4Kings Interview - Joona "Natu" Leppanen
One of the favourites for the CS:S tournament has to be the 4kings team. A Finnish side – one of two teams here from Finland – featuring members formerly from the legendary Insignia Cadre team, they have a wealth of experience in their squad. We spoke with Joona “Natu” Leppanen, a late addition and someone who is perhaps more known for his 1.6 achievements than Source, about his teams chances, Finnish rivalry and other things besides.


How’s the tournament been going so far for you then?

Well, honestly, it’s been full of confusion and mess-ups. We had to forfeit our first game because thee sign up times changed seemingly at random and we weren’t contacted about it. So far so good on the second day though and we’re feeling sharp and ready to win some games.


You received a second seeding coming into this event. Do you feel that’s a fair reflection of where you are in European terms right now?

We’ve done very well online and we have a stable and experienced team. I’m the new addition for this LAN and I’m not exactly new to the game. Given everything we’ve achieved and what I know about the players around me I’d have to say second place is fair, although a seeding doesn’t mean a great deal to me personally.


A lot has been mentioned about your rivalry with Logitech.fi. Is there any truth in these stories?

My point of view is that when you play other sides from your own country you always want to beat them, because it allows you to say “we are the best” and they have no room for argument. But it is a friendly rivalry even though there is no doubt in my mind we’re the better team. We have the mental edge over them I think, something that comes from our collective experience.


Is it a realistic expectation that you can win the event?

Of course. If it wasn’t we wouldn’t be here. I know that if we play like we do day in and day out we can beat anybody. Whatever the outcome we shall be at LAN79 too I hope and if we don’t win this time, it will strengthen our will for that event if we do attend it.


Although recently added to the team there are people who are saying you’re solely here for this one LAN. Do you think you’ll end up staying?

I’m comfortable here and enjoying every day I play. It may surprise people when I say this but I actually like Source as a game. Angeldust has his military service coming up soon, so maybe things will change, but that’s not until the summer and I think, until then at least, we will stick together.


If you don’t win the event, who would you like to see triumph?

This question is a tough one... Some new and upcoming team I suppose. I am not really into the scene enough to say who deserves it, but not following the scene does have its advantages. I never feel intimidated when I play games because I see only another opponent in front of me. Who it is doesn’t matter.


Reason Gaming are seeded above you. Do you think this is fair?

Seedings are just seedings and people can put too much emphasis on them. I hear that Reason are a good team right now, but an event like this is just not about skill but what happens on the day also. Anything can happen and maybe some team will surprise everyone and come from nowhere. You just never can tell.