The true talking point of the NAVI vs. FURIA is not only what you can see in the latest stats. If Blade and and their IGL get their thing going, an upset might be on the cards. It is the mindset of one man: Aleksi "AleksiB" Virolainen. His pre-game interview with DevilWalk and James Banks provided a rare, behind the curtains into the psyche of a tactical leader in struggle.
Mentally Draining 2025: A Year of Unrewarded Work
AleksiB acknowledged the huge, unrewarded effort of the NAVI squad:
"Practicing with full focus and all those hours is super draining. Last year I feel like we got the results and rewards for all the work. Now it feels almost an opposite…".
This tells all you need to know: NAVI are a hardworking organization; they have prepared as well as they can, but the competition is fierce. The winning belief is impossible to fake. You can see the an over-prepared team suffering from a crisis of confidence.
They have the structure, but they haven't had the consistent wins. AleksiB admitted that year 2024 was the higlight of his career with PGL Major win in Copenhagen and World Championship, "Last year was my best year for me playing professionally since 2017."
Looking back to all those successes, struggle feels even worse.
The Defining Quote: "It's a Great Chance"
The entire match narrative hinges on his powerful point: “There is a now chance to get success. And it is a great one.”
This man is not about generic pre-game hype. It's talk from a one of the best tacticians Counter Strike has ever seen. Here are three of the themes Aleksi was talking about and how to use it in your bets.
1. Underdog Mentality: AleksiB's greatest successes—the ENCE Major Final run and the NAVI Major win—came when nobody expected them to deliver. He knows how to leverage the "nothing to lose" feeling. He utilizes tactics that have been in the works in back office for months.
2. The Tactical Advantage: He views this Quarterfinal as a great chance because he understands FURIA is predictable and tired. His hours of focused practice are now aimed at exploiting the precise cracks in the system of the #1 seed.
3. Huge international knowledge and experience: After everything he has experienced in all the international teams the man knows he’s worth.
👉🏼 Betting Implication: This interview elevates NAVI from a simple underdog to a tactical upset pick. If AleksiB believes the practice will finally convert into performance on this stage, bettors should take note.
While our official pick was the safer FURIA 2-0 due to their consistent form, AleksiB's conviction makes a NAVI upset a genuine possibility for those willing to ride the underdog wave and trust the IGL's gut feeling.