Lagonis at R6 BLAST Major: “Maybe it’s time for a new team to become the leader”

Rainbow Six

May 24, 2024

Andrew Ogunnaike

We got to talk to the captain of the crew that stand a cut above the rest of the Brazilian teams as now the only remaining representatives at the BLAST R6 Major. Team Liquid’s Lorenzo “Lagonis” Gomes Volpi.

Andrew: You guys were one of the only three teams that made it this far through from the LCQ.

Do you think that had an effect on your guys performance coming into the early days?

Lagonis: Yeah, for sure. Like, the LCQ and all the Brazilian league helped us to reach the semi finals right now because you played so much maps, it’s so much experience during the tournament and playing maps on the tournament much different from the scrims. So, yeah, helped a lot.

Andrew: Your LCQ as well was pretty stacked. You had G2 really, really early on who we obviously expected to make it quite far. They didn’t even make it here because of you guys.

Credit: @R6Esports / Adela Sznajder

Was that one of the harder games compared to what you’ve had to play in Manchester against G2?

Lagonis: Yes, was really tough because the last map, 7-7 and I won a one v one. So, yeah, they are like a great team and they know how to prepare for the matches they know how to prepare for the matches. So always difficult against G2 because of this. They really know how to prepare to every opponent. So, yeah, it was a tough game.

Andrew: Coming in today, obviously, there’s a massive storyline. You guys weren’t quite able to take it off of FURIA before they picked up a map, but sending them home in the quarterfinals.

How does that feel?

Lagonis: It feels amazing. I don’t know what to say. Like, they are the three times world champion. They deserve everything that they do, because they work a lot. But I’m happy that we break a little bit this kind of dynasty because they are already a dynasty. But we break a little bit this.

So maybe it’s time for a new team to become the leader.

So, yeah, I’m very happy!

Andrew: And it’s very, very possible that it ends up being a Brazilian team in the finals. There’s you guys, this FaZe still on your side of the bracket could potentially guarantee that Brazil is at least in grand finals.

Lagonis: Yeah, yeah. I don’t know if, like, Brazil is gonna win, but, like, we are working a lot to win this trophy like, we really want it. But in the other side of the of the bracket we have BDS, a European team from France. They are really good. So yeah, let’s see.

Would you say there’s a regional pride for this kind of thing or is it just like every team’s just a different team?

Lagonis: For me, everything is every team is a different team. Like, everyone has their own playstyle, own personalities, so it’s all different.

Andrew: Day one was a little bit of a rough start. Like, you guys started off on the back foot but you kind of clutched it up in the end.

What changed?

Lagonis: I don’t know like what changed. I think we’ve got more and more experience, and that’s it. Like, experience is so much important. So have a good value. So, yeah, like, we are the same team. We are preparing for every single match, the better as you could. And, yeah, we’re just getting better during the tournament.

If a team is gonna win a tournament, you need to improve during the tournament, and that’s what we are doing right now.

Andrew: Yeah, you said you guys have a lot of experience and most of your core has been together for a pretty long time.

Credit: @R6Esports / Adela Sznajder

Do you think that gives you an edge over some of these newer rosters?

Lagonis: Yeah, our roster has a new member this season. So we are not that new roster, but nesk and Paluh have been playing for, like, five or six years together, so that’s very important. Like, they have a lot of chemistry. They probably know everything about each other. So, yeah, this helps a lot.

But even though we are a new roster, because in my opinion, when you change one member, it’s a new roster, we have a lot of chemistry. We know how to play together, so that’s the important thing.

Andrew: Awesome, Maia was something we’ve got to talk about. He’s so, so good for the camera. Really, really enthusiastic.

Is having that sort of hype man really important to keeping your mental in the game?

Lagonis: Yeah, for sure. Maia brings a lot of energy to the team. I try to bring a little bit, so we both together can bring a lot of energy. And before he came to Team Liquid, I was playing with him one year during one year on my last team when I was on Team oNe we played one year together.

So I know a lot him, like, we have a lot of chemistry, and now we can help Liquid probably win the first championship. It would be really, really cool to see.

Andrew: I mean, you guys, your late game mentor was fantastic. A lot of teams, they see that chance to make an upset and they crumble at the end, but you guys kept it really, really clear.

Is there anything you want to say to the fans as well?

Lagonis: Thanks so much, especially everyone that was in the arena. I really, like, everyone was screaming, and I love this. So if you want to cheer for us, it’s always good. And that’s it. Thank you, guys.

*Edited for clarity*