“Viktor ‘flashie’ Tamás Bea on Team Liquid being too passive: ‘We were too scared to lose, scared to make mistakes’” 

“Viktor ‘flashie’ Tamás Bea on Team Liquid being too passive: ‘We were too scared to lose, scared to make mistakes’” 

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On December 2, 2025, Liquid’s head coach Flashie reflected on his team’s mindset after a dramatic turnaround at the StarLadder Budapest Major. The 30-year-old Hungarian coach admitted that in the early part of Stage 2 Liquid had been “too passive—too scared to lose, scared to make mistakes.” 

The situation going into the Major

Liquid entered Stage 2 of the Budapest Major with high expectations, yet stumbled out of the blocks. They opened with two losses in best‐of-one (Bo1) matches—falling 0-2 to B8 and then to PARIVISION.  The defeats forced the organisation to reflect: a roster with high pedigree was suddenly in danger of elimination. According to Flashie, this rough start revealed deeper issues.

“We made the mistake of being too passive in the past few days. We were too scared to lose, scared to make mistakes.” 

In that sense, the pressure to avoid defeat had seemingly become a barrier. Rather than playing proactively, Liquid found themselves in reactive mode, hesitant to take risks and playing not to lose rather than to win.

The comeback and what changed

Despite that shaky start, Liquid responded. They bounced back in their Bo3 matches in Stage 2: most notably, they dispatched MIBR in convincing fashion and then edged out TYLOO in a dramatic decider map to keep their Major hopes alive. 

In the post-match interview, Flashie pointed out that the turning point came after the team’s map on Ancient:

“I think the comeback started after Ancient, to be honest. On Ancient we kind of lost ourselves towards the end of the map. We didn’t play like a true team, how we play on practice and on some other officials. We had a good talk between the maps and we came out really strong on Train.” 

He noted that the momentum shifted on Train and then Inferno, where the team found solutions under pressure and began layering rounds together:

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

This speaks to a broader theme: the change was less about new tactics, and more about mindset, cohesion, and confidence. Flashie emphasised that when the team stopped being afraid of making mistakes and instead leaned into their strengths, the results began to follow.

Mindset as a critical factor

Liquid’s turnaround underlines how at the top level of CS2, the mental dimension is increasingly critical. Flashie pointed out that the team’s hesitation in the early matches—playing safe, avoiding risk—resulted in them being predictable and lacking their usual edge.

“We were too scared to lose, too scared to make mistakes,” he said, going on to remind players of their goals and identities: “What is our goal? What are our goals we set for these specific match-ups? … sometimes it’s not tactical help that the boys need, it’s a reminder of what we need to do exactly and how we need to approach the rounds to be able to play good CS.” 

This admission is notable because it signals a shift away from simply focusing on mechanics, star talent or utility usage—toward a deeper recognition that team culture, belief and resilience are equally important.

Flashie also acknowledged a challenge around energy:

“There are not a lot of really loud players on Liquid. Do you think the team has a bit of an energy problem? … I think we’re usually good with energy, but at this Major specifically we’ve been struggling with some energy.” 

He described how the team used lighter mood techniques—jokes, locker‐room interaction—to regulate energy levels. He credited those efforts with helping the team shake off early lethargy and begin to climb back in the tournament.

What this means for Liquid’s Major run

With their best‐of-three wins, Liquid kept their tournament alive and moved into the final day of Stage 2, where they face one more elimination hurdle. Flashie remained grounded:

“We knew that in best-of-threes we’re absolutely capable of beating any team in this stage, so I just want to keep looking forward and try to finish it off.” 

From an organisational perspective, the story is important. Liquid have been viewed as a tier-one team with a star core—but early faltering exposed vulnerability. The turnaround suggests that the pieces are there, but they needed to reset mentally to unlock them.

Notably, the major elimination format and high pressure of Majors mean that slow starts are costly. Liquid’s ability to shift gears under scrutiny is positive, but the real test lies ahead in subsequent rounds.

Broader context in CS2 competition

Liquid’s experience aligns with broader trends in elite Counter-Strike: as the skill gap narrows across organisations, the difference often comes down to mental resilience, adaptability and team culture rather than individual firepower alone.

Coaches like Flashie are emphasising that playing proactively—even when behind—is key. The long‐term viability of organisations at the top tier now relies on building systems where players aren’t simply playing “not to lose,” but playing to win.

Liquid’s path from 0-2 to a viable comeback is a reminder that even elite teams can be vulnerable—and that recovering isn’t just about map wins, but about attitude and change.

Final thoughts

Flashie’s candid confession that his team had been “too scared to lose” is striking, especially from a coach of a top-tier organisation. It signals honesty and self-reflection—and more critically, a willingness to change.

For Liquid, the major is far from over, but their trajectory now is more encouraging. Their belief is back, their system is aligning, and the mindset shift may have saved their tournament run.

If this new mindset sticks, Liquid could yet convert the pressure into performance. If not, early mistakes could cost them dearly in this unforgiving environment. Either way, Flashie’s recognition of the problem and corrective action is a positive signal—not only for Liquid, but for the broader scene, demonstrating that in 2025 the psychological edge is as important as the tactical one.