After the last match of the second day of DreamHack ZOWIE Open Winter 2016, we talked to Mihail "Dosia" Stolyarov whose team just eliminated Cloud9 from the tournament and qualified for the playoffs.

Gambit has managed to grab the last semi-final spot at DreamHack Winter by defeating Cloud9 in three maps. After losing Mirage 16-6, the CIS team bounced back, won Cobblestone 16-2 and then closed it out on Dust2.

In the short interview conducted via a translator, Mihail "⁠Dosia⁠" Stolyarov revealed how they felt versus the North American team, his thoughts on playing on Cache and what he think is behind Dauren "⁠AdreN⁠" Kystaubayev's current form.

Let's start with the first map, on Mirage you had a rough start, you were kinda shut down by Cloud9, how did you recover after that?Our understanding was that the first map was totally theirs, so we tried really hard but we knew they were a strong side. On the second one we were totally ready for it because it is definitely our map.So what do you think worked so well against them on Cobblestone? How did you shut them down 16-2, that's a massive results?We felt like gods on the second map, so when it turned on, we showed that.Let's talk a bit about the latest roster change, you picked up zeus and HObbit. Why did the change happen, what was the thinking behind it?We kinda mixed up all the new blood and we got new strategies, new views - a new-old view from zeus and a totally new blood from HObbit.You played Cache at this tournament, a map you played in the past but zeus is not really renowned for playing it. Did you practice it at all?We play Cache sometimes, from time to time, but in tournaments it's not always about gaining the win, it's sometimes about losing and making the best out of it.You have the Major spot so you have a lot of free time, let's say, to prepare. How does that feel, not going to the Minor, qualifiers and all that, does it give maybe too much free time so you get relaxed?We don't have any free time, we are a new team and we have a lot of things that we have to learn, work together, play together, so we have a lot of things to go on and do. We don't have any time for rest.AdreN has been showing great form now, we rarely see older players dipping down and coming back up like that. Do you have any explanation why he is playing so good right now?Probably a lot of things, the team changed, the players changed, his mood changed - basically, we set our goals for next year and we know where we are going. Sometimes when you put specific goals you are playing better.

Let's start with the first map, on Mirage you had a rough start, you were kinda shut down by Cloud9, how did you recover after that?

Our understanding was that the first map was totally theirs, so we tried really hard but we knew they were a strong side. On the second one we were totally ready for it because it is definitely our map.

So what do you think worked so well against them on Cobblestone? How did you shut them down 16-2, that's a massive results?

We felt like gods on the second map, so when it turned on, we showed that.

Let's talk a bit about the latest roster change, you picked up Zeus and HObbit. Why did the change happen, what was the thinking behind it?

We kinda mixed up all the new blood and we got new strategies, new views - a new-old view from Zeus and totally new blood from HObbit.

Dosia feels like they have no time to spare preparing for the Major 

You played Cache at this tournament, a map you played in the past but Zeus is not really renowned for playing it. Did you practice it at all?

We play Cache sometimes, from time to time, but in tournaments it's not always about gaining the win, it's sometimes about losing and making the best out of it.

You have the Major spot so you have a lot of free time, let's say, to prepare. How does that feel, not going to the Minor, qualifiers and all that, does it give maybe too much free time so you get relaxed?

We don't have any free time. We are a new team and we have a lot of things that we have to learn, work together, play together, so we have a lot of things to go on and do. We don't have any time for rest.

AdreN has been showing great form now, we rarely see older players dipping down and coming back up like that. Do you have any explanation why he is playing so good right now?

Probably a lot of things, the team changed, the players changed, his mood changed - basically, we set our goals for next year and we know where we are going. Sometimes when you put specific goals you are playing better.

Professeur writes for HLTV.org and can be found on Twitter.

Gambit #20 Dauren 'AdreN' KystaubayevDanylo 'Zeus' TeslenkoMihail 'Dosia' StolyarovRustem 'mou' TelepovAbay 'HObbit' Khassenov Cloud9 #6 Jordan 'n0thing' GilbertTyler 'Skadoodle' LathamMike 'shroud' GrzesiekTimothy 'autimatic' TaJake 'Stewie2K' Yip Dauren 'AdreN' Kystaubayev Age: 26 Team: Gambit Rating 1.0: 1.04 Maps played: 827 KPR: 0.72 DPR: 0.68 Mihail 'Dosia' Stolyarov Age: 28 Team: Gambit Rating 1.0: 1.03 Maps played: 907 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.65