malbsMd: I don't want to become a super passive player again
The Guatemalan player is not afraid of dropping individual stats in a new role on G2, just as long as “the team performs well and wins.”
During the player break this summer, G2 Esports shook up things by changing two players on the team. Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen and Nemanja "nexa" Isaković were axed to allow Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski to take over the reins as the new in-game leader, while M80’s hot prospect Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa was brought in.
What's up with the roles?
For the 21-year-old Central American player, the move to G2 is a big step up team-wise but also a big change in roles from his previous team, where he occupied the star player roles. Now playing with two of the game's most profiled players in Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov, the new G2 player is tasked with the job of adjusting his gameplay.
- On the first day, TAZ told me that I would become an anchor. I was playing aggro roles in M80, and I even mentioned in a HLTV interview, that it's fine. I've done anchor roles before, but I don’t want to be jump-spotting on B site on Mirage, for example. I don't want to become a super passive player again because in other teams, I was in this role and it was a bad experience. People thought I was a bad player, but those were not my roles. Now, playing these big-site anchor roles, I feel like it suits me better. Playing star rifle roles would be better, but I don't mind. I'm playing positions where I can go into the action, so it's really good.
Are you afraid of maybe dropping your numbers or your groove when not playing the same roles you shined in at M80?
- I'm not afraid. I just want to win. As long as we play well and win, I don't mind.
“huNter sacrificed roles for me”
For Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa the move to G2 Esport is a significant milestone in his career. From teams such as Infinity Esports, Team oNe eSports, 00 Nation, and M80, the Guatemalan player now finds himself on a team with some of the biggest names in the game. But so far, the experience has been good for the young rifler, who joined the team a month ago.
- Every player in the team is sacrificing a lot of their roles. For example, for me, huNter sacrificed most of his roles on the T side, and now I'm sacrificing my roles for him. It's a nice experience to have these legendary players sacrifice some of their roles for me, a new player. It means a lot to me, and it's really good.
- G2 were really sure how they wanted me to play. I knew huNter and NiKo was going to stay in the team, so I knew I would do anchor roles in CT. But I did not think I would get these aggro roles on the T-side, but they actually managed to mix me in there, and actually have some action on the map.
Before Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa turned into a true killer machine with a 1.30 rating in 2024, the young rifler had already gained experience playing similar roles in previous teams.
- I learned a lot from my past. I'm a more experienced player now. I grew up a lot, so having shined in M80 and coming into these roles, I think I can mix it really well, and it's fine. I'm playing well. I'm not playing as fantastically as I was in M80, but it's just the beginning and I'm getting used to it. I feel like I can do really well, malbsMd concludes.
The first outing for G2 and Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa ended up being very successful with a second-place finish at the Esports World Cup 2024.
A great start for the new iteration of G2, who will face Ninjas in Pyjamas in their first match at the BLAST Premier Fall Groups in Copenhagen, where six out of 16 teams will qualify for the Fall Finals later this year.
