After six long years, Snax returns to glory: I’m happy to be a champion again
In an interview with Pley.gg, the Polish IGL reflects on G2’s triumph at BLAST Fall Final, m0NESY as the world's best AWPer, and responds to the recent criticism from the scene on him and G2.
📍Pley.gg at BLAST Premier Fall Final in Forum Arena, Copenhagen.
Six years after lifting his last trophy, Counter-Strike legend Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski has returned to the top, winning the BLAST Premier Fall Final with G2.
The victory marks a career-defining moment for the Polish icon, who spent years competing in the lower tiers, before making his triumphant comeback as the captain and in-game leader for the star-studded G2 squad.
- I’m pretty excited. I can say that I have won these kinds of tournaments back in the day. But this is my first trophy since 2018 – that’s six years, Snax told Pley.gg following the 3-1 victory over NAVI.
Reflecting on the emotions right at the winning moment, he added:
- Relief. I felt relief from the pressure, from the stress, from everything. All I can say is that I’m just really happy to be a champion again.
Responding to the criticism
The title comes at a time when Snax has faced some criticism from the scene since taking over the leadership in G2 during the summer break.
We asked Snax if he believed this victory would silence his critics.
-Nah. They will never be silent. People will always talk and they will always search for someone to blame. But I don’t care. They can say whatever they want, I’m just going to do my job. If I at one point feel I’m doing a bad job then G2 will kick me or I do it myself. But I don’t care what random people say.
After nine consecutive losses, G2 have now managed to beat NAVI. I know you weren’t there for all the losses, but how does it feel to finally take down your bullies?
-I don’t really feel they were our bullies because mostly we were losing 2-1 in close matches. Obviously, they were winning those matches. But I think it’s a better question for the other guys [Snax said while laughing and pointing towards his G2 teammates].
- But I think it’s a big relief for them to break this curse they had against NAVI.
“He’s just crazy, this kid”
One standout player during the event – and especially in the grand final - was Russian prodigy Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, who earned another MVP title despite being ill over the weekend.
During our chat with the G2 captain, he also heaped praise on his young star:
- Bro, he’s just crazy, this kid. Whenever I watch him shoot with the AWP and how he’s thinking in the game, it’s just insane. He’s for sure the best AWPer in the world.
- So, it’s nice to have m0NESY in my arsenal. But you know, he also asked me yesterday if it would be okay if he dropped the AWP to me if he wasn’t feeling it. I just said: “Of course. I can do it. I played it back in the day, so you can trust me with your AWP”, Snax said with a big smile while referring to him beating ZywOo 4-2 in AWP-duels in the semifinal.
What does this mean for you and the team going forward that you have secured this title today?
- We’re on a good path right now. We know what has been working for us at this tournament; what maps are good and what maps we need to work on. Again, we don’t have that much time before IEM Rio, but this victory will give us more confidence for upcoming tournaments, Snax concluded.
