yxngstxr: “We’re trying to wing it and play as good as possible” — HEROIC’s surprise surge to CAC playoffs

yxngstxr: “We’re trying to wing it and play as good as possible” — HEROIC’s surprise surge to CAC playoffs

Shortly after HEROIC secured their playoff berth at CS Asia Championships 2025 (CAC), Swedish rifler Simon “yxngstxr” Boije shared his reflections with HLTV on how the squad advanced despite roster uncertainties and low expectations. The young player admitted that the team entered the event with a stand-in — and limited preparation — yet their resilience and belief carried them into the main bracket.

“We’re trying to wing it and play as good as possible.” 

A difficult start but a strong finish

HEROIC’s road to the playoffs was far from smooth. The team arrived in Shanghai without Alkaren, who was sidelined due to visa complications, and instead brought in hades as a substitute.  The lack of time to integrate a new member meant that the team had to rely on individual skill, mental fortitude, and improvised chemistry under pressure.

In the opening match, HEROIC edged B8 with a 16–12 scoreline. The matchup carried extra personal weight: hades and B8’s star kRaSnaL are former teammates, meaning there were emotional undertones to the clash. yxngstxr admitted it felt like a friendly rivalry but still pushed them to compete hard. 

In their next match, HEROIC defeated FUT 2–0 to guarantee a playoff spot. They had previously encountered parts of FUT’s roster in earlier iterations (under NAVI Junior / Sangal) and were familiar with their tendency for unpredictable, “crazy plays.” This background allowed HEROIC to prepare tactically for their opponent’s style. 

Mindset over mechanics

One of the most telling parts of the interview was yxngstxr’s emphasis on mindset over structure. He conceded that they came in with “no expectations, but high hopes.”  That mentality is quite humble — especially given the goals many teams set before a major event.

When asked if they ever thought a playoff berth was possible given the stand-in and lack of prep, yxngstxr credited past faith in HEROIC’s core:

“From last season as well, I know we can put up very good CS. hades has a lot of experience, and fluent English, so he talks very good.” 

He also noted that the challenger match against B8 carried emotional intensity, but the outcome was decided by fundamentals and composure rather than sentiment:

“We had the game under control … kRaSnaL is a good friend … so it was a bit of fun rivalry there.” 

Against FUT on Overpass, they expected a fight. FUT is known to be volatile, and yxngstxr said the team came in trying to “be as aware as possible” and counter unpredictable plays with discipline. 

The significance of their leap

This playoff qualification holds several implications:

• Confidence boost — For HEROIC, making the bracket despite adversity is a validation of their core talent.

• Stand-in pressure test — hades’ ability to slot in quickly and communicate effectively was critical.

• Bracket positioning — advancing through non-traditional routes may place them in tougher matchups, but momentum and belief could turn that into an advantage.

• Raising the profile of the roster — yxngstxr, still young and relatively untested on the big stage, now has a compelling narrative: he’s part of a team that exceeded expectations under duress.

As of HLTV’s latest performance metrics, yxngstxr holds a 3-month rating of 0.98 across 52 maps, showing room for growth but also consistency in his contributions. 

What to watch next

• Upper bracket matchup: HEROIC now face fnatic in the upper bracket final — the winner goes straight to the semis, while the loser must fight through the lower bracket.

• Integration of hades: How well the team continues to sync mid-tournament will test if this run is replicable in future events.

• Playstyle endurance: Wing-it strategies can carry teams far, but consistency under pressure and in long BO3s is the true test.

• yxngstxr’s breakout: If he continues delivering at this level, he may establish himself as a reliable rifler in tier-one play.