“We have experience. We trust ourselves more than ever.”

This is what NagZ had to say when asked how KRÜ Esports KRÜ Esports Latin America South Rank #2 keznit Angelo Mori Mazino Roberto Rivas adverso Benjamín Poblete Shyy Fabian Usnayo Melser Marco Eliot Machuca Amaro felt about having to face off against FunPlus Phoenix FunPlus Phoenix Inactive SUYGETSU Dmitry Ilyushin Zyppan Pontus Eek ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky ardiis Ardis Svarenieks , the winners of Masters Copenhagen, in their opening match.

Their experience certainly can't be denied. KRÜ Esports are the only team in the history of VALORANT who have made it to every international LAN event so far.

KRÜ at Champions 2021 Considered an underdog, KRÜ took the world by storm after beating Sentinels. (Photo by Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games)

However, despite this significant feat, their performance has been less than stellar with the exception of last year's Champions, where they were able to place in the top four, eliminating teams like FURIA FURIA Brazil Rank #6 heat Olavo Marcelo raafa Rafael Lima mwzera Leonardo Serrati havoc Ilan Eloy Khalil Khalil Schmidt , Sentinels Sentinels North America Rank #3 N4RRATE Marshall Massey bang Sean Bezerra Zellsis Jordan Montemurro zekken Zachary Patrone johnqt Mohamed Amine Ouarid , and FNATIC FNATIC Europe Rank #4 crashies Austin Roberts Boaster Jake Howlett kaajak Kajetan Haremski Chronicle Timofey Khromov Alfajer Emir Ali Beder during their run. They were also the undisputed kings of LATAM, winning every LAN qualifier, until this year's VCT Latin America Stage 2: Playoffs, where LEVIATÁN LEVIATÁN Latin America South Rank #1 Demon1 Max Mazanov tex Ian Botsch kiNgg Francisco Aravena C0M Corbin Lee nataNk Nathan Bocqueho defeated them 3-0 in the grand finals.

This year though, KRÜ have had a rough time internationally. They qualified for the LATAM playoffs after placing second behind LEVIATÁN LEVIATÁN Latin America South Rank #1 Demon1 Max Mazanov tex Ian Botsch kiNgg Francisco Aravena C0M Corbin Lee nataNk Nathan Bocqueho in the Champions Tour Latin America South Stage 1: Challengers. In the playoffs, after being knocked down to the lower brackets in their first match by E-Xolos LAZER E-Xolos LAZER Latin America North Rank #1 Cebando Ezequiel Ramos Mited Luis Gutierrez Feniz Thomas Molina Virtyy Leandro Moreno Darker Sebastián Castro Cicuamia , they made their lower bracket run, getting their revenge against LAZER and Leviatan both to win the tournament and qualify for Masters 1: Reykjavík.

But in Iceland, they failed to make it through the group stage, with both OpTic Gaming OpTic Gaming Inactive and Team Liquid Team Liquid Europe Rank #12 paTiTek Patryk Fabrowski kamyk Maks Rychlewski nAts Ayaz Akhmetshin Keiko Georgio Sanassy kamo Kamil Frąckowiak pulling off 2-0 victories in succession that eliminated them from the tournament.

KRÜ face OpTic at Masters Reykjavík KRÜ could not overcome OpTic in Reykjavík though to be fair, the latter did end up winning the tournament. (Photo by Riot Games)

This could have perhaps been the impetus for them to make a change to their coaching staff; they parted ways with their coach Martin " BeTony " Bourre (who went on to work with Rodrigo " Onur " Dalmagro, another ex-KRÜ coach, at Leviatán.) In his place, they signed Leandro " Leazo " Liset as their new head coach to join Alan “ ddx ” Salvati, the analyst they had hired at the onset of the year.

KRÜ, perhaps motivated anew by this, managed a flawless run in the Champions Tour Latin America South Stage 2: Challengers, dropping only two maps over the course of the entire tournament and qualifying for the playoffs. They made it to the grand finals without losing any maps. But in the Bo5 grand final, whose winner would be LATAM's representative at Masters 2: Copenhagen, Leviatán were able to obliterate them 3-0.

They were still able to bounce back and beat Ninjas In Pyjamas Ninjas In Pyjamas Inactive 3-0 in the LATAM/BR LCQ to lock in South America's second slot, though they would have to yet again go through groups as opposed to directly being seeded into the playoffs at Copenhagen.

At Copenhagen, hopes were high after their clean win in the LCQ. Their first opponent was LOUD LOUD Brazil Rank #2 dgzin Douglas Silva v1nny Vínicius Gonçalves pANcada Bryan Luna tuyz Arthur Andrade cauanzin Cauan Pereira , against whom they pulled off a 2-1 victory before facing EMEA's third seed, Guild Esports Guild Esports Inactive in a qualification match for first seed. The series went onto all three maps, with map three in particular heading into three OTs before Guild finally closed it out in their favor. In their lower bracket elimination decider, they yet again faced off against OpTic Gaming OpTic Gaming Inactive , and they yet again faltered. OpTic were able to win 2-0, and in a dominating fashion to boot. For the second time this year, the group stage proved to be an insurmountable barrier for the Chilean team.

Goodbye poster for KRÜ esports from Masters Copenhagen Yet again, KRÜ found themselves unable to overcome the might of OpTic and were eliminated from Masters Copenhagen. (Photo by Riot Games)

They'd managed enough points to qualify for the South America: Last Chance Qualifier, where the top two teams would be locked in for Champions. Yet again, KRÜ proved they were a force to be reckoned with as they managed an almost impeccable run. They lost only one map on their way to the finals, and defeated FURIA FURIA Brazil Rank #6 heat Olavo Marcelo raafa Rafael Lima mwzera Leonardo Serrati havoc Ilan Eloy Khalil Khalil Schmidt 3-0 to emerge as the winner of the LCQ.

With their sixth international appearance coming up, KRÜ have a lot to prove in Istanbul, especially with the shadows of their top four finish at Champions 2021 as well as their group stage eliminations hanging over their head.

“The boys are aware of what they have achieved by having qualified for all the [international events],” said coach Leazo. He explained that the team knows the value of their accomplishments, and that this knowledge is helping them enter Champions with a solid mental.

They'll certainly need to be on their toes for their first series against FPX, the winners of the previous Masters. However, despite their subpar international performance this year, the morale remains high in the KRÜ camp.

“I am prepared to face any team,” keznit said of their opening against FPX. “I don't feel pressure in this tournament, I go with the mentality of winning with my team. I know that FPX are the champions, but you have to face all rivals with the same mentality and try to beat them.”

A moment of camaraderie between KRÜ's players KRÜ is ready to play against anyone - and win- as a team. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

This sentiment was echoed by Mazino as well, who attributed his ability to frag out on a support role and perform well to teamwork.

“I think we are going to make it to the playoffs and have a very good tournament,” Keznit said.

Perhaps Keznit will be proven right in Istanbul, and six tries will be all the lads from South America need to finally walk away with an international title.

“Let's watch the tournament to find out," said NagZ .