headtr1ck: “I’m Feeling More Fluent and Free” as B8 Advance at the Budapest Major

B8’s AWPer Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov says he is playing with more confidence than ever as the Ukrainian squad advanced to Stage 2 of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 after a 2–0 win over Legacy. The team now sits firmly inside HLTV’s top-25, reflecting months of steady progress.

“I’m feeling more fluent and free in the game”

Speaking with HLTV after the victory, headtr1ck highlighted his growing confidence and willingness to follow his instincts:

“I’m feeling more fluent and free in the game.”

The 21-year-old said he now trusts his reads instead of over-structuring his decisions — a shift that correlates with his consistent 1.08+ rating across recent LAN events.

Leadership changes fueling improvement

B8’s rise has been driven by strong guidance from IGL alex666 and coach maddened, a duo headtr1ck praised for their synergy and calm communication. Earlier in the year, former NAVI rifler npl handed IGL duties to alex666, allowing him to focus on individual impact.

headtr1ck has repeatedly emphasized that the team’s stability — four players staying together for over a year — has been crucial to climbing the CS2 rankings.

B8 gaining confidence through LAN play

After breaking their RMR struggles with a 3–0 start at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, B8 have been steadily converting tight games on stage. headtr1ck noted that the team has greatly improved at closing out clutches and advantage scenarios — historically a major weakness.

Wins over teams like Astralis and 3DMAX at PGL Masters Bucharest further strengthened the team’s belief that they can compete deep into international events.

A turning point for headtr1ck

Since joining B8 after his stint on Ninjas in Pyjamas, headtr1ck has described feeling “way more confident” thanks to a structure where teammates and staff fully trust his aggressive AWPing style. His performances at events like Elisa Masters Espoo and the Austin Major have steadily answered earlier doubts about his readiness for top-tier CS.

With B8 now locked into the top-16 at the Budapest Major, the tournament could mark a defining step in headtr1ck’s career — and another milestone in B8’s emergence as a consistent top-20 contender.