“The update on Anubis recently was underwhelming. I think the players expected more.” – ropz on Anubis, his playstyle, and

Robin ‘ropz’ Kool became the lynch pin in a transformed Vitality who went from one trophy in 2024, to nine trophies in 2025 including both majors.

The Estonian lurker’s unique style of play proved pivotal in unlocking the potential of one of Counter-Strike’s most accomplished rosters.

Esports News UK spoke to ropz at IEM Kraków to understand what makes his playstyle so difficult to replicate, and predict.

The ‘star anchor’ also spoke about his feeling about the switch from Katowice to Kraków and what he admires about his teammates.

You have that iconic photo of looking at the IEM Katowice trophy. What does it feel like being in Kraków, and how does it feel like the same prestigious tournament to you?

I think coming as a player, you don’t really notice a difference. You’re obviously coming into a different location.

But the trophy is the same. I think the trophy is the biggest vibe-setter. You’re bringing over the trophy from Katowice to Kraków.

It’s the one thing that sets the really unique tone through to Katowice, and now you have it in Kraków.

But as a player, I don’t really feel the difference. We’re in Poland after all, and it’s really close to Katowice.

So overall, I don’t feel much of a difference.

apEX said at BLAST Bounty that you need a lot of time to prepare. How did you prepare for this event?

Nothing specific, we just play the game, play aimbots and deathmatch, check some nades, come up with new nades, that’s it.

Okay, I don’t believe you. The reason I don’t believe you is because it feels like you know almost instinctively what other people are doing. How did you develop that playstyle and why is it that no one else can play the way that you do?

Yes. I don’t know, it’s just how it was from the beginning, that’s kind of it.

I had this playstyle from like 2016, maybe even 2015 when I was into FPL and FPLC, and I got picked up by a team with Mouz, and I had the roles from the beginning.

I never changed my roles or my career, basically; I always had the same roles.

It’s a nice thing to have, it’s a bit of a luxury to have that going for you because very often you change players, you have to change roles, you have to make space for the team.

But yeah, they’re not the most favourable roles. Obviously there’s some anchor spots, there’s some lurky spots that some people like, some people don’t.

So yeah, it’s a bit of a different vibe in that sense, but I think just keeping the same playstyle over the years is what matters.

Obviously, a lot of people are forced to change their playstyle, but I think I’ve had the privilege of keeping it the same way the whole time.

One of the things that blows my mind about how you play is that it always seems you peek the correct angle first. Is that a feel thing? Is that a preparation thing?

If you ask me, I would say it’s just a fundamental thing that every player knows how to do. I don’t think it’s different to me, to any other pro player.

I think every high-level player, they have those fundamentals. They understand every single angle on the map, on the game. I think there’s no difference to that.

It’s more about the confidence, how you do it.

I think that’s probably the biggest part which sets players apart because I think it’s different when you peek an angle where you’re confident, and you do it half-focused and just maybe already thinking about something else.

Then it’s a bit different. You might lose your duel if there’s a person standing there.

I think confidence is probably the main difference, but I guess it does help if you…

Again, I’ve had these roles for years and years, and you just have way more reps on the maps, clearing the angles.

Maybe I’ve cleared apps 10,000 times by this time. I don’t know, maybe more, maybe less. I’m just throwing up a number right now.

Just doing it for a way longer time is maybe the difference as well.

What do you think of the recent changes to Anubis?

I think the update they had on Anubis recently was underwhelming. I think the players expected more.

I think the map has some issues with the bombsites and not being able to defend it, and the T’s have a lot of, I wouldn’t say space, but they have a lot of opportunities to just get on the bombsite, and the CTs don’t have as much to defend.

So I think that’s the main issue. Maybe the rotation as well is a bit tough for the CTs. They had the change in mid with reverting the doors, the way they are and moving the window above the canals.

It’s tough to see improvement for the CTs. Obviously, I think the goal is to make it more balanced. I don’t think it changed much.

We’ll have to see. Still in the early phase of the update, but I still hope to see more changes than that.

I’ve interviewed mezii a couple of times, and he’s brought you up as kind of an inspiration for the team because of how hard you work and how much you prepare. Is there anything about your teammates which inspires you?

I think most of the stuff you get inspired by is just watching your teammates play.

I think the part unique part about this team, and I think in many other teams, is that we have incredibly skilled players that are probably some of the best in each category of their corresponding roles.

We have ZywOo, he’s the best player in the world. apEX is one of the best IGLs in the world. We have mezii, one of the best anchors. We have flameZ, pure entry.

He’s so talented at that and has no selfishness. He’s willing to go first all the time.

Especially with flameZ, his selfishness is what’s inspiring. To be better as a teammate and just a better person in general.

I think just when looking at the players in general, when you’re playing, and you get a chance to spectate them, you see the incredible mechanics and aim that goes into the game.

You see that all the work that you’re putting in, it’s paying off in very small details very often. Maybe if you didn’t, it would make a difference in small percentages.

You’re making a decision half a second faster. Your aim is just a bit more crisp, and that’s always fun to see when players like ZywOo are popping off with incredible aim.

I think that’s something that inspires you as a teammate to play better as well.