HUASOPEEK Studies kyousuke and donk to Improve His Entry Game at 9z

Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez Hernandez has revealed that studying Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin and Danil “donk” Kryshkovets has become part of his effort to develop as an entry rifler for 9z.

Speaking to HLTV ahead of FISSURE Playground 3, the Chilean explained that he has started paying closer attention to how other aggressive players approach the entry role. The adjustment follows lessons he took from 9z’s IEM Cologne Major 2026 campaign and comes as the South American team attempts to recover from two consecutive group-stage exits.

Quick Summary

Detail	Information
Player	Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez Hernandez
Team	9z
Players studied	kyousuke, donk
Focus	Entry play and role development
Event	FISSURE Playground 3
Location	Suzhou, China
9z’s first opponent	5star
Match date	September 8, 2026
Recent milestone	XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 champion and HLTV MVP
Confirmation	Direct interview with HLTV

HUASOPEEK Studies kyousuke and donk to Develop His Entry Play

HUASOPEEK’s comments provide a glimpse into how the 23-year-old is approaching his individual development after 9z’s recent international campaigns.

Asked what he had changed after learning more about his roles and entrying during the Cologne Major, HUASOPEEK said he had begun studying other players who perform similar jobs.

“Now I'm looking at other entries, so I'm taking a lot of experience from how they do that job,” HUASOPEEK told HLTV.

He specifically identified kyousuke and donk as two players he watches.

“I see a lot of kyousuke, I think he's a good entry, and also donk. So yeah, I think that helps me a lot.”

The comments are significant because they identify a concrete method HUASOPEEK is using to develop: reviewing how elite aggressive riflers create openings rather than relying exclusively on experience from his own matches.

Exactly which elements of kyousuke and donk’s play HUASOPEEK is attempting to incorporate were not specified, so any claim about particular positioning, pathing, utility usage or mechanical techniques would be speculative.

Background: 9z Searching for Consistency After Guangzhou Breakthrough

HUASOPEEK’s development comes during an important period for 9z.

The South American organization produced one of its strongest results of 2026 by winning XSE Pro League Guangzhou. The victory also delivered an individual landmark for HUASOPEEK, who received the first HLTV MVP award of his career and became the first Chilean player to earn the honor.

The result strengthened HUASOPEEK’s belief that 9z were approaching tier-one level, but subsequent tournaments highlighted the gap that still remained.

In his latest interview, HUASOPEEK pointed to losses against teams such as magic as the type of result 9z must eliminate if they want to establish themselves consistently at the highest level.

For the Chilean, being competitive against elite opposition is therefore only part of the equation. 9z also need to reliably defeat teams they are expected to challenge or overcome.

Their latest trip to China for FISSURE Playground 3 offers another opportunity to demonstrate that progress.

HUASOPEEK, kyousuke and donk: Why the Comparison Matters

HUASOPEEK did not claim that he is attempting to copy either player outright. His comments instead describe studying how other entries perform their role and taking experience from their approaches.

That distinction matters.

Entry players regularly operate in situations where they must create space, initiate fights or enter contested areas with limited information. Individual mechanics are important, but successful aggressive play can also depend on timing, positioning, team support and decision-making.

HUASOPEEK's decision to study kyousuke and donk therefore suggests an effort to expand his understanding of the role beyond his own experience.

HLTV’s player information at the time of the interview also illustrates the level of competition he is studying. Over the previous three months, HLTV listed donk with a 1.44 Rating 3.0 across 58 maps and kyousuke with a 1.15 rating across 43 maps. HUASOPEEK stood at 1.10 across 49 maps.

Those numbers should not be treated as a direct role-for-role comparison, but they provide useful context for why the two Russian riflers represent valuable reference points for an aggressive player looking to improve.

Timeline

Date	Development
June 2026	9z reach the 5th–8th place bracket at IEM Cologne Major 2026
July 12, 2026	9z win XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026
July 2026	HUASOPEEK earns his first career HLTV MVP award
After Guangzhou	9z go through further international events but struggle to maintain the same level of results
September 6, 2026	HUASOPEEK tells HLTV he has been studying kyousuke and donk to improve his entry play
September 8, 2026	9z are scheduled to begin FISSURE Playground 3 against 5star

Key Details

Topic	Detail
HUASOPEEK’s development focus	Learning from other entry players
Players named	kyousuke and donk
Trigger for the adjustment	Lessons from Cologne and his entry responsibilities
9z’s recent problem	Back-to-back group-stage exits
Immediate team objective	Reach the FISSURE Playground 3 playoffs
Longer-term tournament objective	Compete to win the event
Individual milestone	First Chilean HLTV MVP winner
Current team	9z
Current event	FISSURE Playground 3

Player Role Analysis

HUASOPEEK explicitly described his work in terms of “entrying,” making the aggressive entry component of his role particularly relevant to the interview.

His approach also highlights an important aspect of player development in modern Counter-Strike: improvement does not necessarily come from mechanical practice alone.

Reviewing elite players can expose differences in how aggressive riflers approach similar situations — when they commit to an engagement, how they interact with teammates and how they respond to defensive setups.

However, HUASOPEEK did not specify exactly what he has adopted from either kyousuke or donk. It would therefore be premature to attribute specific tactical changes to his study process until they become visible in matches or he explains them himself.

Tactical Impact for 9z

If HUASOPEEK can translate his study into more effective entry play, the potential benefit extends beyond his individual output.

An entry player can influence the structure of an entire round. Successful early engagements may create space for teammates and force defenders to reposition, while unsuccessful attempts can immediately leave a team at a numerical disadvantage.

For 9z, the important question is consequently not whether HUASOPEEK can imitate another star player. It is whether studying elite aggressive riflers can help him make better decisions within 9z’s own system.

That distinction will be worth monitoring at FISSURE Playground 3.

Tournament Impact: 9z Need a Playoff Return

FISSURE Playground 3 arrives at a useful moment for evaluating 9z.

HUASOPEEK said the team is coming into the tournament after two group-stage exits and identified reaching the playoffs as the immediate objective.

The ambition does not stop there.

“Always the expectation is to win the tournament,” he told HLTV, while emphasizing the need for 9z to regain confidence during their opening matches.

That makes the early stages particularly important. Rather than measuring 9z solely against their Guangzhou championship run, FISSURE Playground 3 can provide evidence of whether the team is becoming more consistent across international events.

HUASOPEEK Remains Grounded After Historic MVP

The interview also addressed HUASOPEEK’s breakthrough individual achievement.

His MVP award at XSE Pro League Guangzhou made him the first Chilean player to receive an HLTV MVP medal. HUASOPEEK said the achievement generated messages from people across Chile, including players from other games.

The recognition has not changed the standards he sets for himself, according to the 9z rifler.

HUASOPEEK said he continues to judge himself by whether he performs his responsibilities inside the game rather than by individual awards.

That mentality adds context to his decision to study kyousuke and donk. Despite already achieving a career-first MVP, he is continuing to search for ways to improve his approach to one of his key responsibilities.

What Changes Now?

There is no announced roster or role change associated with HUASOPEEK’s comments.

Instead, the development is individual and tactical.

HUASOPEEK is incorporating observation of other high-level entries into his preparation while 9z continue attempting to convert their tournament peaks into consistent international results.

The practical effect should become easier to evaluate over a larger sample of matches.

For now, three questions are particularly relevant:

• Can HUASOPEEK become more consistent in aggressive opening situations?

• Can 9z turn their individual quality into regular playoff appearances?

• Can the team reproduce the level that delivered the Guangzhou title against a wider range of international opposition?

What to Watch Next

The first checkpoint comes at FISSURE Playground 3.

9z are scheduled to open their campaign against 5star on September 8, giving HUASOPEEK and his teammates an immediate opportunity to rebuild confidence after their recent group-stage exits.

HUASOPEEK said reaching the playoffs is the team's first objective before shifting focus toward trying to win the tournament.

Beyond the result itself, his entry attempts will be worth tracking. If his study of kyousuke and donk is influencing his game, future matches may offer a clearer picture of how those lessons are being incorporated into 9z’s system.

Next Match

Team	Opponent	Event	Date
9z	5star	FISSURE Playground 3	September 8, 2026

Match time should be verified against the event schedule before publication or updated if the article is refreshed.

Related Teams, Players and Events

HUASOPEEK — Chilean rifler for 9z and the first Chilean player to earn an HLTV MVP award.

9z — South American organization entering FISSURE Playground 3 after recent international group-stage exits.

kyousuke — Falcons rifler identified by HUASOPEEK as one of the entry players he studies.

donk — Spirit star named alongside kyousuke as another player HUASOPEEK watches to learn from.

XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 — 9z’s title-winning event where HUASOPEEK earned his first HLTV MVP award.

IEM Cologne Major 2026 — an important part of HUASOPEEK’s recent development, particularly regarding his understanding of his roles and entry play.

FISSURE Playground 3 — 9z’s next opportunity to return to the playoffs and demonstrate progress.

FAQ

Why does HUASOPEEK study kyousuke and donk?

HUASOPEEK said he has started watching other entry players to gain experience from how they perform the role. He specifically named kyousuke and donk as players he studies.

What is HUASOPEEK trying to improve?

He specifically discussed improving his entry play. He did not identify individual techniques he is copying from kyousuke or donk.

What team does HUASOPEEK play for?

HUASOPEEK plays for 9z.

What did HUASOPEEK achieve at XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026?

9z won the tournament, while HUASOPEEK earned the first HLTV MVP award of his career. The award also made him the first Chilean player to receive an HLTV MVP.

What is 9z’s objective at FISSURE Playground 3?

HUASOPEEK identified reaching the playoffs as the immediate objective after two consecutive group-stage exits. He also said the team's broader expectation is to try to win the tournament.