Here at the OMEN Challenger Series 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia, we sat down with Peeratch “Olivia” Ingkudanonda and had a chat about his team, Alpha Red, Thai CS:GO and his unique nickname.
CSGO2ASIA: Hey Olivia, congratulations on qualifying here. Firstly, we’ve always wanted to know, how did you get the nickname “Olivia” ?
Olivia: Haha, it’s sort of a secret. But I will tell you – I studied in Australia for a year before, and while I was there I had a crush on a girl called Olivia. So when I returned to Thailand I decided to use the name, Olivia.
CSGO2ASIA: Classic. Your day one results have looked quite easy, but how has day one gone so far for you and the event overall?
Olivia: We’re feeling confident about this event because back home we practiced a lot. We’ve been scrimming a lot of the Chinese teams, and although we only practiced for about a week before this event we still felt it was good.
CSGO2ASIA: Your team has had some impressive results this year. What do you think is the reason for your success?
Olivia: I think the reason we have succeeded a lot this year is that we have good chemistry in the team. You know, we’re not just teammates, but we all feel like a family, we’re all good friends and comfortable to share everything with each other, the good and bad.
CSGO2ASIA: Right, makes sense. Is that a big change from the teams you played with before?
Olivia: Yeah, definitely.
CSGO2ASIA: Alpha Red also made it to the Asia Minor this year, and you managed to take some maps off MVP PK and TYLOO, but unfortunately you did not qualify. What were the biggest things you learned at the Minor?
Olivia: Well I think the biggest thing I gained is an international LAN experience. You know, MVP PK and TYLOO, amongst the Asian teams, they have the most experience with that. And although we have a lot of LAN experience, we had very little international LAN experience before that event. TYLOO are a Chinese team, but they play very differently on LAN, very European style. I think when we play them online it’s just really different.
CSGO2ASIA: Domestically, you and Lucid Dream tend to go back and forth. Do you think the Thailand CS:GO scene is developing well, or do you think there is still lots of room for improvement?
Olivia: Yes, I think the Thai scene has a lot of room to improve. We don’t really know how to play real CS, you know? I would say we are at like a 70-80% level, I don’t know. I think we need to have more international coaches or managers to come and develop it. We also have the Thai Pro league, and I think that is helping the scene improve, but it’s not enough.
CSGO2ASIA: Thailand has always been a competitive region, but also very volatile. Do you think this is changing now?
Olivia: Yeah, it’s changing now slowly, but honestly it’s just the two teams, us and Lucid Dream. I feel for the other teams in our country they are always changing rosters and there is no stability.
CSGO2ASIA: Why do you think that is?
Olivia: I think they just don’t have the patience. You know, you see a lot of the teams, after losing one tournament they will just be like, “Oh my god, my team is so noob” or something like that, it’s not good. Every team needs time, you cannot rush this.
CSGO2ASIA: So do you feel that now, the group of you in Alpha Red finally all understand this?
Olivia: Yes, for sure. Because as I said before, we are all friends too, not just team mates, and we all are working to be more patient.
CSGO2ASIA: People tend to say that Thailand is the best nation in SEA CS:GO. Do you agree or disagree? And why do you think that is?
Olivia: Yes, I agree with that. I think because Thailand has a lot of really good players. Thai players have really good skill, their aim is so good, you know? But maybe what we lack is the mindset.
CSGO2ASIA: What are your goals for the rest of the year and going into 2020?
Olivia: We really want to get to the Major. We really want to have those stickers, that is something we all want. Of course, we also want to win more tournaments, not just in Thailand, but tournaments like this, international LAN events.
CSGO2ASIA: Your next event is the ZOWIE eXTREMESLAND in Shanghai, how confident are you and the team about that event?
Olivia: I think we are confident, but also not as confident as here. The eXTREMESLAND tournament has a lot of good teams like TYLOO, ORDER and Grayhound. But, I don’t think we are noob team either, so we can definitely compete, and we will.
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