Insider Gaming spoke to legendary Turkish AWPer Özgür ‘w0xic’ Eker ahead of the IEM Cologne 2026 Major Playoffs. w0xic speaks about Aurora’s Major run, the roster rumors swirling around the team, and his part in the iconic 2019 mousesports roster.
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How does it feel to going to the Lanxess?
It’s good. I mean, the major playoffs are always good and giving you exciting vibes that if you can reach the quarters, you can reach the final too.
So I’m happy overall that we made the playoffs in the biggest tournament in the world.
Do you feel like you got an easy run to the playoffs?
Yeah, I could tell. I think we played only Spirit, who are a higher level than others. But I think 9z too was great, but I think we did a good job on that game.
I think one of the up-and-coming tier one teams to be scared of in the scene.
But yeah, overall, we didn’t face Vitality, we didn’t face NAVI, and the rest of the boys, like Mouz, so this is how it is.
Sometimes, sometimes it’s this way, and we were always playing very tough opponents every time, game after game, and it became something like this is because it depends on the other team’s results.
What do you think has changed at this event, because you look more relaxed?
We got used to it because we have been playing together for enough time, but soulfly just came as a new member. He’s been here for five, six months.
So I think we just got used to each other as well with the team members, and also the atmosphere of the events and everything. And also the rest of the people, just giving everything to reach one more step further, because there is nothing to lose.
You know, we have been reaching the quarter, reaching the final, but we were always losing it in the end.
Only one tournament that we were able to win and the rest, it was just kind of an achievement and at the same time a failure for us. So I think we just said we’ll do our best, and that’s it. If it goes nowhere, it doesn’t matter. We’ll do our best.
Related News: Astralis CEO calls for “Social Media” regulation after IEM Cologne Major exit.
You guys have been working with a mental coach. What kind of lessons do you think you’ve taken from that?
Personally, I have been already working in my previous teams as well with a mental performance coach. And I think it’s always good to have someone positive around you, always. Also, understanding the human being and everything, as a mindset.
Everyone is taking something different from that person, I think. I’m happy to work with it because there is always one face that always you can share the problems and you can talk privately. And also you can get positive vibes always from that person.
But I don’t know for the others what they are taking because it’s like confidential things.
So it’s more individual?
More individual, yes. This is more of an individual thing.
In terms of the team, there have been rumors about Aurora changing players. How have you kind of dealt with that?
I just don’t give a fuck about anything. I’m just trying to do my job.
It doesn’t matter I’m here or somewhere else. I need to give my everything to show, and also satisfy myself, and show the people as well that I can do anything in any pressure. It doesn’t matter.
It’s like I’m in or out. It’s not an important thing. This is now; I’m here. I’m just mainly focusing on this one.
If I’m there in next, next one, I’ll focus on next one. So I’m going to talk a bit about you individually.
Obviously, you had that amazing clutch the other day against 9z. I feel like maybe this year you’ve been given a bit more freedom to be more expressive. Do you think that’s true?
Personally, I don’t think that there is a special thing. It’s just what you have inside, and it just comes out with the individual work and teamwork, and also finding your spot inside the team and position-wise and everything.
I think that can give you a very great performance, but also make you down because you are trying to do something for your team.
So, sometimes everything is going right, and you can have like successful frags, clutches, and everything. So in the 9z game, everything was kind of right for our own way, and also my way.
You’re facing BetBoom first. How would you assess their strengths?
They are really playing great lately. So, as people know, they qualified as well for the playoffs, they are a kind of tough opponent.
They did a great job with Boombl4 coming back, and I think they’re playing good as a team. Also, tactically. There are experienced players, well, not some of them that much. But I think somehow they are really good, like 9Z.
Okay. And in terms of, I just want to ask you about, you know, obviously, you know, you’ve had an amazing career, you know, and I’m sure that right now you’re looking forward to this event and stuff like that. But like, one of the things that kind of constantly comes up in my kind of social media feed is people talking about that 2019 mouse, you know, roster.
More info here: IEM Cologne 2026 Major Playoff Preview
Yeah. Like, is that something like, do you feel like, like in retrospect that that was a special roster, like a special time?
I think that was a special roster, and it was a special time for all the players, for ropz, for frozen, for me. We were so young and upcoming rising stars in the scene.
I think it’s all of them is combined well under the Karrigan wings. He was one of the best in-game leaders in the world.
So, I think that was a kind of special thing for me to be witnessed and also the rest of the guys as well. So that’s why it was, it was good times.
How do you think it helped you develop as a player?
It’s, yeah, you’re learning too much because you are attending so many tournaments. You’re playing really good players next to you, and you are just attending winning events.
Of course, you’re learning the pressure, learning how to play in front of people. Also learning how the team things are working.
You know, inside the car, there are like many things. If some of them are not there, the car is not working. So every piece is how it should be standing. That’s what you’re learning it basically.
End of interview
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Darragh is an Esports Journalist for Insider Gaming specialising in Counter-Strike. He loves to explore how esports teams work, or why they very often do not.
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