Photo via MNM Gaming
From playing UKIN to achieving EUL 2022 promotion and qualifying for SI 2022. MNM Gaming’s progression has been incredible, one that’s so far been on par with Team Empire’s and Team BDS’ first season in Siege – both being promoted to the European top-flight and qualifying for SI in just a matter of weeks.
Although comparisons between other EU Qualifier teams aren’t one-to-one, MNM Gaming might be on the makings of something special. A roster that could shake the scene as others did in the past.
“We should play fearlessly and try to take it, because many teams that are here like they are actually afraid because maybe they have like a bad team performance or something, they are going to do a roster change after that. And like, people spots are on the line, it’s not the case for us. We have literally no pressure, nothing. We are just going to go and do our best, I think we are going to surprise many people, ”said Leon “neLo” Pesić.
He might have a point. We are talking of a team that was built four months ago, and has already achieved everything you can ask for a T2 roster – do well in a national competition and be promoted to the region’s top-flight. Everything from here is an extra, and such a lack of pressure and nerves might be a game-changer. “We are going to surprise many people.”
MNM Gaming’s coach Stefan “Omerta” Saltalamacchia says that the team has “no nerves” and sees every roster as any other, regardless of its importance in the game. “It does not matter who the opponent is, whether it is Ninjas in Pyjamas or TENSTAR, it doesn’t matter.”
We are in front of a very heavy fragging team who can pull off any imaginable play. The British duo Josh “Yuzus” Pritchard and Luke “Tyrant” Casey stole the show at the European relegations and the SI Closed Qualifiers, demonstrating why they are labeled as two of the region’s best prospects.
It was Tyrant who explained it in his own words, mentioning that “everyone in the team has got gun skill” and “can do individual plays when needed”. He also considers MNM Gaming as a roster very capable of “coming back from any score”. We have already seen this face of the team in action, as the roster went on to win the EU SI 2022 Closed Qualifier after losing to cowana by 0-2.
While MNM Gaming has surely gone through a lot despite the players short trajectory in the game, nothing can be compared to an SI debut. It is true, players have already completed their promotion goal. But neLo made it clear at the beginning, “we are here to win, we always want to win”.
It is no vacation time for the Molotovs and Marshmallows roster. The team had another day to prepare and look at its opponents for the first time, which could help the team at progressing to the next stage. “I think it is an advantage, definitely. We can see how SANDBOX played today and we can go over that for the next day,” admitted Tyrant.
SANDBOX Gaming upset Ninjas in Pyjamas in the very first game of the event, while Team Empire pulled off a great comeback to defeat Soniqs, who had a triple match and series point on Oregon.
MNM Gaming’s debut will be tomorrow at 1 pm CET against SANDBOX Gaming, which could be a really important game for the team’s hopes of advancing to the final bracket.