Look Sports Media – Following an underwhelming conclusion to their 2025 campaign, Aurora, under the leadership of Engin "MAJ3R" Küpeli, made a pivotal roster adjustment, bringing in Caner "soulfly" Kesici to replace Samet "jottAAA" Köklü. This strategic shift aimed to re-energize the Turkish squad, allowing a more organic and effective playstyle to flourish. Speaking exclusively with looksports.media ahead of Aurora’s IEM Kraków quarter-final against Furia, MAJ3R offered profound insights into the team’s recent resurgence and the impact of their new addition.
MAJ3R expressed satisfaction with Aurora reaching the playoffs at IEM Kraków, acknowledging it as a significant achievement in one of the year’s premier tournaments. "It’s a good result for us, reaching the playoffs here," he stated, emphasizing that their ambitions extend beyond just qualifying, aiming to "start winning this tournament."
Reflecting on the previous year, MAJ3R highlighted a noticeable dip in performance after a strong initial six months. He attributed part of this decline to the temporary removal of the Anubis map from the competitive pool, a map where Aurora historically excels. With Anubis now reinstated, MAJ3R believes the team can reclaim their lost momentum.
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Despite his role as in-game leader, MAJ3R never found leading the team particularly difficult. However, he sensed a crucial element missing from the lineup. "I felt like there is something missing," he revealed, recalling how Aurora consistently reached playoffs in 2025 but frequently faltered in the decisive stages. This consistent playoff hurdle prompted the team to seek a solution, ultimately leading to the swap of jottAAA for soulfly. "We lacked something," MAJ3R concluded, hopeful that this change will yield the desired results.
Contrary to external perceptions, MAJ3R firmly denied any lack of belief when facing top-tier opponents like Vitality or Mouz. "When we go inside the server, I think there is not this feeling of lack of belief in winning," he asserted, noting that the team always believed in their capability to secure victories, sometimes succeeding and sometimes not.
The arrival of soulfly has evidently brought a fresh dynamic. MAJ3R praised soulfly’s calm demeanor and exceptional intelligence, highlighting his ability to quickly grasp and implement instructions. "He doesn’t make the same mistake twice, and I think this is important," MAJ3R remarked. In terms of team balance, soulfly has seamlessly integrated into MAJ3R’s system. While star players like XANTARES and Wicadia maintain their established roles, soulfly is finding his footing, benefiting from a "give-give situation" where he adapts to the system, and MAJ3R provides the necessary freedom. Early results, including victories over Mouz and Falcons, suggest this new balance is already paying dividends.
These significant wins have undeniably boosted team confidence. MAJ3R also shed light on the aggressive AWPing style displayed by woxic during the tournament. This isn’t a directive but rather a collaborative decision. "It’s just a discussion between him, the coach, and myself," MAJ3R explained, emphasizing the balance between aggressive plays and supportive roles for an AWPer in modern Counter-Strike. While woxic has more freedom on the CT side, the T side approach is a collective strategy.
MAJ3R’s own individual performance has also seen a notable uplift, particularly against Mouz. He attributes this to the system working effectively, allowing him to contribute individually without sacrificing his leadership duties. "If I can perform, it means that I have found my place in the system," he stated, contrasting it with IGLs who often sacrifice personal statistics for team cohesion. Despite his strong showings, MAJ3R’s primary focus remains on enabling his teammates. "I just do my best, so that my four teammates play good, that’s all."
Regarding Aurora’s formidable record on Anubis, MAJ3R believes the team’s collective comfort and individual confidence on the map are key. "When you’re comfortable on something, I think you do a great job," he observed, noting that this inherent confidence from the start often translates into superior performance compared to maps where players might feel less secure.
Finally, MAJ3R offered his perspective on recent map changes, particularly to Anubis. He believes it’s still too early to fully assess their impact on the meta. While anticipating more aggressive CT-side plays, he also foresees potential T-side counters. Overall, he doesn’t expect a "really big change" but acknowledges the necessity for adaptation. With a renewed roster and a clear vision, Aurora appears poised to conquer the challenges of 2026, driven by MAJ3R’s strategic acumen and the fresh energy of soulfly.
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