malbsMd opens up on Liquid move: “I didn’t see myself leaving G2 this quickly”

malbsMd opens up on Liquid move: “I didn’t see myself leaving G2 this quickly”

Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa has admitted that his move from G2 to Liquid came earlier than he expected, describing the transfer as an imposed decision rather than a step he actively pushed for.

The Guatemalan rifler joined Liquid in March as part of a direct swap that sent Guy “NertZ” Iluz to G2. The deal also restored Liquid’s Americas core and carried important VRS implications ahead of the Major invite cut-off, as HLTV reported at the time. 

Speaking to HLTV after the move, malbsMd said he was excited for a new chapter but surprised by the timing.

“It is exciting, for sure. I’m not gonna lie, though: I didn’t see myself leaving G2 this quickly,” malbsMd said. 

When asked whether he had a say in the transfer, the 23-year-old was clear that the move was brought to him after G2 had already received Liquid’s offer.

“It was imposed,” he said. “They came with the offer and then I received a call from G2 that they had received the offer and they were willing to do the transfer.”

The move followed a difficult spell for malbsMd in G2 after the departures of NiKo and m0NESY, with HLTV noting that he struggled to find his best form in the new structure. malbsMd himself pointed to role issues and said G2 “could never find the consistency” they wanted, adding that he had been underperforming after switching into anchor positions. 

Liquid, however, may offer him a clearer path back to his strengths. malbsMd described the trade as beneficial for both sides, saying G2 received “a more balanced player in NertZ,” while Liquid got “a more aggressive player” in him.

HLTV analyst NER0cs echoed that logic in a Stat Check feature, writing that malbsMd gives Liquid the bomb-site entry profile they had lacked since YEKINDAR’s departure, while potentially allowing EliGE to operate more as a second-in star rather than the tip of the spear.

Liquid coach Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea also rejected the idea that the signing was only about Major qualification.

“The move was not made to qualify for the Major,” flashie told HLTV. “We brought in Mario because we believe that we can be a better team with him.”

For malbsMd, the move is less about escaping G2 than rediscovering the version of himself that made him one of 2024’s breakout riflers.

“I want to be the malbs that I once was,” he said, “and I’m hoping to find myself again.”