sort of lack right now is maintaining a completely productive practice in the sense that we do troll a lot. So we do joke around a lot in practice, and that's one thing that I have tried to keep down to a minimum.
I have no problem with people trolling; I love to troll myself, too. But we've got to make sure we have a balance between when it's time to practice and do things the right way, and when it's playtime. Then you can troll and joke around. I think sometimes we overdo it, and that's something we're working on.
ESPN: How does the environment of NRG compare to other teams you've been in?
Tarik: On MIBR we were pretty serious, especially with [coach Janko "YNk" Paunović]. We took things very seriously: Like practice, we didn't f--- around for the most part. But on this team, I think it's a bit more giggly and fun.
ESPN: Is that good for you individually?
Tarik: I think it can get overwhelming if we overdo it. I try to be pretty mature, keep it at a certain level of professionalism. But I think we're not at the point where it's bugging me.
I voice my opinions. If I think there's a problem, I'll be like, "Hey, guys, we've got to focus," and it's usually sorted. So I don't think it's too bad. Overall, it's better for us to be having fun. That way, everyone wants to be here.