TOBIZ on the role clash: “People speak of a ‘role clash’, but I saw an opportunity to elevate tN1R into star positions”

TOBIZ on the role clash: “People speak of a ‘role clash’, but I saw an opportunity to elevate tN1R into star positions”

HEROIC’s newly appointed coach, Tobias “TOBIZ” Theo, has addressed recent concerns about a perceived role conflict between Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich and Linus “nilo” Bergman. While critics have flagged the pairing as problematic, TOBIZ defended the decision: “I didn’t see it as competition—it was about moving tN1R into star‑making roles because he has world‑class potential.”

Star roles came at a cost

The strategic shift followed the team’s decision to bench Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç. Management and TOBIZ mutually agreed to part ways with xfl0ud, paving the way for nilo’s return to the starting line‑up. TOBIZ stressed that his vision involved repositioning tN1R to unlock high impact, but he’s been upfront about the adaptation curve: tN1R’s T‑side rating dropped from 1.19 earlier this season to 0.93 after the change—0.78 during FPG and 1.01 in Cologne—and his opening kill rate dipped slightly too (from 0.09 to 0.07 per round), despite attempting more entries (16.5% to 23.3%).

He adds candidly: “We realized he doesn’t thrive in pure star roles here, so we’ve devised compromises—this is your starting spot, but we can switch back slightly if needed. Now, there are no excuses. Everyone is on positions they want to play. It’s just about building from there”.

Cologne debut: mixed results for a new team

Since joining the squad just over a month ago, TOBIZ guided the youthful lineup—average age 21.7—to a top‑16 finish at IEM Cologne 2025. Preceding this, HEROIC announced his signing at the end of June, following the departures of SunPayus and sAw to G2. TOBIZ replaced sAw, stepping into the high-stakes world of tier‑one coaching after his success with MOUZ NXT academy.

In Cologne, HEROIC delivered a respectable result but fell short of expectations, losing to Spirit and then NiP. TOBIZ acknowledged the shortcomings: “We didn’t show up on the server. Too many basic mistakes, and we failed to execute what we prepared. They had 16 entries on Train, we had just one—that’s absurd.” He pointed to lack of practice, missed duels, and failure to win crucial 2v4s as edge‑cutting issues. He views the current stage as growing pains for a newly assembled team.

Broader context: rebuilding with TOBIZ at the helm

HEROIC’s transition began in mid‑June with a significant roster overhaul: benching xfl0ud, appointing TOBIZ as coach, and later completing the roster with Linus “LNZ” Holtäng, gr1ks, and yxngstxr. Management envisioned a long‑term rebuild around young talents and TOBIZ’s proven ability to develop them, taking inspiration from his track record of success in MOUZ NXT’s academy system.

TOBIZ has emphasized a collaborative environment: while he brings tactical vision, players are involved in shaping their roles. His rapport with LNZ, for example, is strong: “We share ideas, find middle ground when opinions differ, and move forward”—an important trait in a team still finding its identity.

TOBIZ’s philosophy centers on flexibility: giving star potential players room to flourish, while ensuring the team remains personally invested in their roles. The adjustments have yet to yield consistently strong results—but with further refinement and experience, the groundwork for growth is clearly laid.

Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into HEROIC’s upcoming schedule, individual player stats, or potential strategies next.