XANTARES on soulfly: “He’s a soldier, that’s what we needed”

It’s been a bit of a slow start to the 2026 season for Aurora but now, they’ve landed in the quarterfinals here at IEM Kraków. I got to speak to XANTARES ahead of their game against FURIA about the Anubis changes, playing with soulfly and what keeps him motivated going into a new season.

XANTARES: “People are scared of us to pick Anubis right now”

Sophie McCarthy: Sophie: So the very first question I had for you was about Anubis. It’s back in the pool that was home turf for you before it got taken out. How do you feel about the changes to this map?

İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş: My opinion, my best map for sure. And also we feel very comfortable in this map. So far we did good and people are scared us to pick Anubis right now. And then we just try to work on Ancient little bit more now. So if they just ban Anubis, like try to go with other maps. So try to make a strong map also Ancient. We want to do it. So nothing to say.

Sophie: Yeah, absolutely. I mean it’s just nice to have it back, I guess. Okay, so this tournament did start out a little tough for you guys, but it really feels like you’ve warmed up now. So can you just talk me through your experience of the matches you’ve played so far? 

XANTARES: Yeah, we picked a new player. Also like, when somebody new player came into team and I feel like a little bit uncomfortable about like positions, talking way. Right now I think then we lost one game just after the talk and then now so far feel better because one game first stage against PARIVISION. After that we just talk and we fix and then we beat Falcons and mousesports. It was very good for us.  So happy right now.

Sophie: Ah, that’s so good to hear. Yes, I did want to ask about the roles on the team all around and how this has changed now that soulfly has come in instead of jottAAA.

XANTARES: Like both was anchor but we want to be anchor. Also like some guys need to be, like, go in front from T side and jottAAA always been disagree about it, never will be accepted. So we just changed it with soulfly. soulfly always playing like I can do it for the team, everything, like you know, like his mindset like this and he do like very good anchor as well in every map. And also like when we say something like you just do instantly never be think about it, you know, he’s like soldier, that’s what we needed and like we improve like a team right now better, like you know.

Sophie: Yeah, that’s good. We’ve got quite a lot of national teams here at Kraków. We’ve got the MongolZ, we had Legacy, 3DMAX and obviously Aurora. What impact does that have, do you think? Having everybody from the same place? 

XANTARES: Yeah, for sure. It’s communication also, like working as a team. I feel like I was playing for the international team too back then, three years, and it was very tough to work with people. I think national, of course is so much better.

Sophie: Yeah. So when you were international, did you have to use English?

XANTARES: Yeah, of course. Three years.

Sophie: Oh my God. Yes, that does sound harder. Okay, so I just had one last question for you. Obviously you did have a little bit of a tough end to last year. You guys did struggle a little bit at the Major. So I wanted to ask about your motivation for 2026. What is really keeping you going in this new season? 

XANTARES: Like my opinion always, I work harder and when we win something, I just feel like myself instantly, like motivation and try to work more. So yesterday we lost against Vitality. I think my opinion, they’re best team in the world for sure. Like after that directly, I just watch other direct games like you know, like MOUZ’s games, Falcon’s games, you know, like other many games to just improve myself more and just try to put something more in the team. I always feel myself motivational. I love…never mind. Like okay, competition. That’s why I just feed myself all the time. Motivation more.