“Aleksi „Aleksib” Virolainen on Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov: ‘It goes to show how big of a change your mentality is’” 

“Aleksi „Aleksib” Virolainen on Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov: ‘It goes to show how big of a change your mentality is’” 

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On December 1, 2025, Natus Vincere (NAVI) captain Aleksib commented on the standout form of his sniper, w0nderful, during the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 — noting that the Ukrainian’s resurgence proves how much a shift in mentality can mean. 

Strong performance and turnaround

NAVI delivered a flawless 3-0 run in Stage 2 of the Major, securing their place in Stage 3 with convincing wins.  The result followed a shaky build-up: at the preceding tournament, IEM Chengdu 2025, NAVI had exited in last place, a performance that Aleksib described as “missing a gear”. 

Aleksib attributed the upturn partly to the team’s boot-camp ahead of Budapest:

“The way our previous tournament went, we needed to have a bootcamp in order to perform better… our game elevated one step.” 

But while the boot-camp helped, the real focus of his comments was on w0nderful’s form. The AWP allowed his instincts to dictate game-flow more confidently, and Aleksib emphasised the mental reset behind it.

“You can say that… but I just feel like him hearing the criticism… this goes to show how big of a change your mentality is. I feel like his head is in the game, he is feeling super confident… every peek he does he is feeling it, and no one is doubting him.” 

In the interview, Aleksib added:

“When he is playing T-sides like that I can feel it on the server — everything is twice as easy.” 

The context: NAVI-era evolution

This transformation comes amid a broader evolution for NAVI. The squad’s decision to replace superstar AWPer Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev with the younger w0nderful created both challenge and opportunity. As coach Andrii ‘B1ad3’ Gorodenskiy noted earlier, the change was driven by the weight of pressure the previous roster was under. 

Aleksib’s previous comments echo the same theme of mindset being the missing piece. In December 2024 he said:

“We just have to switch our mindset because right now it is not there.” 

In short: the results now are as much about mental preparation and internal culture as map-picks, utility usage or aim stats.

Why w0nderful’s breakout matters

w0nderful posted a standout 1.77 rating across Stage 2.  For an AWPer stepping into the shoes of s1mple, that is no small feat. Aleksib praised both the confidence and the environment:

• The team camp felt constructive, the communication smoother, the vibe improved.

• The individuals are stepping up, the team feels more cohesive.

Aleksib also emphasised that the boot-camp reset more than tactics: it reset belief.

“What you need in order to perform here… the communication feels good, the vibe in the camp feels good, and that’s what you need.” 

The implication is clear: when your lead sniper trusts his reads, your IGL trusts the calls, and your camp is aligned, everything else becomes easier.

The challenges still ahead

Despite the strong signs, Aleksib remained grounded.

“We had a clean stage two, but we still need another step to battle in Stage 3.”

Indeed, the Major’s structure gets progressively tougher, and NAVI’s legacy is only as good as how they perform in the playoffs. The morale boost from Stage 2 is significant, but not sufficient alone.

Additionally, the team’s previous form serves as a cautionary tale — their Asian event-curse, as Aleksib labelled it:

“I just felt like maybe there was a gear missing from our game when we went to Chengdu…” 

Given this, the mental reset can be a turning point — but the challenge lies in maintaining it.

Why mentality is becoming front-and-centre

In elite CS2, raw mechanical skill is table stakes. What separates winners often isn’t just bullets or utility, but decision-making, resilience, confidence under pressure, and trust inside the team. NAVI’s example reinforces that concept: a talent-rich roster, strong history, but what really shifted was mindset. The story of w0nderful’s rise is a microcosm of that shift.

For fans and analysts alike, this matters because:

• It shows that players can rebound from criticism and rebuild confidence at elite level.

• It reveals the importance of internal atmosphere and coaching beyond strategic preparation.

• It signals that NAVI believe their next phase isn’t just built on legacy, but on mindset and stability.

What happens next for NAVI

Looking ahead:

• Stage 3 offers tougher opponents and no margin for error; NAVI’s form will be tested.

• Maintaining w0nderful’s form will be key — Aleksib has emphasised the importance of support and confidence continuing.

• The broader question is how stable this roster can be and how deep the “new mentality” runs. Coach B1ad3’s comments earlier suggest the organization is committed to this path.

If NAVI can capitalize on the momentum from Stage 2, the “new era” may have arrived. If not, it will serve as a reminder that mindset shifts are necessary but not sufficient.

Final thoughts

Aleksib’s remarks capture the subtle but powerful nature of this moment: it wasn’t just a tactical adjustment, a boot-camp, or roster tweak — it was a mental reset.

“It goes to show how big of a change your mentality is.”

That line, simple in phrasing, may well be the key to understanding NAVI’s resurgence. The physical mechanics of CS2 — aim, movement, utility timing — were always in place. What now seems unlocked is belief, cohesion and clarity of purpose. In high-stakes tournaments where margins are thin, that can be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.

For NAVI, the road ahead remains long and hard. But for now, Stage 2 was affirmation. And for w0nderful, it was transformation. As Aleksib pointed out, the mental shift is real — the challenge now is to keep it alive when the pressure multiplies.