When we hear the word “coach” in esports, we picture someone with a training schedule, demo analytics, and someone who plans the team’s gameplay down to the smallest detail. Someone who lives and breathes rounds, timings, and the constant analysis of mistakes in official matches and practice sessions.
But rjy isn’t like the typical “coach with a laptop.” His job isn’t just about tactics and discipline. It’s also about people. The ability to connect with the team, motivate each player, and bring out their best precisely when a match drags on and nerves are on edge.
UA.NEWS spoke with the Leo Team coach. Read on to learn about their preparations for the Urban Riga Open Season 5, the inner workings of the team, their new international roster, and what really drives their results at LAN tournaments.
How Leo Team Is Preparing for the Urban Riga Open
Preparation for the LAN is very intense. This is our roster’s first LAN tournament, so we’re focusing not only on the gameplay aspects but also on the team’s mental readiness. That’s why we’re working with a psychologist.
Every day, we practice teamwork, communication, and understanding the game in various situations. Since we have an international roster, it’s especially important to establish effective communication and a shared vision of the game. And with each passing week, we’re seeing noticeable progress.
I’d like to give a special shout-out to our captain, Vladislav. His contribution extends far beyond the server. He actively helps build the team’s gameplay system, structure our training, and improve communication among the players.
Main Competitors in the Tournament
Leo’s toughest opponent is GameHarmony. They’re the most consistent and experienced team in the group. I’d put Coalesce in second place. Their strength lies in the individual skill of their players, which allows them to pose a challenge to anyone. Noir Verse shouldn’t be underestimated either, but so far they seem a bit weaker than the top two teams.
If Leo plays to their full potential, we have every chance of winning and advancing from the group stage. However, for our first LAN tournament, the main thing is to manage our nerves and play our own game.
On expectations for the tournament
Leo Team’s current roster is still taking shape. We have new players, an international roster, and new team dynamics and processes that are just being established. That’s exactly why the Urban Riga Open will be an important test for us under the real-world conditions of a LAN tournament.
Online and offline are two completely different worlds. At a LAN event, you can see the players’ true character much more clearly—their resilience under pressure, their ability to adapt during a match, and their willingness to work for the team in difficult situations.
I want to see how our gameplay system is developing, test our strategies against strong opponents, and get answers to many questions about the future roster. In a sense, this tournament will be a crucial step in shaping the team.
But we’re not just going for the experience. It’s important for us to compete, give our all in every game, and prove that Leo is capable of competing on equal footing with anyone. If the team returns stronger, more united, and a little more mature as a group, that in itself is valuable. And victory, of course, is also part of our plans.
New Faces on the Leo Team
We have two new players, both from Poland.
The first is a team player in the truest sense of the word. He does a lot of work that isn’t always reflected in the stats. He has a good understanding of the game’s structure, knows how to create space for his teammates, and often takes on challenging roles. I’m impressed by his discipline and consistency in decision-making. In crucial moments, he rarely loses his focus and helps the team maintain a balance between aggression and map control. And over the past few months, he’s also gained more confidence and improved his individual play.
He’s one of those players you can count on in tough situations. He reads the game well, stays calm in tense endgame situations, and contributes a lot to the team through his communication and sense of the moment. Despite his young age, he plays with maturity and has good potential for growth.
Communication in an International Roster
The working language of the team is English. Every player must not only have a conversational level of English but also be able to convey information quickly and clearly during the game.
At first, due to the language barrier, there were moments when certain calls took longer than we’d like, or players perceived the same situation slightly differently. This is completely normal for any international team. But with each week of training, communication becomes more coordinated and clear.
Now we can already see that the players are starting to think in the same language right in the game. Information is conveyed concisely, clearly, and without unnecessary words.
At the same time, English gives us certain advantages. All players are on equal footing; everyone is forced to listen more carefully to one another and focus more on teamwork. And this helps build healthy communication within the team.
On Areas for Growth
Right now, we’re focusing a lot on communication in English, decision-making speed, and mutual understanding among players. We’re also continuing to improve our teamwork during the middle of rounds, since that’s often where matches against strong opponents are decided. We’re also re-analyzing certain maps from scratch.
That said, I’m pleased with the progress the team has been making lately.
On Mental Preparation for LAN
We hold regular group sessions. During these sessions, we do exercises to improve concentration and focus, work on our speed of thought, and practice clearly communicating our thoughts and decisions to our teammates.
There are also individual sessions. During these, players analyze various in-game situations in detail. We review their reactions and look for ways to boost their confidence and effectiveness during matches.
On fighting until the very last round
First of all, I want to thank everyone who supports Leo Team. It’s very important for us to feel this support, especially on the eve of a tournament like this.
We’re heading to our first LAN tournament with our current roster, and we understand that a tough challenge lies ahead. But there’s one thing I can promise for sure: the team will give it their all on the server. We’ve worked hard for this moment and want to showcase the progress we’ve made over the past few months.
I hope our fans will see a team that fights until the very end in every round, regardless of the score or the opponent. Thank you for believing in us. We’ll do everything we can to make you proud.
