“The Keith “NAF” Markovic Interview: ‘The TYLOO Game Taught Us a Lot of Resilience’

“The Keith “NAF” Markovic Interview: ‘The TYLOO Game Taught Us a Lot of Resilience’

At the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2, Team Liquid found themselves walking a tightrope. After a difficult opening day that saw them drop to an 0-2 position in the Swiss pools, they were under pressure to deliver. Yet in a post-match interview with HLTV, their veteran Canadian star Keith “NAF” Markovic credited a dramatic earlier match for helping shift the team’s mindset and build resilience. 

A rough start, and a critical turning point

Liquid’s path through Stage 2 was far from smooth. NAF admitted that even though the team arrived at the tournament believing in the strength of their bootcamp, the first matches didn’t go according to plan. “I told my teammates not to say it, especially EliGE, that we had such a perfect bootcamp — I always say that’s a curse when you say those types of things,” he said, referencing the team’s star Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski. 
The key moment that NAF highlighted was the comeback against TYLOO. Liquid found themselves down 12-8 in that match, but managed to turn the tide — a steep challenge in the pressure cooker of a Major. “The TYLOO game taught us a lot and a lot of resilience in our playmaking and just the way we’re playing in these high-pressure games,” NAF said. 

It was exactly that moment—when the team faced adversity and still clawed their way back—that became a defining factor for Liquid’s next match. NAF states that the lessons they learned from dealing with pressure and fighting to regain momentum helped them in their subsequent victory over Astralis. 

Confidence regained and stage advancement

Following the bounce-back, Liquid entered the match against Astralis with a renewed sense of belief. NAF explained that while the first day of competition carries intense pressure—especially with two best-of-ones—once the team advanced to best-of-threes, they felt more space to show their real potential. “On the first day it was pretty tough… but we’ve seen it from other teams coming into the Majors. Sometimes teams start 0-2 and then they come back to 3-2,” he said. 

In the map they played, Liquid’s “ultimate” (another player name) sparked the moment with an explosive start on Nuke — helping lead the momentum. “He jump-started our start on Nuke … so we were super confident and ended up pretty much taking it,” NAF told HLTV. 

Understanding the mechanics: resilience, roles & team trust

NAF’s reflections go deeper than just the comeback. He pointed out how the matchup against TYLOO forced the team to adapt under pressure: they lost the T-side pistol in their follow-up game and still managed to adjust and find answers. “I think we had a lot of good answers and eventually one of them worked,” he said. 

Crucially, he emphasised the role of trust among teammates and depth in performance: even when one person had a weaker map, someone else was ready to step up. “Everybody’s having their good maps here and there… if one person is having a good map and then the next one they’re maybe not doing their best, someone else is just there …” he told HLTV. 

Furthermore, Liquid’s coach Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea echoed similar themes in his interview: he admitted the team had been too cautious and passive earlier in the Major, ‘scared to lose, scared to make mistakes’. He described how, in the comeback sequence, they reset mentally — taking things round by round despite being down 12-8 — and eventually turned the game around. 

The context of the Major and significance of the recovery

It’s worth emphasising that the StarLadder Budapest Major represents one of the highest-stakes tournaments in the Counter-Strike calendar. The swiss-system initial pools often start with best-of-ones, which can be volatile and unforgiving for even elite teams. Once the competition moves into best-of-threes, teams with stronger preparation and resilience have significant advantage. HLTV’s own preview of Stage 3 noted how certain teams from Stage 2 carry valuable momentum simply from having been in intense three-map affairs. 

For Liquid, the ability to bounce back from an early 0-2 position could define their Major run. NAF was candid: “I feel super confident going into the next stage. It’s gonna be a lot tougher now, top ten, top five teams will be there…” 

What this means for Liquid and NAF’s mindset

From NAF’s perspective, this tournament may also mark a turning point in his own performance and mindset. Earlier this year he admitted to HLTV that he was struggling with confidence and enjoying the game less than before. “I need to find my joy and happiness to play. When I’m happy, that’s when I play my best CS…” he said in July 2025. 

Now, after this pivotal comeback and the lessons learned versus TYLOO and Astralis, there’s a sense that Liquid—and NAF in particular—may have found a reset. The resilience they displayed reflects a shift from fear of failure to belief in their systems, communication, and shared team identity.

Final thoughts

The comeback against TYLOO turned out to be more than just a map win for Liquid; it was a microcosm of the mindset they hope to carry forward. In the pressure-packed environment of the Major, being able to respond to adversity—down rounds, early losses, psychological fatigue—is as important as raw firepower. NAF’s remarks underscore how the mental side of competition is real and measurable: when a team learns how to win when things don’t go perfectly, they often become harder to beat.

For Liquid, the transition into Stage 3 will be a test of whether their lessons stick when facing the very best. NAF seems confident—and with evidence of his team’s adaptability and resilience so far, there’s reason to believe they might continue their upward trajectory. The TYLOO match wasn’t merely a comeback—according to NAF, it was a classroom in resilience, and he and his teammates passed the lesson with flying colours.