In this special series of articles, Esports News UK’s coverage of the Blast Spring Final 2024 is in collaboration with the betting partner GGBET UK | Photo by Jonathon Yau
Esports News UK editor Dom Sacco caught up with the UK’s lone player, mezii, at the Counter-Strike Blast Premier Spring Final in London, after his Team Vitality were eliminated in the semi-final 2-1 by Team Spirit.
Mezii on losing the semi-final to Team Spirit
I think it was unfortunate. On the last two maps, we had our chances, it felt like we knew what they were doing. Especially on Anubis, I think we got a bit unfortunate especially on the CT side, there were a few aggressions where we felt we had the advantage, but just didn’t get the kills.
I think sometimes we struggle with making the right decisions in the mid round. We know we want to be aggressive, but sometimes we’re a bit too solo in the aggressions.
Today I think it abused us a little bit, because we were making some good decisions but also not getting the trades. There was a 5v2 we lost out on, I think. It’s really hard to win these games with MR12s when we’re not winning these rounds.
“The crowd was special. Yesterday was a great first experience, but today was insane. Coming out into this crowd, it was extremely loud. Having the whole crowd chanting my name… it’s what everyone dreams of when playing the game, wanting to be professional and getting into the big stages. I couldn’t ask for more. Hopefully we can go further next time and win in front of the crowd.”
Mezii, Vitality
‘I couldn’t ask for more’ – Mezii on playing in front of the home crowd at Wembley
It was special. Yesterday was a great first experience, but today was insane. Coming out into this crowd, it was extremely loud.
And even playing, having the whole crowd chanting my name… it’s what everyone dreams of when playing the game, wanting to be professional and getting into the big stages. I couldn’t ask for more.
Wembley is definitely up there [compared to playing at other venues]. It’s a really cool setup having all of the crowd in front of you. I’m excited to come back again.
You don’t always get the chance to play in the UK in front of this crowd and in this place, it’d be really nice to come back [at the Wembley Blast Open in 2025].
And hopefully we can go further next time and win in front of the crowd. I’m just happy I got to experience it.
Mezii on the GG.BOOTH signing sessions, meeting fans… and signing a Pot Noodle
First of all, there were so many people. It was so fun as well, when you turn up to these events and you have these signing sessions. Fan after fan, they’re all coming, and it’s even better when they turn up with their unique ideas.
Some people have come with coffee cups, and there was the Pot Noodle I signed. It’s always funny when you see some of the inventive ideas fans have to get signed.
It’s one of those things that is fun to do, and it’s nice to give back to the fans that come out and show their support and come to watch these events. It’s good.
Related article: GG.BET runs on-site activities at Blast Premier Spring Final GG.BOOTH
‘It’s been exhausting at all of these events, but fun too’ – Mezii on needing a break and what’s next
We’re going into a break now. It’s been a hectic season with a lot of travelling. It’s one of the first experiences for me where we’re making deep runs in a lot of tournaments, and it’s been exhausting to be at all of these events, but also fun to have all of it. So it’ll be nice to have a break.
Thanks to all the fans who have come out to this event, all the fans at Vitality and everyone supporting us throughout the season. It’s been rough individually at times, I think, and I would’ve loved to have performed better, but hopefully I’ve been able to find a bit of form towards the end of the season.
Thanks to all the fans in the UK too – hopefully we can get some more UK players in the future and this can give some guys extra motivation just to keep grinding. Because I know we have the talent and it’s just a matter of time before we can put together some more players in the scene.
Related article: What is Mezii’s custom keyboard and Vitality jersey at the Blast Premier Spring Final?
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
