MUTiRiS after upset over GamerLegion: “The team showed a lot of resilience”

SAW have moved into the 2-1 pool at PGL Masters Bucharest after a tense 2-1 victory over GamerLegion, keeping their playoff hopes alive and setting up a spot-decider next. The result caps a sharp turnaround from a rocky start to the event. 

How the series unfolded

SAW outlasted GamerLegion 2–1 in a best-of-three on October 28 (maps: Nuke, Inferno, Ancient). After dropping spots where GL threatened to close the match in two, SAW rallied from a 5–11 deficit on the decider to seal the comeback. 

MUTiRiS on composure, map worries, and coaching

Team captain Christopher “MUTiRiS” Fernandes praised SAW’s mental game after the nail-biter:

“We are making mistakes, but we are still winning the game… the team showed a lot of resilience.” 

On staying calm in crunch time: “When the games get so close, I stop screaming… ‘Guys, we don’t need to do so much, so play defensively.’” He pointed to tighter setups on Ancient (Red Room/Donut) as an example. 

On Nuke—traditionally a SAW staple—he admitted concern after recent losses on their own pick, saying the team hasn’t felt “comfortable” on the map at this event. 

On the new staff balance: with Tiago “mowzassa” Rodrigues taking the lead on out-of-server preparation and Tiago “SYDOX” Fonseca focusing on analysis, MUTiRiS said he “respects them both,” stressing that the setup works as long as the team is winning. 

Why this win matters for SAW

SAW’s Bucharest run has been a roller coaster:

Opening loss: 0–2 to 3DMAX. 

Bounce-back: 2–1 over Ninjas in Pyjamas, taking Ancient and Train around a Nuke loss. 

Into 2-1: 2–1 over GamerLegion to reach the brink of playoffs. 

The victory over NIP proved pivotal for momentum; it also put NIP on the brink, and their struggles became a larger storyline of the tournament.