With DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca quickly approaching, Team EnVyUs' Kenny "kennyS" Schrub spoke to theScore eSports about his team's loss in the ESL One: Cologne finals, his motivation going into the Major and the AWP.

The roster swap with Titan prior to ESL One: Cologne was one of the biggest roster moves of the year. What do you think the addition of yourself and apEX brought to EnVyUs that they were lacking before?

I think apEX and I are both versatile players, and we can adapt to any situations. We both really like unexpected situations which is a really big plus on a team. We don’t mind playing many ways.

Moving to EnVyUs meant a complete change in playstyle, but still, Ex6TenZ is known as one of the best strategists in the game and is credited with a lot of Titan’s success. How was it like playing under him in Titan and how does he compare to Happy?

It’s a hard question, they’re both really experienced and both of them are at the top. Ex6 is a really hard worker and a perfectionist. He’s trying to fix game problems as fast as possible.

Happy is also working a lot, but he doesn’t prepare the team for matches like Ex6 does. He has his way of doing things. Our game is also based around him a lot, which is working really well. His style of leading is really variable and opponents are always surprised to play against us because of that.

Although you didn’t manage to win, your second place at Cologne was still your highest finish at a Major. How did it feel to finally make it deep into a Major and how has coming so close to victory affected you since?

It’s a huge satisfaction actually. At that time we were together for one month, and our main objectives was to go through groups and to reach the semifinals. We felt really good and well prepared for this, it was still unexpected to reach a final.

But despite the satisfaction, it was heartbreaking to lose such a final, especially since we should’ve won the first map. The second one was just a “map off” since we were really down after the first one even if we tried. That loss is still affecting me, but it’s getting better.

You are known to have a strong emotional connection to the game. What are your best and worst memories in your career so far?

I think I went through a rough period on CS, but I’d say that the loss to Fnatic in the Major’s final was the worst memory since I really lived a nightmare on the second map.

A winning feeling is always great, DreamHack Stockholm, IEM, Gfinity and DreamHack London are all great memories. Also, the Major overall was a great memory because it was a really special atmosphere and we enjoyed it a lot.

Looking ahead, wins at both DreamHack London and Gfinity’s Champion of Champions has set EnVyUs apart as one of the top choices to win the Major. How do you feel about your chances in Cluj-Napoca compared to the top teams you defeated at both of those events?

I think we’re definitely in the Top 4-5 in the world. TSM, Fnatic, Virtus.pro and us have equal chances to win the event.

EnVyUs is a team that plays in a lot of events, but you have almost a month off before DreamHack. How are you going to be preparing for the Major with that time?

We’re gonna make our first bootcamp at our gaming house, in France, for at least seven days, and now we have a lot of official online games to get through, so we’re still playing every evening.

As you are a legendary AWPer, and it has been a long time since the AWP movement speed was nerfed, how do you feel about the current state of the gun?

I feel ok. I still think that the AWP needs a buff, but my main problem has never been the update, just my motivation and my time on the game. I also lost confidence and it’s really hard to gain confidence on that game, and it’s really easy to lose it.

So yes, since I joined EnVy I’m feeling way better since I’ve got my motivation back. I just need to regain my confidence as much as possible.

Often in games I have seen Happy take an AWP while you rifle, how do you decide who gets the AWP during games?

I’m the main AWP in the team. It just depends on the situation. Sometimes it’s better for me to have a rifle instead of an AWP, so we don’t decide anything. I’m the main and sometimes it’s better for him to have the AWP instead of me.

You have said in the past that you do not like to rate yourself, but which AWPer do you have the most trouble playing against and why?

Actually, I feel really comfortable in AWP battles. I know them really well and I used to play them. I think the hardest matchup for me is going up against lower/unknown snipers, because I don’t know what to expect.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

Jacob Juillet writes about Counter-Strike for theScore eSports. Follow him on Twitter.