G2 is preparing for their opening match against Aurora at the BLAST Open Porto 2026 tournament in Copenhagen. Ahead of the fixture, Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko spoke about his current individual form and the overarching goals for the team. The Israeli player has built a strong reputation as one of the best anchor players in modern Counter-Strike, a status he attributes to a strict practice routine.
Embracing the anchor role and demanding improvement
HeavyGod’s individual performances have drawn high praise from the community, with frequent discussions labeling him as the best anchor in the world. Rather than deflecting the compliments, he uses them as direct motivation.
I mean obviously it’s really nice to hear that, a guy who says he doesn’t like it, he’s a liar,” HeavyGod states. “It gives me more motivation to be even better and become in general a better player, a better teammate. Work on the small things that I can improve in myself. There is always a room for improvement in any aspect if it’s inside the game or outside the game.
This drive is fueled by a relentless practice routine that has defined his career progression from Endpoint to Cloud9 and currently G2.
I believe in working hard a lot, and I’ve been like this from the beginning of my career. It’s like CS mentality, play as much as you can until you suffer,” he notes. “You need to give your best every day, every minute, every second. And you need to have the hunger to improve.
Prioritizing team trophies over individual accolades
HeavyGod secured a contract extension with G2 prior to the IEM Cologne Major. While he declined to discuss the specific details behind his decision to re-sign, his competitive objectives for the remainder of 2026 are completely clear.
In terms of achievements, it would be nice to lift a couple of trophies I would say. This is obviously where I aim, where we aim as a team, where G2 aims as an organization,” HeavyGod concludes. “Obviously, I want to be sharp individually. It’s really important for me, but I would prefer to win trophies over my individual skill.”
You can watch the entire interview down below, where you can hear HeavyGod talk about the integration of r1nkle into the roster and managing stage pressure ahead of the playoffs.
