After a devastating 0-2 loss to Natus Vincere in a crucial elimination match, it was G2 Esports’ head coach, Eetu “sAw” Saha, who stepped up to face the community in an interview with James Banks for PGL. The defeat marks another early exit for a squad currently fighting to recapture its former prestige.
A steep descent from London glory
Since their shocking and triumphant run at the BLAST Open London Finals in 2025, G2’s trajectory has been on a downward slope. Out of the ten events attended since that victory, they have missed the playoffs a staggering seven times.
G2’s latest matches
| Date | Event / Stage | Matchup | Result |
| 18/02/2026 | PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 (9-11th) | vs. Natus Vincere | L 0:2 |
| 17/02/2026 | PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 | vs. HEROIC | W 2:0 |
| 16/02/2026 | PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 | vs. paiN | W 2:0 |
| 15/02/2026 | PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 | vs. PARIVISION | L 1:2 |
| 14/02/2026 | PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 | vs. Vitality | L 1:2 |
| 06/02/2026 | IEM Kraków 2026 (5-6th) | vs. MOUZ | L 0:2 |
Here at their latest event, the pattern repeated itself. The team stumbled out of the gate with an 0-2 start in the Swiss stage, dropping 1-2 series to both Vitality and PARIVISION. While they battled back, they ultimately fell at the final hurdle against NAVI. Despite these mounting frustrations, sAw remains adamant that the roster is not mechanically outclassed by their tier-one peers.
It’s not like we are far off [from winning]. If we give 5% more, we would turn these games around.
The missing five percent: Inconsistencies and mental blocks
Pinpointing exactly where that missing 5% comes from is a challenge the coaching staff is actively trying to solve. According to sAw, the deficit is born not of a lack of firepower, but of persistent inconsistencies that emerge when the pressure is highest.
Where do we get that extra 5%? That’s the tough part. There are a lot of inconsistencies: whether it’s the mental part or being on the same page.
The burden on HeavyGod and the search for star power
Individually, there are bright spots – most notably Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko, who continues to be the team’s reliable anchor. HeavyGod was once again G2’s highest-rated player at the event, boasting an impressive 1.21 rating. Álvaro “SunPayus” García also showed an uptick in form during the elimination match, though it was offset by an unexpected drop-off from Matúš “MATYS” Šimko.
| Player | Maps | Rounds | K-D Diff | K/D | Rating 3.0 |
| HeavyGod | 28 | 604 | +43 | 1.11 | 1.14 |
| MATYS | 28 | 604 | -3 | 0.99 | 1.06 |
| malbsMd | 28 | 604 | +5 | 1.01 | 1.06 |
| SunPayus | 28 | 604 | +27 | 1.07 | 0.99 |
| huNter- | 28 | 604 | -38 | 0.90 | 0.97 |
While sAw was quick to compliment HeavyGod’s individual heroics – specifically highlighting a crucial, momentum-shifting pistol round – it begs a larger question. Is the elusive “extra 5%” actually a symptom of a broader structural issue? Without the explosive, sheer star power that historically defined G2’s ranks, the team is now heavily reliant on across-the-board consistency – a trait they are currently struggling to master.
You can see the interview with sAw here.
