BIG's faveN Reflects on XSE Pro League Playoffs Performance

Josef "faveN" Baumann expressed mixed feelings following BIG's quarter-final exit from the XSE Pro League playoffs in China. While he appreciated reaching this stage, he felt the team could have accomplished more than just making it to the last eight.

In an interview after their match against PARIVISION, faveN analyzed the series, highlighting moments where they fell short. "We had, especially already on Mirage, some good rounds where we knew where to go. In the end, we just didn't kill them, and they also hit insane shots. Especially on Ancient," he said. He noted that despite having a strong start with an 8-7 lead on the CT side, they ultimately lost every round, a situation he described as frustrating.

“I would have really liked to at least win this game and be in the semi-final, and also maybe have a shot at the trophy,” faveN stated. However, he acknowledged their improvements since IEM Cologne, where they had been eliminated by B8, contrasting their playoff qualification in China.

Reflecting on the Major held in Germany, he admitted it was particularly disappointing not to reach the playoffs, marking a long wait for the German fans for such an accomplishment. "It's really sad. It was heartbreaking for us. At least next year we will try to do better," he conveyed.

Looking ahead, faveN shared the team's aspirations for the current season, aiming to break into the top 30 and reach higher rankings by the end of the year. He mentioned the upcoming player break as a time for the team to refresh and improve, emphasizing a focus on incremental progress.

Despite the challenges of participating in an event during the player break, faveN remained optimistic about accepting the invite, viewing it as an opportunity to earn valuable VRS points. "We should be proud that we accepted this invite and changed our player break to a bit later," he concluded.